Ordinary Miracles.

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. 

~ Job 5:9 ~

Plastics surgeries are up, running, and coming to an end. Whew! I feel like just yesterday I was talking with my friends here, saying how we couldn't believe we were finally starting plastics surgeries! And this week, we are saying goodbye to our friend and plastic surgeon, Dr. Tertius Venter.

our team, minus Sarah!

Our plastics dressings team is in full swing, and although surgeries are ending, we still have lots of wounds to take care of to keep us busy for several more weeks.  I am loving doing the dressing changes.

our treatment room for dressing changes!

I have gained so many valuable skills, from wound debridement to suture and staple removals to problem-solving slough and pressure sores, to (my new favorite skill) removing K Wires. This isn't always an easy job, as we often are equated with causing pain during the dressing changes, from kids to adults. I hate that part, but I love seeing the wounds heal and feel so lucky to be a part of healing and restoration for these patients! I see arms, necks, fingers, toes, ankles transform from limbs distorted, twisted, and bent into unnatural positions... released! I see them bend and straighten their arms (through pain, initially), or wiggle their separate fingers, for the first time in years. I see smiles that were limited by restricted movement of their neck and chin brightly and completely light up their face. I get to witness miracles! Every day! It is amazing to me that these daily miracles have become normal, ordinary occurrences in this place.  But they aren't normal. And not everybody can say they witness miracles. Maybe that's also about perspective. You can't witness a miracle if you don't believe in them.  I just feel overwhelmingly loved and blessed that I can see this first-hand, and that I get to be with these patients through their transformations.


 I got to work with the team during screening days just before we started plastic surgeries. It is so great to look back and see the patients who I did health histories on, who were so timid and unsure of this place, who were restricted by burn contractures.
This is Windy, who I met before he got his appointment card for surgery. He suffered burn wounds which resulted in large keloid scars across his face, neck, and left arm, and restricted movement to his left axilla and elbow. We were able to remove some keloids on his face and released contractures to his elbow and axilla so he can now flex and extend his left arm much more than before! His personality was one of the most joyful on the wards. He is extremely smart. He can speak French and Malagasy, and is learning English and even some German in school! His English was getting better and better each time I saw him. He would sing songs throughout his dressing changes, and teach us some Malagasy words as we helped him with some English words. He learned extremely fast, and impressed us all with his ability to learn and memorize all of our first and last names within seconds. He is now in the Hope Center, and without fail, whenever we visit him, he will call out our full names, run to us, hold our hands, play games, and giggle with us until we leave. His journey has been such an amazing blessing to see!

This father-daughter duo came to use, each with large neurofibromas. Jean Robert had a large neurofibroma removed from his arm. Minette, his daughter, had a 7.5 pound tumor removed, which originated from the back of her head/neck, and ended at her lower back.  Her post-op x-ray of her neck revealed a cervical spine that, instead of being straight, was compressed and crooked. It is a miracle in itself that she can walk! But the biggest miracle was the transformation we saw in their souls. 

Minette was very reserved, rarely smiled, rarely made eye contact.  She very slowly began to accept the love all of the nurses, caregivers, day crew, fellow patients, and crew of the Africa Mercy gave her daily.  Her smile very slowly began to spread across her face, and now it is apparent for all to see. She is changed. Her tumor is gone, that is obvious, but more obvious is her joy, that she now shares with all those lucky enough to experience it. 

 

 There have been a lot of extra digits removed, and fused digits separated, this year on the Africa Mercy!  These adorable twins are a cute little example! They each had 3 limbs operated on, one with two feet and a hand, the other two hands and a foot! Extra toes and fingers abound, they were certainly an adorable, dynamic duo. Dr. Tertius has been hard at work with these operations. There are polydactylys, which are extra fingers or toes, removed in surgery. There are also syndactylys, which is when two digits are fused together, separated in surgery using skin grafts to cover the spaces between the digits. While the wound care can be difficult, as they are small areas to cover with dressings (especially with the little kids who squirm and move due to fear and pain as you try to dress them!), it is really amazing to see these new digits move freely. 

Windy and Fandresena became very fast friends during their time on the ship! I told you about Windy's story. Fandresena was also a victim of burn wounds. He was left inside a burning house as a baby, but he is a walking miracle survivor. Not only did he survive the fire, but he maintained a strong, confident, happy personally through it all. His father is a big reason for that, he has instilled confidence and love into his child in such a big way! Fandresena had surgery to release contractures in his right hand and fingers. He is full of laughter and exudes joy wherever he goes. 

He and Windy hung out on the wards together a lot, always playing games and giggling together. They even got discharged to the Hope Center on the same day, and can be found causing trouble there together now! :) I hope that this friendship and bond will be a lifelong one for these two amazing kiddos.

Here's little Tsanta ("Santa"), who had a burn contracture to her neck released. Instead of her face and chin pulled down to her chest, she can now reveal that beautiful smile confidently and painlessly, and move her head up and down with normal range of motion! Just another ordinary miracle on this ordinary floating hospital ship here in Madagascar... :)