Not every child . . .

It seems like recently no matter where we go or who we're with, their children are in AP this or that.  AP stands for Advancement Placement and I know how hard their kids work because - believe me - their parents tell me.  "Well, my child . . . ", "Well, my child . . . ", "Well, my child . . . "  (Try putting the emphasis on a different word each time you read it.)  Well, let me tell you - my child is NOT in AP classes and he probably never will be, but my child pulled his non-AP biology grade up from a solid "F" to a "D" - a solid "D" - woo hoo!  And he worked his bottom off for that "D" and we are praising God for that "D" because not every child . . .

More on the VVF Ladies . . .

I don't remember meeting Hannah Calvert, but I do remember meeting her husband, Ben, his first day on the ship!  Hannah is a charge nurse down on the wards and Ben is currently the Academy principal.  Weep with Hannah as you read her post:

       I suffered a long-overdue breakdown yesterday just before lunch. I decided reluctantly that I did want lunch, so I cleaned up my face, blew my nose, and headed to the dining room, more to find a friendly face than to eat. I sat with Trudi (God bless her!) and, while trying to give the gist of what had upset me, I started tearing up again. When I asked down the table for a napkin, one kind nurse asked what was wrong. "I work in B ward, with the VVF ladies". "Oh, enough said", she replied.
It is a well-known and understood fact amongst those who work in the hospital, and for most on the ship, how very difficult this season of VVF surgeries has been. For those far and wide who I have neglected to communicate with, I will fill you in a bit.
       Vesico vaginal fistula, or VVF, is a result of obstructed labor causing a hole to develop in the bladder, resulting in a a constant leaking of urine after her baby has been delivered (often stillborn). This problem is almost 100% preventable, but too common in West Africa. It ruins women's lives. They can't work, they are often abandoned by husband and family. They live as outcasts, if they have the will to live at all.
       VVF surgeries started on the ship in November. I transferred to B ward to work with the VVF ladies. There was a lot of excitement as exams were done and surgeries commenced. But one by one, most remained wet after surgery. Many were turned away by the first surgeon. "Have her come back for the second surgeon, she has more experience with difficult cases". So they were asked to wait. A good many waited with us on the ward, others at the local hospital. With every set-back, like the women themselves, the nurses clung to the hope that maybe the next surgeon would give a better prognosis. Most of the women here have had unsuccessful repairs locally. Subsequent repairs create scar tissue, increasing difficulty with each surgery.
       Our third and final surgeon began exams on Monday, surgery on Tuesday. Six of our twenty on the ward were given a "no"straight off.
       One of those turned away is just 20 years old. Diarraye is a beautiful young lady with a mischievous grin and quiet affection. She was married off young. Her first pregnancy caused her fistula. Her baby was stillborn, her husband eventually left her. She cannot work with the condition.  She has no education. Her prospects are dire. After she was told there was no possible surgery, there isn't any healthy tissue to reconstruct, Diarraye lay on the floor wailing, inconsolable. By the next morning she sat in her bed, more sedate than usual, but with the same half smile as usual. Quiet acceptance of a fate beyond her control.
       There aren't words to describe the heartbreak, the sheer unfairness of it all. Tragic things happen all over the world every day, but this is PREVENTABLE. As charge nurse on the ward I've tried to  hold it together, dealing with issues as they come up, loving on each woman while she's with us, even if we can't help her medically. Yesterday, on my day off, there was no stopping the floodgates from opening, my tears flowing unchecked  down onto my shirt,  over my computer, streaking makeup down my face. A small relief to the sickness of heart I feel when I think of each one of these precious women walking away from this ship, unchanged and utterly hopeless. God, be their hope where they have none. 

Yaya

Rather than joyous celebration, the reaction to Yaya’s birth was broken family ties. Yaya’s mother, Salematou, and his father, Abdulaye, were not married when their son was born. The tradition that Salematou’s father lived by did not make room for a child born out of wedlock. Despite Salematou’s pleading with her father to allow her to keep her child, his decision was final. As soon as Yaya could leave his mother’s breast, he was sent to live with Kadiatou, his grandmother on his father’s side.

Living with his grandmother turned out to be a wonderful blessing for Yaya. Kadiatou personifies the bottomless heart and limitless space that African grandmothers offer their children and their children’s children. She assumes whatever responsibility comes her way, no matter the burden. Kadiatou explains, “There are many mouths that I feed in my family. In addition to Yaya, five of my children and their nine children need my support too. Everyone shares in the work of the household, but earning income in Conakry is very difficult. My husband now, Mamadouba, is very old. He gives what money he can, but he has family to support too.”

Yaya stole his grandmother’s heart from day one. His ready smile and eagerness to be close to her formed a thick bond. When tragedy struck Yaya, Kadiatou was distraught. “Yaya started walking when he was one year old, but after taking a few steps he would fall. We tried many traditional medicines, but his condition grew worse. At eighteen months, his legs started to twist and curl up. They failed him entirely.”

Yaya’s uncle, also named Yaya, remembers this as a time of many trials for his mother.  “Kadiatou was so afraid for Yaya. He often had a high fever, and his legs would cramp up terribly. He would cry for hours from the pain. Kadiatou tried everything to soothe him. She held him for hours. Then my father and sister died very close together. My mother’s heart was broken into so many pieces.”

Kadiatou, who had taken in her daughter’s five children, decided that moving the family to Conakry, the capital of Guinea, was best for Yaya. “I hoped that the medical care Yaya needed was in a big city. As well, I knew that Conakry had schools for handicapped children that Yaya could attend.” Another important reason for the move was that Kadiatou was protecting Yaya from the villagers who thought that children with disabilities were cursed. She would not stand for her grandson being tormented, ridiculed, or forced into hiding.

When Yaya reached five years of age, he started attending the school for handicapped children. “I was so happy for Yaya. He started to learn his letters and bring home things he made,” Kadiatou says. Although there were no school fees and transportation was provided, Kadiatou still had expenses to cover, like school supplies. She made ends meet by going to the Grand Mosque daily and helping with cleaning and cooking. After a full year of being a volunteer, she was finally included in the group that received a weekly stipend, plus donations of money and food from appreciative people attending the Mosque.

Yaya often joined Kadiatou at the Mosque after school, and he soon became a favorite with everyone. In the Muslim faith, people are eager to help the needy as a way of observing sadaqah, the duty to overcome miserliness. Many Muslims wanted Yaya to join the group of handicapped people who begged, so that people could give to him. Kadiatou was against Yaya’s doing this, regardless of the enormous struggle she had to support the family. “I faced so much pressure to allow Yaya, in such obvious need, to help people fulfill their duty to sadaqah. I finally relented,” she explains.

Kadiatou continued to be distressed with Yaya’s participating in sadaqah. She prayed that Yaya would get his education and find an occupation where he could use his sharp mind and very able hands. Kadiatou had many doubts about her prayer being answered, but she remained faithful, clutching that thin bit of hope to her heart.

Yaya himself dared not hope. But then an incredible set of circumstances unfolded around him. Nick Veltjens, who worked with orthopedic patients, saw Yaya at the patient screening location the day before consultations began. “I waited all screening day for Yaya to come because I thought we could help him. We didn’t see him that day, so I sent an email around asking if anyone knew where he was.”

According to Yaya, “I did go to the screening with my friend, but I lost my courage.” Yaya left without being examined.

The next day, Dan Bergman, a long-term hospital volunteer, came to Nick with a video of a possible orthopedic patient that he had just seen outside the Mercy Ships Dental Clinic. According to Nick, “What a coincidence that Dan found the same little guy that I was looking for!”

For Dan, this series of events said loud and clear that, “God wanted Yaya to find Mercy Ships. He kept putting him in front of us!” Dan tracked Yaya down at the Mosque and delivered the news that he had an appointment at the hospital ship.

But Yaya missed his appointment. As he says, “I did not believe I could be healed, and so I did not want to tell my grandmother to bring me. She would be too disappointed.” But another divine coincidence occurred that finally put Yaya and Mercy Ships together. A government official, Cellou, who had befriended Yaya at the Mosque, was at the Mercy Ships Dental Clinic that same week. He casually asked what a young boy with deformed legs needed to do to get an appointment. It was quickly realized that the boy in question was Yaya and that he just needed someone to bring him to his appointment.

Cellou immediately went to Yaya’s grandmother with the news about Yaya’s appointment. They agreed that Cellou would go to the hospital ship with the boy. When Kadiatou received the telephone call from Cellou telling her that Yaya was accepted for surgery, she experienced a mixture of emotions. “I was so grateful that Yaya could be helped. It was all that I had prayed for. But I was also very uncertain and afraid. I wondered how it would be possible to fix Yaya’s legs and what he would go through.”

Dr. Frank Haydon, volunteer orthopedic surgeon, was able to fix Yaya’s legs. According to Dr. Frank, “The condition that Yaya was born with caused his bones to be very brittle. As he started to walk, the pressure on the bones caused multiple fractures. The surgery he had aligned his leg bones properly, and the two rods I installed will give his legs the needed strength and structure so he can walk.” 

Each day Yaya does grow stronger. He is starting to take his own steps with the help of a walker, and he has progressed to simple below-the-knee leg casts. But at the same time, each day wears on Kadiatou. She shows the strain of being away from family and being indebted to more and more neighbors. She has borrowed money from them for food and malaria medication. However, regardless of the hardship, Kadiatou’s commitment to see Yaya through his healing journey is unwavering. “I would endure anything so Yaya can do what he longs to do more than anything else – play football. By suffering for Yaya and my family now, I know that there will be great happiness in the future,” she says.

According to his uncle, Yaya’s journey to hope and healing is summed up in a few words: “Yaya is so loved by everyone on Mercy Ships.” And, still, even with so many kind hearts embracing Yaya, there is one who continues to occupy the most special place in his heart. As clear as a bell, Yaya declares, “I love my Grandmother so much! She has done everything for me.”
-Ship Writers

Good-bye, Cast!

Friday morning at 8:00 a.m., Kris cut off my cast!  It was wonderful (the cast was gone!), it was disgusting (my leg) and it's six more weeks wearing my brace everywhere but in the shower!  I start physical therapy on Monday, back to work on Tuesday and I drove for the first time since November 17 today!  Here are some photos of the home team celebration:

Brownies baked and decorated by Micah

 

A Resounding "YES!"

Another article taken from another blog - I couldn't even tell you who - there is no name - I'm sure I've never met her - but I do know she's a receptionist on the ship and she joins me in giving Mercy Ships a resounding "YES!"  Read on . . .

I like Mercy Ships thinking . . . I have learned that this Mission Ship not only prays in advance to seek which destination they are to serve at next, they also invite the World Leaders in the neighboring countries to give their thoughts on which country is in the most need.

Like they did for Guinea here, it has been 10 years since they were last here and the Ship prayed and felt like they had their “Direction”.  For affirmation, they invited the World Leaders at the last gathering talk amongst themselves to determine which of their countries needed Mercy Ships the most.  They all responded with Guinea!!!

Africa Mercy will continue with the surgeries of VVF Ladies, Max Fax, General, Goiters/Thyroid that are benign only!  I love that they pray with their patients before going into surgeries. I love that the Medical Team prays even prior to patient.  I respect that they choose to operate only on illnesses & afflictions that Guinean’s can obtain necessary medicines thereafter.  

I love having the opportunity to pray (quietly) for individuals that are not having the opportunity to have their needs met.  That means….. while we are able to serve some, I felt saddened for others whom we’ve had to turn away at this time (because of the predetermined qualifications).  To me that gave me opportunity to pray for these individuals and ask that “If we cant serve them medicinally, I pray for a Divine healing be administered instead”! I quietly touched and pray this with as many people as I could possibly touch!

I love hearing the singing of the African women this morning as they are waiting their surgery.  You can pick up on their atmosphere of “hope & healing” has arrived.  They have been shunned by the community for so long and now they are being given the chance to re-enter life & community!!!  It is a great day.  It is restoration.  It is healing all the way around!

Mercy Ships has been asked to sail to Congo after this next dry dock period.  Extra nice thing about this is the President has already commissioned Mercy Ships to build a medical barge.  It would travel up and down the interior river of their Country and meet the needs of the people there.  Their plan is to have us work along side their Nationals for 6 years, train them & transfer the responsibility over to them.

From time to time we also get special guest that want to come on board and do “Humanitarian Run/Service”.  This next week is bringing in two Actors from Germany. Apparently, they are well known there, but not much beyond the borders of Germany.  They will come & serve in our Galley for a couple of weeks. Should be interesting, if not novel!!!

LOL

I've got a secret!  I have a favorite blog site that I check almost, if not every, day!  And from that site, I gain a wealth of information!  One of today's blogs had me laughing out loud!  From "Jay on a Boat" read on:

"I’m really excited for what this new year will bring, and have a few surprises in store. This year was full of its own adventures, from getting a Texas drivers license to popping my first wheelie on a motorcycle. Those were both moto-related… how about my first time living through a dry dock phase? Or my first time rescuing sick people off the summit of a volcano? That’s only partially moto-related. In any case, 2012 was interesting. Let’s see how 2013 stacks up."

Did you catch that?  Jay rescued sick people off the summit of a volcano!  It was ME! 

CELEBRATE!

The celebration was small at our house last night!  Micah baked and decorated a cake . . .

 

Annie jumped in and begged to join the party!

 

And we thought "Why not?"

HAPPY NEW YEAR!