February 13, 2008

  • Meeting Needs

    Hello Everyone.  Hope this finds you all well.  The clinic continues to be a busy place.  Last month, we again saw approximately 1000 patients including 6 babies born, 64 under-five children seen for immunizations and well baby check-ups, and 20 new ART patients (patients placed on HIV meds for the first time).

      

    But today I want to tell you about Moshai.  Moshai is a 31 year old woman who works at the orphanage.  She is married and has children although I do not know how many.  Moshai has high blood pressure and comes to the clinic randomly whenever she is not feeling well.  We have put her on antihypertensive medication but Moshai never comes back for her reviews, so she does not keep taking her medications.  Well she came in on Saturday a week ago with complaint of a severe headache extending over the right side of her face.  She could not hold her head up or answer questions.  When we took her blood pressure, it was 246/150…..yes she was having a stroke.  There are not too many Zambians we have come across with the cardiovascular diseases that we are so use to seeing in the US. We literally only have a couple patients on BP meds, a couple diabetics and we may have seen two or three with congestive heart failure.  So seeing a stroke in a 31 year old is very unusual here….heck, seeing a stroke at all is unusual.  Well 9 days later, after prayer, IV’s, medications and rest, Moshai now has normal vital signs and lab values.  She has a very supportive and attentive husband and family who have constantly been by her bedside. Her left-sided weakness has now diminished and only her face seems to be affected.  Speech, both expressive and receptive, is okay. Just the muscle movement is still sluggish so she will need physical therapy. We will send her to Comweele, the therapist we know at General Hospital for evaluation after discharge…..alot of teaching needed here….

     

    Since I am on a roll at the keyboard, I will tell you about the two patients in the other room.  Rita is a pastor’s wife and the mother of ten children.  She was pregnant with her 11th child, but came in bleeding.  She proceeded to have a miscarriage that night at the clinic. It was a very emotional time for her as she grieved the loss of her baby, but within 24 hours with Jesus and the help and support of her husband, Rita was accepting and ready to move on. Not wanting to put any more stress on her body especially at her age, Rita and her husband both agreed to go on family planning.  A few days at the clinic for post-evaluation and antibiotic therapy…..and then she was discharged….alot of love and emotional support needed here…

     

    Brenda was Rita’s roommate.  Brenda is 16 years old and we have known her for two years now.  She had and still has an eye problem that limits her vision and does somewhat alter her appearance. We have taken her to Zimba Eye Clinic where they evaluated her and said basically there is nothing they can do.  She uses steroid eye drops off and on when things get too bad.  Well, because of her altered appearance, her family took the first offer they received for her to marry…..she wasn’t even 16!  They married her off to an older man who “is never around” and who very quickly gave her two lifelong presents….a baby yet unborn and HIV.  Her baby was due on the 9th, so we admitted her for delivery to give her and the baby the proper prophylaxis of ARVs for the HIV.  I have not seen anyone in to visit her since she was admitted… She is a very sweet and quiet girl and was given a lot to handle….alot of love and Jesus needed here…

     

    Three different stories….three different needs beyond the physical.

     

    Jesus…Help us to see past just the physical infirmity.  Help us to recognize the deeper need and continue to be present and equip us to meet those needs.

    Help us Jesus to minister to your people as you would…help our ministry like yours to be threefold…..preaching, teaching and healing….In Jesus’ name, Amen.