June 16, 2008

  • Warmth of the fire??

            Winter in Zambia is not at all like winter in Pittsburgh or Maryland, but I do have to tell you that after three years I am wearing long pants and sweatshirts! Sleeping without the air conditioner or fan is also something new. Night fellowships with the work teams in the village have even caused me to put on socks and tennis shoes!  I guess your body gets acclimated to the weather wherever you live. Well this time of year, the Zambians wear winter coats and hats and even gloves if they have them.  It is very cold sleeping in grass or mud huts at night….makes you want to huddle by the fire and that is the point of my story.  In the last two weeks I have seen three children with pretty bad burns over the body.  The last little girl, a five year old by the name of Loveness, came driven by her father on a bicycle from Kasiya (25 kilometers).  Somewhere around the school Jeff just happened to meet him with the vehicle and brought them the rest of the way to the clinic. 

    Loveness has deep burns over the abdomen and both thighs.  The outer perineal area was also affected causing swelling of the region.  I knew immediately she was going to need a urinary catheter.  I went to the storage room and prayed I would find something small enough and as always God is faithful….we always have what we need when we need it. (I just thought of Enelia with the cast boot…remember the woman who almost lost her foot to the snake bite?  Well that reminds me to tell you….this little girl is her granddaughter.  It turns out that Loveness’ father is Enelia’s son.).    Well anyway, there was an 8FR catheter right on the shelf….smallest one I have ever seen.  Next challenge was going to be to put it in….again God was faithful.  IV, foley catheter and bandages over her abdomen and both thighs….she was admitted for observation of possible complications, IV antibiotics, fluid stabilization both in and out, fever control etc. Dressing changes take over an hour as she sobs tiny little muffled cries. Four days in bed practically flat on her back  was pretty boring….storybooks and a coloring book with crayons were the order of the day….those and an occasional “sweet” were all we had to offer.  Sal has managed to get a smile now and then, but alas I (the “dreaded dressing changer” have yet to get a decent look!!! ) Well, today is the 15th and she has been here 5 days….the catheter is out and she is using one of the bedside commodes to pee and poop.  She is able to sit without pain and pee on her own which is progress.  Her IV was removed yesterday and she is now on oral antibiotics.  Tylenol is still needed for low grade fever control.  Burns are still quite extensive and if you know anything about burns…you know they always look worse before they look better. Her parents have had to sit during dressing changes bracing themselves for what they will see.  Another small step today….Loveness got to go outside on the back porch in a wheelchair …a couple more smiles for Sal!

    This is going to be a long recovery ……please keep her in your prayers.

     

    There is a lot going on with Sons of Thunder Medical these days….I am finding it difficult however to find time to write and keep you all updated.  E-mail service and the network have been out off and on for days at a stretch and by the time I can write, I have so much to say and have to balance my writing between stories of real life patients and informational data of our moving forward in this ministry.  I don’t want to make one update too long to read either…ergo my dilemma.  Next update I will share our direction.