Today's post was reblogged from "Nick and Suzanne". Nick runs the Ponseti Clinic literally changing the lives of children so they can run! It's a lot of pictures. Enjoy!
Some
beautiful things are happening here in Cotonou! First, a look back on
the last few months in the clubfoot clinic, then photos of an special
event on January 11, 2017.
August 2016 - December 2016 : Strengthening the Foundation and Working Together
Since the ship’s arrival in August 2016, the Mercy Ships Ponseti team and the team at Cabinet de Kinésithérapeutes et Associés have been working hard. The goal is to build upon the earlier training from CURE International
(who will continue to partner with the clinic long-term) to establish
accessible and excellent quality clubfoot treatment for the people of
Benin.
They
treat patients together on 4 clinic days per week. Over the last few
months they have taken a group of children through each phase of the Ponseti method: initial assessments, weekly casting, achilles tenotomy, and now the kids are in the bracing phase of treatment.
Regarding these first months together, Nick says "The
early phase of the program involves a lot of teaching and mentoring and
relationship building. I do really push the clinicians to continue
pursuing excellence and perfecting their practice. This clinic already
had some experience with clubfeet, which is great. I've been very impressed with the clinic as a whole, this team is dedicated to the kids they treat."
Photo below: Nick teaches an intensive training in September 2016
for the providers at Cabinet de Kinésithérapeutes. These two weeks
included theory, lectures, and practice casting on clubfoot models.
Above: (Left) Nick gives a lecture during the intensive training
course in September 2016. (Right) A patient plays in the bathtub while
soaking off a plaster cast.
Below: (Left) The team performed the first tenotomies on board
the ship with Dr. Lindsay Sherriff. Later, they began doing the
tenotomy procedure at a local site. (Right) Nick, Serge, Marie-Josiane,
Ulysse, Marina and Melchior pose for a photo after the intensive
training.
Photo below: Sibling support during casting appointments is good for little patients!
Below left: Melchior assesses a patient. The plastic tool on
the table is a goniometer, used to measure the degrees of flexibility of
the foot in a variety of directions. The patient's feet are carefully
measured each week to track their progress.
Below: Clubfoot baby doll always manages to get in a few
pictures. He's been a patient in clubfoot clinics in several countries
now. :)
Below Right: Ulysse finishes off a plaster cast on a sweet patient.
January 11, 2017 - Celebrating the Efforts and the Changes
On
January 11, the Ponseti team hosted a Clubfoot Celebration event for
the first group of children who "graduated" from casting, and have
straight feet!
Families
of the patients, the clinic staff, Mercy Ships crew and leadership, and
even a representative of the Ministry of Health attended the
celebration. The Mercy Ships hospital chaplaincy team led songs, and
there was MUCH dancing and jubilation. (See for yourself in the photos
below)
Nick
explains "The reason why we wanted to have this celebration day was to
mark this as a special moment. We want to celebrate the kids' new
straight feet and the accomplishments of the local team. This is also a
great opportunity to raise community awareness of the clinic. But
above all, it is to thank God for what He has done and what He is
doing."
The day was full of joy, smiles and color.
Ulysse, Melchior and Marina count how many guests have come.
The
team spent several days preparing for this event, and that included
making the building as shiny and clean as possible, and decorating (good
work on the balloons, Marina!)
Several
parents shared their testimonies, and after that it was singing and
dancing. During her testimony, one mother said "I am just so happy, I
want to sing a song for you!" She led the very first song along with
the chaplaincy team.
Pure celebration, joy, and thankfulness to the Lord!!!
Clementine (on the far right) shared a brief message, she has been a hospital chaplain on the ship for more than 20 years.
Melchior and other staff and parents were interviewed by the media.
Group photo of all who attended.
Head tilt photo - this is a Ponseti tradition at clubfoot events around the world. :)
These are some strong Mamas who are committed to their future of their children.
Team and patients group photo - very, very good work to everyone involved!
The clinic's future...sharing the news!
Melchior
arranged for the media to attend the celebration- and by the end of the
week the good news of clubfoot treatment in Cotonou was shared on a
national television station and three different newspapers.
The title here reads "Treatment of clubfoot in Benin: Children re-find their smiles", and the first sentence says "It is no longer a dream but a reality, children suffering from clubfeet are treated and healed on our own land."
Below
are a few screenshots from the news report. It aired on the evening
news, and then four more times in the following days. The reporters did
a great job of explaining that clubfoot is treatable, that the ponseti
method works, and that treatment is accessible in Cotonou through our
partner clinic.
Just
look at this little guy- surrounded by people celebrating his healing!
He won't remember his clubfeet, but his parents will be able to tell
him about this journey. He, and each child who comes to the clinic, is
full of promise and possibility. We pray that he will accomplish all
that God has for him to do with his life (on two straight feet!).
Please
pray for us and for the clinic here in Cotonou. Our heart's desire is
to see this clinic continue to grow deep, strong roots. We want good
things for each of our Beninese colleagues, we pray that God continues
to open doors in their lives both personally and professionally, and
that they are able to help many many more children in the future.
We give the glory to the Lord for the good things that have happened here!
If you would like to see updates from the Cotonou clinic, they have started a Facebook page (click here).
Also,
thanks goes to Justine Forrest, a Mercy Ships photographer, and to
Marina Schmid, Ponseti Clinic Assistant for the fantastic photos! :)
Bit one goes to Neighbor Nancy. It was ten years ago this month that my mom died. One of the things I got after she died was a lovely wool sweater in her very favorite color green - a sweater that Sam managed to wash and DRY for me. No matter how much I tried to stretch it, it remained a lovely LITTLE wool sweater. Neighbor Nancy came to my rescue! I am so thankful for her creativeness and kindness . . . I can still wear mom's sweater, just a bit further from my heart!
While taking down the Christmas tree today, I noticed that Matt had three super glittery nutcracker ornaments. I had Micah take a picture of them - just to annoy Matt while he was at work! 
It turns out that our nephew's nine month old yellow lab wasn't really excited about being outside in the cold either! Unlike Annie, Bo's teeth didn't chatter! No, he snuck back into the house while no one was home and left a message of mass destruction . . . 
