Monday October 24, 2005
We had a family come to the clinic today and tell us that their son who is
prone to seizers had one last night and fell into the fire. It's been one
year ago and the same thing happened to the same guy. Since they live so
far away the family did not want to carry the boy to the clinic even though
they admitted t hat his clothes were stuck to him from the burns and it was
even worse than the year before.
Last year when he was burned they brought him reluctantly and it was a
grueling difficult task to take care of him. Since there is no way to do
skin graphs here it had to be a constant job of changing his dressing,
feeding him, cleaning him, etc. He was burned from the waist down and they
were afraid of infections so much that the nurse was sure he would die. It
was only a short matter of weeks and he insisted he was going home even
though he was far from ready and so in the middle of the night he began to
drag himself (he had no use of his legs because of the burns) back the long
way to his house. Someone met him on the trail and had pity of him before
he got real far and took him the rest of the way. Wendy (the nurse) prayed
but was sure that he would not heal at home and thought for sure he wasn't
going to make it. But he lived, and continued to heal until all he had left
was a small patch on his knee yet to heal.
That was all until last night when his seizure sent him into the fire again.
He was burned as bad or worse than before, this time burn upon already
burned skin. His family came early this morning but didn't want to bring
him because he was big now and they live a long way away. They asked for
medicine to take back to him along with instructions on how to take care of
him.
In Palawan the hygiene of most people is not top priority. They go weeks
without bathing and even longer before washing their clothes (if they wear
them). The floor of their houses serves as an all around, dinner table,
bathroom, and bed. Wendy knew there was no way these people (who live some
distance from the nearest water source, which would need to be boiled daily
for the dressings, etc.) would be able to give him the care that he so
desperately needs.
Wendy explained to the family that he needed to be brought to the clinic, or
down to the lowlands to the hospital or he would probably die. Finally
after a lot of coercing they decided to ask the teachers of the school to
help carry him back to the clinic. The teacher of level 2 agreed right away
and two other students, that was it.
Then, it began to rain. As school was finishing up it began to rain cats
and dogs. When it came time for the helpers to go and get the boy to bring
him to the clinic, there was only one willing person. The trails are
excruciatingly rough when they are dry and then to add water and mud into
the picture, walking alone can be nearly impossible, let alone carrying
someone on a stretcher.
But the family decided finally that they were going to take him down to the
hospital in the lowlands no matter what. They were reassured of someone who
would be there to meet them and give them a place to stay. Wendy, Becky,
and I went back to the school and asked one more time if there was anyone
willing to go. The teacher (Nickson) and two other students agreed to help.
Within minutes the rain had slowed to a sprinkle (due to much prayer I'm
sure) and the group was ready to go. We said a couple prayers and they were
on their way. They were expected to get there about an hour and a half
later where they'd eat food quick, and then take the boy down to the
lowlands hopefully all before sundown (with God's speed).
As of now (7:00pm Monday Oct. 24) we have still heard no word of how they
are doing, but we pray that God's angels watch over them and that they make
it there safely and soon.
Please pray for the injured boy and his family as they desperately need to
know of the power of God. Pray that the doctors in the lowlands will know
what to do and have the resources available with which to do it, and that
God's name is lifted up through this endeavor. Pray that the faith of the
people involved will be strengthened by this as well.
I'll keep you posted,
Kiana
"That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of
God." I Cor. 2:5
October 25, 2005
The team arrived with the patient and his family safely last evening. He is
now in the hospital in Brookes point and the doctors there are treating him
as best they can. They said something about being able to put him to sleep
while they operate which is a step above what we'd be able to do for him.
To be continued in "A Happy Birthday" email.
