Miracles happen every day here. I know they happen every day all over the world, but here... it's tangible. Every single day there is a miracle. Patients are receiving sight for the first time in years or even a lifetime. Life threatening tumors are being removed. Babies are getting an opportunity to gain weight and thrive because their cleft palate is repaired. Mamas are seeing their children in a new way, as a child who might grow up to prosper. Local surgeons are learning new techniques. Patients are asking the nurses, "Why are you working here without pay?" And we get to tell them that Christ has called us to this place. Miracles are happening all the time.
In the last several weeks, plastic surgeons have served aboard the Africa Mercy. I've had the privilege of taking care of patients who have had deformities from injuries, accidents and often burns. Many times our patients have been unable to function in day to day life. Last week, I took care of a woman who had been in a car accident, and as a result, couldn't close her left eye. This can actually cause damage to the eye itself. Another woman had a burn so severe when she was three days old, that her chin was attached to her chest and she had almost no use of her right hand. Yet another patient couldn't move his right hand, wrist and fingers after some neighborhood boys pushed him into a fire. The surgeries being performed here not only change appearance, but give function. For a patient, who didn't expect things to ever change, these surgeries are such a miracle!
If you don't know about plastic surgery, let me tell you how miraculous it is. The surgeon takes a "skin graft," which is a piece of healthy skin (often from the thigh) and transplants it where there is a deformity. Isn't that amazing?! The skin graft and the donor site must be cared for very carefully, the dressing must not be changed for days. An infection can wreak havoc. Here on the ship we have a team of nurses that do the dressing changes which require much time and attention. In some cases, the patients' muscles have atrophied from not using a limb. We have therapists- physical, occupational, even a hand therapist who teach the patients to do exercises which promote blood flow and stretch the effected area. Nutrition is very important for wound healing and all of the plastics patients are on iron, multivitamins, protein and supplements. We have a nutritionist, who assesses the patients needs. In fact, when the ship recently ran out of tube feeding solution, the nutritionist devised a recipe for our very own batch! (Ensure on the Africa Mercy = milk + liquid multivitamin + peanut butter + fiber powder + sugar + the loving care of the nursing staff + blender). There are lab technicians, pharmacists and radiographers. All of these medical professionals put their egos aside and work as a team, crediting God with the miracles happening every day. If you've ever worked in a hospital, believe me, that alone is a miracle!
Some of the plastics patients will be here for two or three weeks, and due to the risk of infection, are not allowed to go to Deck 7 for fresh air. We have a Chaplaincy team, a group of local day workers that visit with the patients, counsel them, play games, advocate for the patients and when appropriate minister to them. The Chaplaincy team helps the patients to cope with boredom, a change in appearance, the stress of being away from family for a long time. They help to heal spiritual wounds caused by years of deformity and shame. We even have an entire ship full of people praying against infection and for good outcomes! I can't tell you how many nurses, physicians, staff members will interact with each patient while they are here, but every single one plays an important part in the miracle of healing.
On the Africa Mercy, patients have access to clean water, constant electricity, medications and 24/7 nursing care. If a person is hospitalized in Guinea, they can't count on being provided with any of these things. This takes engineers, stewards, specialized and trained crew, even a captain to keep the ship running for our patients. It is a true miracle that this place runs at all, not to mention smoothly.
I believe it's all a miracle from God. I can't believe I get to be a small part of it.
This is a 'before picture' of a lovely woman I've been taking care of, one of our surgeons and a day worker. In one day, this patient had both neck and hand surgery. After some rough days post-op, she is recovering well. It's been a pleasure seeing her heal!
