Hi everyone this is Mama Gayle. The nurses are out on safari and Dr. Alex and did surgeries all day. The journey thus far has been super busy, has had it challenges but I have been blessed with a great team that came to serve. I referred many patients to Selian Hospital for further diagnostic tests, medical treatments and so many have had to have surgery. Hope ministries pays for all their medical and surgical treatments. We have seen some very sad cases but many have been given a chance for a new life. These are patients who have no access to health care and/or no money.
Dr. Alex is a wonderful teacher and has been doing surgeries with some new ortho doctors and one that is an intern that wants to go into orthopedics. These cases have been very difficult so they have been taught so much. Alex has adapted to being flexible in not having all the equipment he has at home and is great about using what they have. We learn so much from them.
Both Alex and I were excited to see the hospice nurses, who came to see us in OR. They were part of the team that took our nurses out on visits. They thanked us so much for their help and said all the families were so very grateful for the food that Hope Ministries provided for them. Mama Kweka, who is the head of Hospice, was so glad to see us because when Alex and I went to Bugando for two weeks to teach and implement the total joint program, she was one of our patients. She was having a lot problems with pain in her hip and had trouble walking. When she saw us she was jumping and dancing around today. That was another “God Tap” to me to remind me why God sends me to Africa. Mama Kweka and Paulina are such good friends of mine that it made my day to see them.
We have a big day tomorrow with a lot of difficult surgeries. I also need to go see the accountant to see what Hope Ministries bill is. I can’t thank all of the donors of Hope Ministries, because you are truly making a difference in these patients lives. I have never received so many hugs, thank-yous and God bless yous.
I ask for your prayers for healing of these patients. I am asking for some special prayers for one of my patients from outreach clinic. She appeared very thin and in obvious pain and respiratory problems. She had had a biopsy of a tumor in her throat and the results showed it was cancer. Because she had no money, the cancer has continued to grow and she is in sad condition. We brought her to Selian Hospital and they tried to go down her throat to examine it and the tumor was so large they could not pass a tube. We decided to insert a tube into her stomach to assist her with feeding because she is a poor nutritional state. I had to have my drive run to many pharmacies to finally find one and I was shocked at the cost. I am sorry to report they could not insert the feeding tube because they could not intubate her to give her anesthesia. Tomorrow I am consulting with an oncology from another hospital and see what he suggests. I am so worry about her outcome. I one thing that is hard about my mission trips, is when we have to tell the patients there is nothing we can do for them. They see that we have white skin and they have been praying for God to send someone to help them. When we can’t help them, the look of hopelessness stabs my heart. So we rely on God’s grace and healing through prayer. The patients love it when we pray with them. Before we start each of our surgeries I say a prayer with the patients. What a beautiful way to start the surgery!
The nurses went to Tarangire National Park and then visited a Maasai village. They have sent me photos to share with you.
