A Bizarre Medical Case

I was not aware that bones that heal improperly could cause no pain. I was not aware that a bone sticking out of skin will not necessarily bring infection or pain. I was not aware that a child could walk and even run on a broken leg. But a few days ago, I learned something new.

An 8 year old boy was brought to my door. A relative of one of the women that I know here. He had walked back with her from a village about 10km away. I was completely shocked at the sight of the front shin bone sticking out of his leg. You could see the marrow in the bone! The boy sat stoically showing no sign of discomfort.

I asked some obvious questions. "When did this happen?" 

Four years ago. 

"FOUR YEARS AGO? Why did you wait so long to seek help?" 

His father is dead and his relatives had no money. They took him to a clinic and they gave him some medicine to drink. 

"Is it painful?" 

No. 

"Can he walk on it?" 

Oh, he can run on it. 

I was shocked to say the least.

But the child has grown a lot in four years and there is obvious internal damage. His growth plates are growing improperly and his bones are growing improperly. I have no idea how it looks inside but externally it looks bad. The leg is stunted and thick and the child is bent over when he walks or runs. Yet he is managing, but for how long?

There is a hospital in Addis that does professional surgeries for free for children under the age of 16. And so since this apparently not an emergency, a consultation appointment will take place in September and hopefully surgery will follow immediately or in the coming months. It sounds like there is a long waiting list but my hope is to see this boy running in a year's time healed from surgery. My hope is that this boy and this family might know the Lord through all that will come.

A Baby Lives

When a malnourished child is brought to my front door, I admit that my heart drops. By the time, this child is brought to my door, it is usually after the family has visited the witchdoctor and attempted to use medicine rather than food to bring healing. Malnourishment is often brought on as a result of being weaned abruptly because a new born enters the family. Then, the mother's love and care for the infant takes priority over the one or two year old whose nutrition begins to decline. Families who have goats or cows would be able to continue giving that child much needed milk, but such families are few.

The situation worsens when a mother dies in childbirth. This was the case with the little boy who came to my door. Not only was his mother deceased, his father was also and he was now in the care of his aged grandmother who comes from one of the poorest villages around us.

I took one look at this 10 month old baby and thought to myself, "It will be a miracle if this child lives." But I couldn't close my door. Though the child's eyes were sunken and the bones seemed to protrude from his loosened skin; though there was no strength in his muscles and no life in his eyes; I knew I had to give what I had. I offered to give milk powder on a weekly basis. This 80 lb grandmother, stooped with age, seemed barely to have strength enough to care for her own needs but when I handed her the mixture of milk powder and sugar, she said, "I will return each week as you asked." And she has.

That first day, I handed her a tiny cup of milk and she fed this little boy sip by sip. He couldn't even finish 1/4 cup; the effort was too much. Week after week, this grandmother returned and it seemed the effort was meaningless. No weight gain. No strength. How could it be that this child was not any stronger!?

2 months later, I asked the grandmother if she had seen any change. "Oh yes! He is much stronger than before. He is starting to talk and play and hold the cup by himself." And it was true. He was now able to finish the small cup full of milk without falling asleep. He had a spark in his eye. The improvement seemed very slow but we continued. Then he fell headfirst into a fire and his face was covered in burns. They took a month to heal.

6 months of milk added to a Gumuz diet of porridge and beans and this little boy crawls with great speed. He laughs and talks and stands and is full of spunk. His grandmother was told to visit the witchdoctor because he was more than a year and still not walking. She answered, "Look how strong he is, why should I give a goat when I know he will soon walk!" And it is true. He is taking his first steps. And all who see him are amazed.

And I wonder. Has God kept this child alive for a purpose? Will he one day be one who shares the gospel with his people, his village and beyond? After all, God saved Moses against all odds. He gave Hannah, Samuel and He gave Elizabeth, John. Against all odds, God uses those who are weak to do great things. Because of a faithful grandmother, because the Lord has a purpose, this little boy who was on the brink of death is filled with laughter and strength.

After the Fire

These are tough times in Gesses. The judgement has still not been given out in regards to the fire episode. Court cases are held on Sundays and the verdict will be given out at that time. We enjoyed a relatively "normal" day in Gesses. Rolf had some meetings and teaching times, we did school and several health issues came to our door including a man with a swollen foot that had cracked due to the pressure.

Then late afternoon just as the day's activities were drawing to a close, several Gumuz came running with the news that there was a hit and run. A older woman from one of the villages on Gesses mountain, was hit by a pick up truck and left on the road. Head injury, back and shoulder injuries and a broken ankle. Rolf was the only ambulance option and the relatives persisted that she needed to go to Pawi which is a hospital 1.5 hours away.

Rolf and Joel left at 5:30pm which should have gotten them to Pawi by nightfall. Network was bad but I was finally able to get through at 8pm. They had just arrived. The road was a mess...worse than usual. Construction and bulldozers everywhere. The woman was still alive after being bounced around on the unforgiving road.

My two men will spend the night in some dark motel tonight with hopefully some bread and water to sustain them. In the morning, they will find out how the woman has fared. Transport is difficult which makes all decisions challenging. Hoping that it will be clear by morning.

Despite the driver's hopeful getaway, he was caught at the next town. As one Gumuz said, "The phone is a gift from God." They phoned the town with the details of the pickup truck with a missing mirror. He may not have made the best decision but all drivers fear hitting a pedestrians. Their own lives are in danger.

My menfolk are tired and need some sleep. The driver needs grace. This woman needs a miracle.