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Maate is being healed, slowly but surely. This is the 15 year old boy, Luke’s age and Liana’s size, who was suffering from severe abdominal pain and wasting thin-ness a couple of months ago. We thought he must have TB but he did not improve on the medicines. His patient perseverance really got to my heart, and when he began to deteriorate more rapidly we could not bear to watch him die. The International Hospital of Kampala, founded by missionary Dr. Ian Clarke, has the best care in the country and one ward dedicated to providing free care for a limited number of desperate people. Many people prayed for Maate and the Hope Ward of IHK agreed to admit him in late April.
It turned out that he did have TB, but the TB was located in the linings of his intestines, making it difficult for him to absorb both food and the medicines that would save him. Doctors at IHK inserted a feeding tube that bypassed the worst area, and allowed the drugs to begin to do their work. We visited him twice in Kampala, as did other team mates, he looked so out of place on that shiny new ward, a lost soul in a big city. But he did get better, slowly. When he was discharged back to us a month ago his weight had crept up from 19 to 22 kg, but his pain was much less and his fevers gone. Now after a month of nutritional rehab (thanks to UNICEF milk) he’s up to 27.4 kg today, and officially discharged.
He’ll have to complete months of daily anti-TB drug doses, but his returning muscle and ever-present smile are signs of hope. He and his mother walked to see us from the Congo border today lugging a jack-fruit almost as big as Maate as a way to say thanks. He’s planning to re-enroll in school next term. I don’t know what plans God has for this boy, but the visible sign of “all things made new” is enough for me. I heard staff commenting that he should be named Lazarus, one who was raised from the dead. In the midst of many struggles and disappointments, seeing someone like Maate transform from a skeleton to a boy, is a miracle that keeps me going.
6 comments:
Amen! It is amazing to see Maata in your photos. Maata was one of the last patients I saw at Nyahuka before I headed back to the states and I can not believe his transformation. Suizen and Maata are two children that have me in awe!!! Thank you for the work you do and please tell the health center staff the same.
wow. thank you for your words. looking at the contrast between the two pictures is enough to move me. mmmm. what a god of sweet sweet grace we have. mmmmmm.
Something called Plumpy Nut is being used in parts of Africa for malnourished children, very successfully. It is also made locally too, providing jobs. The documentary was very encouraging, the stat too!! Something for you to look into...hope this helps you - http://www.plumpynutinthefield.com/eng/index-eng.php
Thanks for posting these before and afters...awesome! I felt so helpless at times when we had malnourished kids in Liberia that did not get better after MONTHS of working with them and their moms (education being key). Being a non-medical person working with malnourished kids --it was very frustrating to trust the local personnel in the local hospitals who either didn't know what to do, didn't have the means, OR simply did not care. I am so thankful for your care and prayers for these special kids.
Blessings,
Joy Hancock, friend from Cville/TPC, and myself grieving the end of my one year term in Liberia. And also hoping that Trinity might send another team there in 2009. I was bummed to have missed the opportunity!
YEAH!! What a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing. I came across your blog randomly and I really enjoy following in your adventures.
He looks fantastic now. I am so pleased he is continuing to gain weight, he was a favourite patient of mine.
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