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... :)

happy holidays from half a world away

Happy New Year!

Sometimes it's hard to believe that I just celebrated Christmas and New Years in Madagascar. I never would have imagined that that this would be my life. I love that God has known this plan for my life long before I ever did, and that I am growing in my faith each day as I see His amazing plans unfold, and the way He is working in my life and in the lives of those around me. I get to witness miracles on this hospital ship, and that is better than any Christmas gift I could ever receive.

With the Christmas holiday comes the longing to be home with family and close friends, to share in traditions from generations past.  I was honestly not looking forward to Christmas very much this year, being so far from my family, and with a day shift to work on Christmas morning. I am so glad that, without me even asking, God completely changed my heart and blessed me with an amazing shift at work. Christmas morning was so much fun on the wards, everyone was so excited to celebrate with each other... the nurses, the patients, the caregivers, the day crew from Madagascar. We all greeted each other with huge smiles on our faces, played games, had an impromptu dance party, then had a ward church service and worship finished off with handing out bags of gifts for every patient and caregiver on the ward. 

One of our patients, Erissa, spent a lot of the day hugging me, giggling, grabbing my hand to go for a walk in the hallways with her, and giving me kisses on the cheeks. My heart was just so full, in ways I didn't think it could be on this Christmas day so far from home. It was such a joy to share this day in such a special way. I then got to spend time with some of my close friends opening gifts and sharing stories. It was nice to know that, while I am away from my family in the states, I have my own family here and am so thankful for that. To top it off, I had the most amazing gift from my brother of a video of friends and family from all over, wishing me a Merry Christmas. I cried and laughed through the whole video and just felt so loved. I then got to Skype with my family to see them and spend time with them!

The following week, our plastic surgeon arrived to the ship and we began preparations for plastic surgeries! I got to work with the screening team on Monday and Tuesday, screening the potential plastic surgery patients for this year.  It was so great to be a part of this! I helped to do vital signs, weights, and health histories on patients. Then, for those who were given appointments, I got to educate about what to expect with their surgery, give them nutritional supplements and instructions on how to take them, and tell them when to return! It was so exciting to see the patients before their surgeries, to see fingers and toes fused together that we can release, to see wrists and feet and necks contracted into tight positions from burn wounds, knowing that we can help to restore function and movement. What a joy to see the patients and caregivers faces light up when we describe what we can do to help them with this problem they had just resolved to live with, until the hospital ship showed up offering them a free surgery. 

It is especially great to be a part of the screening process knowing that I am one of the first contacts they will have with the ship. It is such a big responsibility and blessing to get to start the process of developing trust with them, to show them God's love, to look them in the eye, or hold their hand, because they are so much more than their disfigurement. When they start to believe that, the most amazing transformations happen, not of their limbs, but of their hearts. One little girl came late with her mother to screening, and thus were the last to be seen, as we did not know they had come.  She had gigantism of one of her toes, she shyly showed me her foot so that I would see the problem. She stood holding her mother's hand, patiently waiting. I got out the bubbles and she slowly started playing with me, then started running all around to pop the bubbles. I entertained her with a rubber glove balloon with a face drawn on it. She started giggling and playing with these toys. Once we sat down to go over the health history, she walked over and stood behind me, resting her arm comfortably on my shoulder and talking away in Malagasy to me, giggling after every couple sentences. I would tickle her and a belly laugh would erupt. This simple interaction and transformation, from a shy girl with an over-sized toe, to a beautiful, giggling girl without a worry in the world. These are the miracles I get to witness. And this is just the beginning of her journey with Mercy Ships. And when I remember this, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude that I am here, at this time. That I have been called to serve the people of Madagascar with Mercy Ships, that I am so blessed to have the chance to be here, that I receive so much fulfillment in so many ways. I hope to not forget this, and to take all of the blessings I've been given, and turn it around to bless others and love them fully. This is not so much a New Year's resolution, as it is a life-long resolution, that doesn't have to start on January 1st, but with every new day.

Happy New Year 2015, from beautiful Tamatave, Madagascar.

Ortho Kids!

We are now in our last week of surgeries here on the Africa Mercy, and I am continuously amazed by how time flies here! I am currently a pediatric orthopedic nurse! This is pretty far from what I do at home, and where my comfort level lies, but I am loving it. These kids come in with various bone deformities, including clubbed feet, knocked knees, and bowed legs. They walk on the sides of their feet, kick a soccer ball with the outside of their foot because for them it is the front of the foot. They limp, some with a very painful gait, and some are still carried by mothers and fathers because of such difficulty walking. From all walks of life, quite literally, they made their way to this floating hospital ship and into my heart. The joy on the ward is indescribable, and really only understood when felt. While we have our fair share of upset, crying children with fear, pain, or itching, but mostly we have a huge amount of happiness! Bubble blowing, playing with balloons, cards, Jenga, dancing, singing, coloring, crafting, and so much giggling happen each day. It is so fun to see the smiles on these kids' faces, and the blessing of love and joy that they pour out to each of us. There is nothing better than cuddles from kids bearing casts on both legs, sitting in your lap playing games and looking up to you with happiness and love in their eyes. And, I must say, nothing cuter than 3-year-olds walking on two casted legs using a tiny walkers for assistance!

This is Judianah, she is 3 years old. She has bowed legs that were made straight on our floating hospital! After a few days of fear, she gained the strength and courage to start walking, and soon she was walking all around the ward, and up and down the corridor with her walker, sharing giggles and cuddles with everyone along the way.

Sandrins is a beautiful 8-year old girl. She is a twin. She had a club foot on the right, but her twin sister did not.  Her mom and her came to the ship, and were given a surgery date! She took a little while to warm up to us at first, and then quickly found her way into our hearts. She loves to have her nails painted, but loves to paint ours even more. She's also very good at placing stickers all over your face. 

This is Priscilla. One of the happiest kids we had on the ward. She is 4 years old, and used to have bowed legs (no more!). She loves to tickle us, erupting in laughter each time we jump. She walked around with her walker and her leg casts, making pit stops with each nurse she found. She slumped across my lap, cuddling and giggling as we blew up balloons and colored together. She repeated English phrases back, yelling out "Mercy Ships!!!" and then letting out a big belly laugh. She certainly spread a whole lot of joy on B ward!

Meet Nestore! He is 14 years old and came in with a club foot on his left foot. The minute he walked through the B ward doors, he won us over. He has very rarely been seen without a smile. His smile is so big, genuine, and joyful, that you cannot help but to smile too! He absolutely radiates joy. One of my first memories of him was right when he was admitted. Most patients here come in a little unsure of this big white hospital ship, all the nurses and doctors (understandably) ... they usually take a little time to acclimate to the ward and the way things work here, as well as warm up to the nurses! Not Nestore. I looked over at him as he sat in his bed facing the girl next to him who had just returned from surgery. He flashed his signature giant smile right at her to cheer her up. I won't forget that moment, or his smile! 

I worked night shifts this weekend. While this generally isn't a favored shift due to the crazy sleep schedule, I found that I was blessed in ways that I wouldn't have been had I worked during the day or evening. One of our lovely 14-year old patients was sitting up in bed in the dark, and my colleague was concerned, so she shone her flashlight to check everything was ok. The patient was sitting in the dark with her Bible about an inch from her face, trying to read in the dark as everyone around her slept. We gave her a flashlight and just relished the moment.  I was taking care of an 8-year old boy who battles with severely itching casts, always in the middle of the night. We were struggling with the best way to help him as he would refuse his medications due to being so upset. After praying for him and rubbing his back with lotion, he began to calm and the tears stopped as he agreed to take medicine and slowly drifted off to sleep. He would not completely fall asleep without us holding his hand and sitting right next to him. This morning, early in the morning, I had to wake many of my young patients for medications and for pre-operative washes, vital signs, etc. Soon the whole ward was awake. 9-year old Bernadette was giggling at me as she made her way on crutches to the bathroom. 14-year old Nestore flashed his giant smile as he sat next to the nurses station with his foot up, then went for his first walk of the day up and down the corridor, bearing weight on his foot as much as tolerable. Two more of my little guys who had been sleeping so hard, woke up, sitting up and playing and giggling, ready for tickle fights at 6:00 in the morning!  What a way to end a shift. More importantly, what a way to begin the day for these amazing kids! If only I could wake up and spread joy so instantly. I am constantly inspired and learning from these kiddos.

 

Madagascar!

The ship from the water as we pull into the port in Tamatave!

We made it to Madagascar!!! After many changes in location and timing, we made it to Toamasina (Tamatave), Madagascar.  I can’t believe I left the states a whole month ago! So what have I been up to? Quite a lot, actually! It’s been a whirlwind… I flew to South Africa, explored for a couple days, sailed a very choppy ocean from Cape Town, South Africa to Toamasina (Tamatave), Madagascar, started exploring our new port city, worked at cleaning the whole hospital, doing loads and loads of laundry, went on a weekend adventure, and met some amazing people along the way!

Table mountain in Cape Town, from the water

Our sail from Cape Town to Tamatave was 9 days long. This was my very first sail with the ship, and guess what? From what I’ve been told, it was one of the roughest sails this ship has ever had.  We had up to 30 degree tilts from one side to another.  At times it was entertaining, walking sideways down the hallways, our chairs sliding one way and then the other during meals, holding onto all of our silverware, plates, and cups so they don’t crash to the ground or in our laps with each big swell.  It also got a little exhausting as sleep was hard to come by for a few extremely rocky nights due to noise and continuous sliding up and down in bed! Regardless, I must say I loved to be on this amazing hospital ship as we were sailing (and, bonus: I learned I don't get sea sick!). I got to stand outside and watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean down into the horizon, lighting up the sky with amazing colors. I saw a couple whales and dolphins. I saw some amazing stars in the sky. I could stand outside and stare at the giant ocean swells for hours. It was really beautiful.

The president of Madagascar welcomes us!

  This country is amazing, and I'm so excited that I will be here for 8 months with Mercy Ships!  The culture is a beautiful mixture of Asian and Polynesian influences mixed with West and East African influences. This is reflected in the colors, the people, the food, the music.  I have found the people to be extremely welcoming and friendly.

Streets of Tamatave

Everyone tells us they are so happy we are here, and that our timing could not be more perfect.  Local Malagasy people and various NGO's alike tell us we are here at exactly the right time. Only about 2 months earlier would have been bad due to political unrest, but we are told the need here is huge.  It’s just amazing to hear that, although we as crew had no idea we would be here at this time (just a few months ago, I had my ticket ready to meet the ship in Benin, which of course never happened!), God knew and had a plan for us. His timing really is perfect, and we get to see this firsthand. 

During the sail, all of the nurses got our orientation. Once we arrived, we quickly got to work to clean and double clean the hospital and get all the wards ready to receive patients. Our whole team of nurses donned our work gear and unpacked and cleaned everything, top to bottom. We did (and are still doing) loads upon loads of hospital laundry. We set up the medication cabinets and the carts full of medical supplies. Plumbing issues are resolved, curtains are hung, and beds are made, ready to receive patients.

beautiful Mohambo beach

Over the last weekend, I got to take an overnight trip a couple hours north to a town called Mohambo. We somehow navigated the bus system and made it to a beautiful beach town. We found a bungalow to stay in for the night, found the beach, got to swim in the Indian Ocean (we cannot do this near the ship due to high shark population!), and found some great food. Not to mention, we saw our first lemurs when having a drink at a restaurant in town, hopping from tree to tree! In the evening we watched the sun set over the beach, an incredibly beautiful sight, followed by amazing star gazing (no electricity really helps amplify the glorious stars in the sky), complete with shooting stars. It was a wonderful, relaxed weekend with great friends.

Patient screening started this week. We have a site set up here in Tamatave, and this field service, screening will occur Monday through Friday for a few weeks here in town, and then continue at other sites throughout the country while we are here.  

I got to help with security on Wednesday, which is to help with crowd control, but mostly I got to play with kids in the line, drawing pictures in the dirt and blowing bubbles. It is both exciting and hard at the same time, to see people we may be able to help, but also those who we cannot. The screening team does such an amazing job, and it is so hard. I'm so thankful for their work and for the way they share God's love with each person they come into contact with, regardless of their "yes" or "no" status...

We have already booked some appointments for surgeries! I cannot wait to welcome our first patients onto the ship on Monday, with surgeries starting Tuesday! On B ward (the ward I will be primarily be working on), we will start with orthopedic surgeries, fixing club feet, knocked knees, bowed legs, and more! I am so excited to get started and have the wards full of patients, caregivers, and day crew from this beautiful country I am already coming to love.  

Thanks for bearing with my long, sporadic post! I can't wait to share more stories as the field service continues. In the meantime, I would ask for prayer requests for the screening team, that the people who show up are people who Mercy Ships can help, that they have joy in the "yeses" and strength in the "no's". For our orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Frank, as he starts surgeries this week. For great outcomes, better than we could imagine, and minimal pain for our patients. For continued energy and excitement for all of the nurses as we start this amazing journey together.  Thank you! I can't wait to share soon about some of our amazing patients!

True Beauty

What have I been up to these past few weeks? Well, I've been busy at work with the AMAZING ladies on B ward, the VVF ladies. These are women with obstetric fistulas, from prolonged child labor. Some have vesico-vaginal fistulas, a hole between the vagina and bladder, so that they constantly leak urine. Others have a rectal-vaginal fistula, a hole between the rectum and vagina, leaking stool from the vagina. These defects are caused from prolonged labor, lasting for days. The fetus' positioning for a long period of time presses on the soft tissue and creates the hole, or fistula. 

Once these women finally are able to get help, often through a C-section or "forceful" removal of the fetus, the baby is often stillborn. The ladies then wake up and they are leaking and do not understand why.  A common story among these women is that they are abandoned by their families, by their husband and sometimes previous children as well, because they leak and they smell. Through no fault of their own. They often hide out in remote locations to avoid ridicule, or taunting. They live a life feeling unwanted, unloved, and undeserving of love. It is a life I can never imagine. 

Despite their situations, these women bring and share enormous amounts of joy with all of us on board. We are so blessed and lucky to share love with them (the easiest job in the world!)... but they love us in return and show us each day. We slowly warm up to each other... At first a hand on the shoulder, then a hug, then a daily kiss on each cheek to greet one another... The trust slowly builds and soon I walk onto the ward to hear "Molly!" called out from various beds followed by joyful greetings that make ME feel so loved! (Hey, wait, isn't that MY job? To love on THEM?)

We hold hands. We knit together, play games together. We sing songs and dance together, followed of course by laughter at how funny I look when I dance for them. We rejoice when surgeries are successful, and we cry together when they don't. We pray together regardless of the outcome. We become sisters in Christ and my heart will never be the same. There will always, always be a giant piece of my heart that is reserved for the obstetric fistula ladies. They stole it in Togo, and they stole it here in Congo. They are simply amazing.

This week has been a bit rough as some of the ladies are leaking after their surgeries. We have had many successes and so much to be thankful for, but are lately struggling with feeling a bit defeated. There have been many tears shed as some patients, and us nurses at times, have felt hopeless in the physical rehabilitation of these women. We also know that we need to trust fully in God and know that He has a plan and that we can lean on Him in everything. I just pray for healing, knowing that miracles have and can continue to happen. And regardless of the surgical outcome, I pray that they are filled up with God's love and grace and peace and come to know Him better than ever. I am also asking that anybody reading this will include these incredible women in your prayers. They are such beautiful, loving, unconditionally faithful women, and have set an amazing example of how to trust in and lean on God through any circumstance, even when we don't understand why those circumstances exist.