Today's post is reblogged from Jaclyn Vlievernicht's blog, "my life as a nurse on the Africa Mercy" because I enjoyed a quick visit with the patients and I hope you will, too!
Recently I have had the privilege of taking care of some awesome patients.
Billy is a sweet 12-year-old boy who had his cleft palate repaired.
He was pretty somber the first few days after surgery, having issues
with some pain and nausea, but he has now just come to life.
I walked into the Ward yesterday for my shift and Billy ran over and
gave me a fist pound, “doona”, with a huge smile on his face. We kicked
a small ball around in the hallway and played some Dominoes, after he
did his cleft palate exercises of course! These consist of saying
sounds, moving the tongue repetitively to gain strength, and breathing
through the mouth instead of through the nose. Billy’s dad has also
been great to hang out with. He is so grateful for the care we are
giving Billy, even making a sign above Billy’s bed that says: “Greeting
with peace. We all thank God and the Mercy Ships crew
as well. God Bless you all. Amen.” He knows some English and is
teaching me some Malagasy words. We were playing Dominoes and I was
counting up our points in Malagasy… but the numbers just won’t stick! I
guess I should put in some study time…..
Another patient I have enjoyed is Hery. I have talked about Hery
before. He had noma as a child and had three surgeries with us to
repair his nose and eye.
His last surgery was last week Thursday, and he is being discharged
to the Hope Center today! He was excited to get to see his friends,
Mamisy, Fernan, and Fali (who have all been discharged there), but sadly
I had to tell him that Mamisy went home! A couple days travel away… I
wish Hery would have been able to tell him goodbye, because sadly these
guys will probably never see each other again. :( It is great to see
patients be discharged to the Hope Center or to home, but it is also sad
after seeing the relationships that are formed between the patients and
families from different provinces, speaking different dialects of
Malagasy and having different customs. Hery and I have enjoyed a few
games of Jenga recently. He put some stickers I got in a package from
home on his forehead yesterday (crazy Hery, as always). He was taught
to do his own wound care and eye drops yesterday. He is ready to go!
It has been so cool to see his transformation…
Heather, Hery, and his bling.
me and Hery yesterday.
Sambany is still doing great! He is working on his physical therapy
exercises and can hold his head straight quite well. Wounds are
healing. Skin is tightening up. And he is well on his way to discharge
soon. His 18-year-old grandson is learning to read and write from an
outpatient nurse who volunteers her time after her shift is over.
Yesterday he was laughing at me as I read phrases he had written in
Malagasy, such as “Get out of here!” What a blessing to be able to care
for Sambany and see his grandson flourish, too.
me and Sambany–post 7.4 kg tumor removal!
Sambany’s grandson, Flavy.
These stories are ones that I love to report! But sadly, we can’t always provide the healing we desire to.
Yesterday evening I admitted a young 14-year-old girl, Elizette, for
her surgery today. Elizette, although quiet, seems to be a very proud
and brave young girl. She does not attempt to hide her facial tumor at
all, as others do. She barely flinched as I put her IV in (18 gauge,
nonetheless). She sat still as the doctors probed her face and mouth to
determine tumor borders. She listened intently as I did her
preoperative teaching. Her father is a kind and very thankful man. He
said “misaotra betsaka” to me so many times last evening as I cared for
her and him. Elizette had been screened in the past by nurses and a
surgeon and had CT scans done, but after further review by a couple
surgeons and anesthesiologists yesterday it was decided that surgery was
too risky. Elizette has a tumor with a seven year history. The tumor
appears to be underneath her chin and jaw mainly, but on CT examination
it extends into her neck and even her chest wall. The tumor is very
vascular and full of lymphatic drainage.
Beautiful Elizette.
Elizette is being told this morning that we are unable to operate on
her due to the extensiveness of the tumor. What sad news to deliver to
this young girl, so full of hope and promise. Depending on how quickly
the tumor grows, Elizette will more than likely die from suffocation. I
have been grieving over this young girl and her hopeful father last
evening and today, but this morning I was reminded that God is faithful.
Even though I don’t understand why this young girl will not be
relieved of her suffering in this world, I know that God is faithful
even through hardship. Psalm 86:15 says, “But you, O Lord, are a God
merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and
faithfulness.”
Please pray that the love and kindness we are able to give Elizette
and her father in the short time they are with us on the ship will be a
reassurance of God’s everlasting love for them.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or danger, or sword?
No, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him who loved us.”
– Romans 8:35,37
