Today's post is reblogged from Nurse Deborah Mascia's blog, "A Journey of a Thousand Miles . . . " I copied it for you because we truly have so much to be thankful for. To His glory . . .
Prior to patients having surgery here on the Africa Mercy we have
several conversations with them in which we discuss how the surgery will
be done, how long the recovery will be and all the details that one
needs to know before undergoing any type of surgery anywhere really.
With all of our patients we talk about what their expected outcomes are.
That we hope and pray for the best but that sometimes the surgery isn't
successful. We try to prepare the patients and family members for both
the good and bad outcomes. The recovery road is long and some times the
patients expectations are not always met. Sometimes they are
discouraged, upset and frustrated after their surgery. I guess people at
home in hospitals experience the same things. The first round of
chemotherapy doesn't work, the rehab or length of time in the nursing
home is endless, or complications seem to keep arising.
I'll be honest friends the last few weeks have been challenging and
hard. Dealing with difficult situations, false expectations and
realizing that certain circumstances are out of my control. Wondering
what is the best decision for the patient and how those decisions will
effect their family, friends and job. This ship has highly trained
nurses, surgeons and doctors. We have a fully functioning lab, radiology
department with X-ray and CT scan, we have supplies similar to home,
and clean, safe OR rooms. We see some of the most incredible recoveries,
crooked legs becoming straight, eye sight being restored and futures
becoming bright again. We almost get used to seeing miracles everyday
and with that routine we forget that the extraordinary is happening
everyday on this ship.
Lots of crooked legs becoming straight in this picture!
Extraordinary joy and hope being restored
Dignity, love and strength made new for these ladies!
I don't ever want to stop being in awe
of the extraordinary but the reality is some days its hard and in the
end, despite all of our resources, knowledge and technology sometimes
the expectations are still not met. Which brings me back to reality. It
reminds me that we are only human. That even though we work diligently
with our hands, resources and knowledge it isn't always enough.
But God. He is enough. He is more than enough to make up for our faults,
failures, inadequacies and can make a way in situations that seem they
have no way. He controls every circumstance. The ones that we think we
have control over and the ones that we clearly don't have control of. He
is enough for the false expectations, loss of hope and discouragement
that the patients and even myself feel at times. When modern medicine
and humans fail us He is enough. Abundantly more than enough. And that
is what I cling to. That is what gives me strength. I don't have to bear
all of the burdens. I don't have to have all the answers. I can turn
them all over to a loving, kind, merciful God who loves these patients
more than I ever could. My human love and compassion will never compare
to His. And the more you experience God's love the more you realize how
true that is.
“If
you look at the world, you'll be distressed.
If you look within, you'll
be depressed.
If you look at God you'll be at rest.”
Corrie Ten Boom
I'm starting to plan for my return home, which includes booking flights,
job searching and organizing things for my departure from the ship.
Leaving this ship, these people and the patients is so bittersweet.
Pray for me as I begin to organize all of this and seek to enjoy and
finish my time here in Cameroon well. I will do some traveling before
coming home but will be back around the beginning of January.
Please continue to pray for our patients as they heal, for the country
and government of Cameroon and for good health, strength and unity among
all of the crew members.
