You know those jitters you get when you start something new? The excitement. The nervousness. Well, my stomach was a little unsure of itself as I walked into Otona Hospital. My first day at the new hospital. Three patients had just had babies in the
last hour, we had about 30 patients to round on, five uteruses to remove along with putting female parts back inside, two normal deliveries and a c-section. There are also about 20 nursing students and 25 health officer students that are on the service that you teach when you have chance. My day ended with sectioning a woman for fetal distress. The baby died because of congenital anomalies within minutes of birth. And that is a normal day.
Here is the rest of the story…. There was no running water for the first three cases, so you take water out of a bucket that has a small layer of grime on it to scrub before cases. There is not a single thermometer in the entire hospital. You ask the patients if they feel like they have a fever and touch them to see if you can feel one. There are two blood pressure cuffs in the entire hospital, about 200 beds. Probably 10% of the patients have no shoes.
The nurses had never seen a doppler or heard the heart beat of a baby through one. I had to show them how to use it. The employee bathroom wreaks of urine and the floor is always wet. There is a bath tub they fill with water, when it is running, so you can flush the toilet and wash your hands. One patient I saw had been in the hospital for 3 weeks. One vital sign taken the entire time she was in the hospital and it was abnormal. It is amazing what they are able to accomplish with the lack of resources
Now let me tell you about my Thursday. Surgery was supposed to start at 8 am. We had seven major cases lined up for the day. They had not one single clean gown or set of instruments, so surgery was delayed until the afternoon. We decided to round. While rounding a patient was brought in seizing. She was 18 years old and pregnant with her first baby. She had started having headaches a few days back and then started seizing. It took the family four hours to get to the hospital. Her tongue was swollen from biting it and impeding her airway. We induced the pregnancy because mom was for sure going to die if we didn’t. We treated her for eclampsia, cerebral malaria and meningitis. We also gave her on oxygen, but all we have are nasal cannulas. No masks. No ventilators. On oxygen she was hypoxic (32-76%. I never saw it higher than 76%). She continued to seize through out the entire day despite everything that we were trying.
We had other patients to see, so we kept working our way through them. A septic abortion… a “ovarian mass” that was really a bowel cancer that had to be resected by the OB because there was no general surgeon and now her incision was infected… a destructive delivery…. obstructed labor… a woman with a placenta previa… hyperemesis…. pregnant patient with typhoid… a post operative infection… 2 mothers with HIV…
Side note. Dr. A’s stomach had a nice loud growl. I asked if he was hungry. He said no, so I must have giardia or worms again.
After rounding I went to the labor ward and helped with two deliveries. Each time I thought I could sneak out for lunch I was called back in to help. Then, it was time to start our seven surgical cases. As we were getting ready to start our cases, a woman with a ruptured uterus came in. We preceded with two hysterectomies and pelvic reconstruction and THEN did the ruptured uterus. The baby had tried to come out forehead first. It would have had six brothers and sisters, but he died in the birthing process. We removed him from her abdomen and then took her uterus out. During the case the electricity went out, but the sun was still up, so we could see. Her family refused to give any blood and refused to even pay to have her blood typed so we could give her some. The doctor, “Dr A”, I am working with went to the “blood bank”. A patient for surgery the next day had blood available so he took hers, O positive, and transfused it hoping that she wouldn’t react. When she left the OR she had no pulses in her arms or legs.
Another woman came in and needed a c-section and Dr. A had clinic, so I did the c-section. We still didn’t have any electricity and the sun was going down. When the electricity goes out you call the man that lives in the house next to the generator for the hospital to turn it on. The generator was broken. Thank you Walmart for the
head flashlight. In the middle of the case, one of the midwives came in to let me know that we had a woman who came in with the umbilical cord and the arm of a baby hanging out. The baby was dead. I went to OB to evaluate her. The halls were pitch black. I was glad I had a flashlight so I wouldn’t step on patients or their families sleeping in the halls. I noticed a new scent in the hospital, candles. The patients that could afford candles put them on the ends of the beds so they would have light in their rooms/hall.
We sent the family to the pharmacy to get all the supplies (IV, IV fluids, antibiotics, etc). Forty five minutes later they returned to let us know they had been waiting at the hospital pharmacy, but the pharmacist was gone. Maybe he wanted some tea. I had no way to reach the pharmacist. We brought the patient to the OR and the staff had left so we had no supplies AND were waiting for the night staff to arrive. We decided to attempt a destructive delivery. In the process her uterus ruptured. They had found a big OR battery operated light, so we weren’t relying on my little head lamp any longer. The general practitioner and I opened her and started her hysterectomy. Her bladder had also ruptured. We had no ureteral catheters, so we used feeding tubes.
Dr. A returned during the case to help with the intensions of doing three more cases that we hadn’t been able to do during the day. It was about 10pm by this time. We had only done 2 of the seven scheduled cases. Since we still had no electricity he opted to wait until the next day.
After the case, I went to check on the patient that was seizing. Now keep in mind no electricity means no oxygen. She was blue and was coughing up yellow gunk. You could hear her breathing down the hall. She was no longer responding to stimuli. Thankfully, the baby was ready to come out. So I delivered the baby and then went home. There was nothing I could do but pray for her.
I had only been there for 16 hours. I had delivered three dead babies, done a surgery twice that I had never done and was almost certain I would show up the next morning to two more dead patient. Thank God I was wrong. The next morning both patients were alive and the seizing patient was actually responding. The hospital still didn’t have electricity or running water, but another day started.
Posted by Barbra at 01:26 PM.
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I think it is safe to generalize and say that no one can get too much of God’s word. From the most beautiful scriptures to the hard truths contained within, I believe the bible is alive, and sets us free with truth, hope, life, grace, mercy, love and revelation by the power of Holy Spirit. If you have not known this yet, I encourage you to give it a try for 2-4 weeks. If you seek God in His word and in His creation, He said He would reveal Himself to you. This is my prayer for all at Ludlati Carepoint and the surrounding community.
A few days back I received these pictures from Childrens HopeChest that bring great joy for me too see and share with you. Bibles delivered to our neighbor kids and Bomake at Ludlati Carepoint! These bibles came through God’s people who support the next carepoint down the road called Bheveni. Thanks to God working through Danielle Brower and her team of helpers, they arranged for some of the bibles from their bible drive be delivered to Ludlati Carepoint. A total of 500 bibles were sent, and they were so kind to share. It is an answer to prayer to see more hope and truth delivered and growing at Ludlati Carepoint. To God be the Glory!
Discipleship trainer Bheki is shown here giving a bible to Nikiwe.
Fakazile has received a bible from Discipleship trainer Bheki.
Bhonke holding his new bible!
Sibonosile checks out her new bible.
L to R: Dudu, Phol’sile (a new Bomake), Nonkululeko, and Phindile sit on the open cooking porch of the newly painted kitchen. Enjoy the Word of God!
I want to say thanks to everyone who participates in the KnownToMe.net on-line community! We appreciate hearing and seeing God’s plan unfold in your lives. I want to thank each of you who regularly and periodically give your time, efforts and financial support to our neighbor kids in Swaziland at Ludlati Carepoint. Please know or be reminded that the Bomake (boh-mah-gay - ladies who cook and work at the carepoint) literally thank God for the resources, letters and visiting team members provided by God through each of you.
In January a cry rang out in Swaziland as it does every year about the challenges of getting children into school. If school fees are not paid for a child, that child will not be allowed to go to school. 45% of kids in Swaziland can not go to school. There is also limited help the government provides to some orphaned kids, but even that is proving difficult as the government pays only a portion or none of the fees. For the Ludlati kids, a portion of the Ludlati Carepoint Sponsors monthly contributions is allocated to education funding. Once we reach 100% funding level, the budget will be available for all the Ludlati kids to go to school. Since we are currently at 58% funded, this created a short fall for some kids at Ludlati Carepoint this year. The staff on the ground also has to make some very difficult decisions in this regard. We inquired with Childrens HopeChest to see what the specific need was at Ludlati Carepoint. With a lot of great care, time and effort from the CHC/AIM workers on the ground and our discipleship trainers, we learned about the need to get seven more of our kids into school this year for $1850. We said a prayer and shared this need with just a few people, and saw the Lord provide the funds through three sources! Yeah! I met these kids during the trip last September, and I am so glad to see them get to go to school.
Last year we raised capital funds for a water well at Ludlati. During August of last year the well was drilled, but we were still waiting for the pump to be installed. During the Ludlati trip last September, the Adventures In Missions (AIM) staff manager, Jumbo, asked if we would be interested in upgrading the pump to solar power. The reliability of existing systems and desire to create the ability to irrigate a garden at Ludlati was good, and consistent with development plans for the carepoint. We agreed to take on the additional funding effort for the solar pump. To date we have raised most of the money for the equipment. We currently need $3000 to fully fund the Ludlati Solar Pump project. You can read all the details at the Ludlati Capital Projects webpage. If you would like to contribute, you may send money to Childrens HopeChest with an on-line bank debit or credit card payment, or send a check through the mail. Please add an on-line NOTE or add a MEMO to the check: “Ludlati Capital Projects”
Fund raising for the trip is also getting underway. Travel team members are sending out letters as we speak to contact friends and family seeking support for this work. We are accepting clothing donations for the Ludlati kids to take with us. We are seeking tights and skirts for girls of all ages, and nice khaki pants or jeans for boys of all ages. Please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information about the clothing desired. We are also planning the second annual “Aprons for Orphans” fund raising event in early June. We are planning to have an apron (not your grandma’s style aprons, these are sassy and fun!) and dessert auction with both silent and live auctions. Please be watching for more information about this second annual event in the near future.
The less Holy Spirit we have, the more cake and coffee we need to keep the church going. Nothing against cake or coffee, but the Holy Spirit cannot be substituted. Be blessed. REINHARD BONNKE
We so many times try to keep ministry and our lives going with nice little programs or things we do that will draw people. Nothing against programs or fun, but for lasting fruit we need the Holy Spirit in what we do. So I think the best thing we can do is to quit the things we do that is out of our own power or more straight to the point: the things we do that we do not “need” God for. Lets rather focus on the things that we just cannot do without God!!
Now that is called living in dependence of God and in faith. Doing this will build character and stretch our little boxes of safety that we have build around our little lives and ministry. We will be tested and we will experience push back from the world and our friends, but in the same time we will live closer to our Father than ever before and see His hand in everything we do. We will not grow tired and we will lay the foundation for miracles every day. We will be living for God’s pleasure and not the approval of man. How can this be a bad thing?
Lets start living this life, the life of abundance and fullness!! A life of power and grace, love and freedom, a life where we will see God’s character every day.
The kingdom of God is not a kingdom of words, its a kingdom of power. A power to do the right thing.
See for the first time or be reminded where Childrens HopeChest started four years ago working with Pastor Walter in Swaziland. Pastor Walter visited Ludlati carepoint during our last trip. He and his church are praying for Ludlati carepoint and the surrounding community. This video shows where Pastor Walter started with very little. In his own words, he says he was a poor man, but God encouraged him to start to practice pure religion described in James 1:27 anyway. God has brought people like you and me to share our from our abundance with those who do not have enough. Through us as God’s hands and feet, He brings new support and growth, and gives hope and love to many orphans and at-risk children in Swaziland.
We are looking forward to walking in God’s vision for Swaziland in 2011. We hope to continue pursuit and fulfillment of His plans, and hope others join in as we prepare for capital fund raising, travel team preparation and fund raising, and additional monthly sponsors to help us get to 100% funded at Ludlati Carepoint. God is the provider, and we are His children called to do His good works in 2011!
At least mine, anyway… in forming KTM was to form a community of people who support each other, and then as an outgrowth of that, support our neighbors in need. Sometimes I focus too much on the supporting neighbors aspect of that. So in the interest of promoting community (and my own selfish interests) I’ll open up and ask for your prayers this week. I’m facing some challenges that I’ve been allowing to do a number on me emotionally and physically. But that’s not even the bigger problem - because everything that is really important is fine (family, health, etc.). I’m facing a crisis of faith to some extent in that my (annoying) analytical mind forces me to deal with the logical extension that I must not really believe God’s promises. Because if I did, these challenges that I am facing would be something to laugh off as completely irrelevant. In fact, if I don’t really believe His promises, I must not even believe that fully in Him at all - or again, these “challenges” would be a matter of disinterested curiosity in the bigger picture of eternity, not angst and stress.
I can say what I believe until I am blue in the face. Is that enough when my reactions indicate otherwise? How do I reconcile my frail and failed reactions - evidence of unbelief - with what I know I must believe? This is hard for me because I am convinced that our actions are evidence of what we do or don’t believe. My conclusion is that He knows we are not capable and that His grace provides The Spirit that provides our ability to even receive grace through faith. It’s ALL Him and it’s ALL grace. But that’s still an intellectual conclusion, and I want that to sink in to my core.
I’ll be OK. I just felt I needed to be honest and open today, and hey… I’ll take the prayers and support also. That helps and I appreciate it.
I feel blessed and thankful to enjoy Christmas and all the days of family activities focused on celebrating Jesus birth and the love shared among family, friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. Any sappiness is unintended, because this is a painful time for many. I do get a little “Scroogy” about some aspects of the season. I always have a weird tinge in my gut at the end the day after all the gifts are opened, food is eaten and the day is over. Have you ever felt that? Another one is all the work of decorating and cleaning up after the tree. Who thought of this anyway? Hey I know! Lets cut down and drag shrubbery into the house, hang a bunch of thin glass on it with fish hooks, let it dry out real good, wire it up to 110 VOLTS of electricity and see what happens! Okay you caught me. Really I am being hypocritical because every year I enjoy looking at the tree and smelling the pine, sharing good and loving memories sparked by ornaments collected over the years, and I greatly enjoy my kids excitement and anticipation. I also enjoy the really good food.
Another annual tradition of my immediate family is watching the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”. My thoughts of this movie as a young man bring back memories of mockery and I-am-too-cool-for-that-one-ness. Now, it gets me every time (i.e. cry) when I see George standing in his home with his family after his side trip through his life unborn scenario and the people of the town come pouring into his house dumping an abundance on his table to meet and exceed his immediate need in the final hour. George always chose to do good accompanied with personal sacrifice or risk to his own life and prosperity. He chose to work with idiots, provide services to lower income families in the community, and be stuck in his home town. But he always had his own personal dream and desire of adventure, experiences and success eating away at him on the inside. In spite of his inner longings, things were going relatively well for George until Uncle Idiot’s misplaced bank deposit started the avalanche of the cares and concerns of this world to come crashing in on George. Why did George care? It wasn’t his fault. Well, it wasn’t Uncle Billy or the greedy, thieving Potter who took George to his lowest point. It was his personal desires, dreams and cares for this world that he held deep inside the inner most core of his soul. Sure, George was “born older”. He was a good person. He was responsible and raised by an upstanding family, but he didn’t realize the significance of his good and sacrificial choices though he unwittingly possessed many of the learned behaviors and benefits. George found himself at the edge of the bridge because of his inner core being. But he did not get there because of pure logical reasoning. The path to the bridge was filled with the heaviness and deep emotions of his life’s hurts, sacrifices, pain, hard work, sweat, fights, anger, tears, disappointments, losses and fear. To the logical mind, George contemplating suicide is a deeply selfish choice. “If I can’t have what I really want or what I feel will fulfill and relieve me, I will just call it quits on my terms.” It’s not that simple. Sure we use logic everyday, but we are also deeply emotional, sensitive, and ultimately weak beings not designed to live solely on our own and for ourselves. To the outside observer, George was standing at the edge of a bridge, but the inner, bigger picture shows him facing his own tight grip on his hopes and dreams at his inner most core. Anyone familiar with the movie knows, the path to George’s relief and fulfillment is not easy, and he needed the help of his guardian angel to pry loose the tight grip held within himself at the core. With help along the way, George thought, fought, bled, cried, fell down, got up, sought, begged, pleaded, prayed and finally, the tight grip was released. Once set free, George ultimately found true joy in life. It was the toughest fight of his life, but with God’s help he was able to let himself go in order to gain life.
I know the movie is just a created story, but I believe it resonates absolute and parallel truth found in God’s word. God desires each one of us to find joy in life. Out of infinite love for us, He did send His Son to save the world. Jesus the Christ, who was humbly born, lived as a man, and died for our sins, and was raised to new life. Christ also showed us by example how to give up His own will and die. Now He asks us to die to our self by becoming a living sacrifice for God’s will and purpose. Give up our life at our inner most core where no one else can see. That place where we hold a tight grip, and our heart skips a beat when we actually think about letting go to give our self to Him. I don’t think we can do it without the help of God and strength of Holy Spirit. I think for most of us it’s too scary, and we are too weak. But He will help and strengthen us through people around us, His Word, all His created means, and sometimes even directly by His miraculous power.
Jesus sweat blood drops he was so distraught and stressed about giving in to God’s will that He die on a cross. He asked some of the disciples to be near while He prayed and cried about it to God. He got mad at the disciples for falling asleep instead of being attentive to Him. He went through a very emotional process to come to that decision. Ultimately, Jesus found the strength to submit to God’s will, and the outcome was amazing grace. God loves every one, and desires for each individual to be saved by receiving Jesus as their Savior and Lord. If you don’t know Him, sincerely seek Him, and He will reveal Himself to you personally. If you do know Him, seek the innermost parts where of your soul where He is not yet Lord, and ask Him for help to release the grip. Find His help in God’s true people around you, His Word, all His created means, and His miraculous power. And don’t be surprised if it is a scary, tough, and emotional process. It may become the toughest fight of your life, but it’s worth it for true life and joy. God has a purpose and work He intends for us to do. The things He does ask us to do are summed up in the two greatest commandments. Mathew 22:37-39 - Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
Jesus says in Matthew 16:25, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
We can do it with His strength. Romans 8:26, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
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Ludlati Carepoint Support Level 47 Kids Funded; 62 Kids To Go
About - KnownToMe
We have begun to ask ourselves...What would we do if our neighbor was starving right before our eyes? Would we not help? Today, their plight is not hidden from us. It is known. We believe there is a clear mandate that we must care for societies most vulnerable members, the widow, the orphan, those in extreme poverty. If you are stirred to a similar belief, if you know there is more that you must do, Known To Me will make you aware of specific needs and opportunities to help.
