Monday, April 26, 2010

A couple months ago now (actually the first night I stayed in the hospital with Ningih) a little five-year-old girl was brought to the house with severe burns down her right side. She'd been frying an egg in oil when her clothes caught on fire.
Daddy drove her into the Metta ER where shortly she was then transferred to the larger hospital a ways away. Her father had to stay as her caregiver in the hospital as her mother was very pregnant at the time and had her baby just a week later.
He found the hospital procedure for burn patients dvery disturbing though. He couldn't stand to see her in so much pain everyday and felt like they were hurting more than helping her. And so he took her and left for home where he said they would sacrifice to the spirits and use their own traditional rememdies instead.
Several days later the mother came asking for medicine for the child and I asked to please go see her. I hadn't seen her since just right after the accident and I don't know what I was expecting, but what I did see was shocking. I found her lying on the floor in agony, naked, with the large part of her side an encrusted mess with blood and pus oozing from the cracks, her father bent over her dabbing a liquidy, almost clay-like potion (actually the pounded up part of some tree) into the wound with a feather. She was also feverish and barely eating.
If she really couldn't go back to the hospital, I asked if she could at least PLEASE come stay at our house 'til she got better. Surprisingly, the parents agreed, but when they asked the child to go she was wholly uncooperative and no amount of coaxing or pleading could make her otherwise. They felt that since she was the one in pain she was the one to make the decision (much to my frustration, I may add).
I decided to still do the best we could do for her under the circumstances though and to try to make it to her house twice a day. Not an easy job though as her parents didn't want anything causing her more pain.
After the first treatment I returned to find her re-smothered in the clay-like potion. I was told that after I had left the wound started to drain quite a bit (Hallelujah! Mission accomplished!) and that this was distressing to them as they felt that it's not good for the pus and fluids to come out. No, they didn't want any more treatments for her. They would continue with their way. To put it mildly, I was crushed. I felt as though this little five-year-old's death sentence had just been signed. But I knew that I had no choice but to respect the parent's wishes. Must a five-year-old die simply due to her parent's ignorance and superstition?
Fighting my frustration, I decided to make the commitment to keep in touch and come visit (without medicine), regardless.
My prayer was that God would break down their superstitious ways through this, but not at the expense of their child's life and that He would heal her. Even if it was through their attempts.
It was hard for me to accept, but I couldn't deny that they loved their daughter. They were insisting on what they felt was best. Ignorant love is still love.

It's nearly a month later now and last time I visited I found her sitting up out on the porch (Mom faithfully dabbing on the liquidy potion!) and, although she's still at risk for infection, I believe she's gonna make it. Especially her leg, although severely scarred, is nearly healed.
I'm considering this as an answer to prayer. I don't know what good God's going to bring from it yet though. Maybe they just needed to see that we were still willing to be their friends and stick with them through it. Maybe I needed to learn to let go. Maybe there's something to the liquidy potion!?! Whatever the case, I'm thankful for this little girl's life!





I would like to begin adding more pics of various patients occasionally. I know that not everyone can stomach stuff like this though. If anyone really has a problem with this please let me know.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

My Day

Yesterday I hiked into "my" village, Manykee. It was way past time to go as with my being gone up in Chiangmai and everything it had been over a week.
Most of the time now when I go up I have a very full evening of patients (even up to 30!) They're catching onto my schedule and try to make the most of any time I spend there. Generally I don't make it up 'til after five o'clock and I try to be gone by shortly after six the next morning in order to be back down here and ready for more patients by 9 o'clock. So my time is pretty limited.
This morning I hoped to start out before 6:30, but didn't make it as a few patients soon began trickling in. With smiling faces happily back on their ways, I tried for my escape, but I didn't make it further than a hundred feet before meeting another mother with one more sick child on her back. Finally nearly an hour from when I'd meant to leave, I was on my way. (Trying to remember: "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape."):)
I had an awesome hike back out. Though strenuous, it's exactly what I need to prepare to face another day. An hour's motorbike ride and I was back down at the school. Just in time to begin a typical morning with whatever patients come to the porch.
We began the medical class for the students at noon. It's exciting to have it underway! On top of hands-on work, we'll be meeting three times a week.
I then went to visit a little girl who was badly burned and who we had as a patient several weeks ago (blog to follow.) And then off to Metta with part of my family and my my ever-growing list of medicine and supplies.
Back and in a rush once again, I hurriedly slap medicines into a bag and jump back on the motorbike to go in search of a patient's hut. Earlier we had a month-old baby that I was quite concerned about. They need more medicine. Thankfully, I find them with little ado.
Off to Mawqwee. Only a few patients this time. It's dark for real now.
One more stop at a hut on my way out to check on another baby. This one was not truly in my hands, but I'd been concerned that he might not make it. I was asked to go see him several weeks ago when he was just a week old and I found a very sick littl guy. They now tell me that he's much better. And that's all I need to make my heart smile for the rest of the evening.:)

Monday, April 19, 2010

What's happening:

We have another new baby. This time a nine-month-old little girl. Her mother was a patient of our's that, long story short, we took into the hospital and was misdiagnosed. She ended up back in the hospital and, sadly, didn't make it. The family is unable to care for JooJoo and asked if we could take her. She's a healthy and active lil' girl with all the appropriate rolls.:) We can't get enough of her smile. When she's particularly pleased with you she'll throw her little head back and simply beam up at you in what we've taken to calling a JooJoo grin.:)

I'd really appreciate some prayers for the LMT training. It's a challenge for me to get it started and I feel like this time I'm in way over my head, but realize that we've got to make this happen.

A friend took the time to teach me to start IV's last week and I've simply been having a blast with it (me and needles just have this thing...) It's something I've been wanting to learn ever since I got bit by the EMS bug, but never had a good opportunity 'til now. All of a sudden I find myself hugely intrigued by random people's veins and am constantly on the look-out for volunteers...so do watch out - a rookie needle jabber is on the loose!:)

This last week we've been up in Chiangmai enjoying some much-needed family time. Life has felt very hectic recently and it's been a treat to just get to relax for a few days.
It was also the Water Festival this last week. If you've never heard of that before, it's pretty much a three-day-long national water fight! With NO mercy! Kids and adults alike roam the cities and line the streets well equipped with water guns, tubs of water, and various dumping devices. The whole city takes on an entirely different atmosphere as the normally quite dignified at large population throw propriety to the wind and fling bowlfuls at you with gleeful abandon.:) Even through the truck windows... Yes, (excluding some of the spiritualistic parts of it) it's pretty much awesome and you will also pretty much be a sopping mess for the next 3 days.:)

Tomorrow will find us up-and-at-it down by the border once again.


Ning-ih on right and JooJoo on left.