WARNING: Long and picture heavy post!
Here on Mercy Ships, we're in the business of healing and offering hope. In the case of our orthopedic program, sometimes that means we're in the business of "breaking" bones... well, of altering the alignment and making them straight, in order to improve function and quality of life.
About a month ago now, we had our orthopedic evaluation day, where we assessed our ortho patients from last year. This process involved an in-depth nursing interview, as well as evaluation by the physio team and Dr. Frank. The warehouse was packed, filled with the laughter of children, old friends meeting again, and voices lifted in worship. There is always such joy in being able to come together with our patients from the last field service--it is a rare opportunity. No words can express how full my heart was at seeing the progress these patients have made in the last year. I'd like to share this progress and a couple of patient updates here with you now. You may recognize some of these faces from a few posts last year.
Sandrins
This beautiful little girl's right foot was turned in from a quinine injection that was incorrectly administered (sadly, this is not an uncommon case here). She was with us on the ship for several months last year, and then in the HOPE center for much longer while completing her physical therapy. I went to visit her there often, and we developed a friendship. The communications team did a home visit with her earlier this service, and she sent them back with a beautiful weaved basket specifically for me. (It may be awkward to pack, but you better believe that that basket is coming all the way home to California with me in a few short weeks.) So I was very eager to see her on our eval day. She came dressed in her finest, with the biggest smile... and walking without even a boot on her leg!
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| Before surgery, with her sister. |
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| Progress in the warehouse last field service. |
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| Visiting together at the HOPE Center last service. |
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| Eval day with Dr. Frank. |
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| Catching us up on all the latest news. Ino vaovao? |
Romino
If you remember some of the Mercy Ships Christmas posts from last year (or my blog post), then you'll remember this precious little boy. He was the face of our orthopedic program and it's easy to see why. He had an infectious giggle and the sweetest smile... and was very clever in finding ways to avoid taking his medication. Beginning with dramatically bowed legs, he spent his time with us on the ward in bilateral casts. It was difficult to imagine what the end result might be. So when he literally came running into the warehouse, I stopped still and simply stared. Throughout the course of the day I would feel a little touch at the back of my leg, only to turn around and see him skimpering away giggling. This game was endless. And it brought a smile to both of our faces.
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| At home, before surgery. |
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| Playing on the ward. |
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| Checking his legs on eval day. |
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| Look at that squat! |
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| Getting ready for school! |
Louiahna
Oh, this girl. When I first saw her on eval day, it took me just a moment to recognize her. With her frilly skirt, dinosaur hoddie, cute hairdo, and little pink loafers, she looked almost nothing like the girl we referred to as "The Sheriff." On the wards, she wore a little star badge the nurses made her, had a very serious face, and her casts made her walk with wide "I just got off a horse" steps... Smiles from her were well earned, and worth the effort. I could hardly believe that this little girl, taking such dainty steps with her little straight legs and holding my hand as she walked, was the same one!
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| Walking her hopper and some extra special glasses. |
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| Serious face on the ward. |
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| Having fun with her friend, Erissa. |
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| Suspicious of the camera on eval day. |
Our orthopedics program holds a special place in my heart, not only because of the wonderful patients I've had the opportunity to care for, but also for what it represents. My lovely friend Gigi is the team leader for the program this year, and she always reminds me that ortho is a special time because, while we are seeing physical and spiritual healing in our patients, we also see that healing in ourselves and each other. These kids come to us, some able to barely hobble along. Some can function, but not as well as they should be able to. These cases can be helped with a surgery where the bone is cut and re-aligned, held in place with pins while the body begins to heal. Still others may require more drastic intervention. But this is just the beginning. After surgery, they may have pain. They may have months of physical rehab to re-learn how to walk on these new legs. They may have weeks, some even months, walking around with the heavy burdens of these casts on their legs. It is not always an easy process. But then, the casts come off. They see the fruit of their efforts in rehab. Their bones have healed and they are stronger than before. And they walk, even run, with straight legs.
Many people in the world go through this process, although they may go through it inwardly rather than physically. There may be things that are broken inside of us, things that require healing. To work through that healing process may be a daunting task. John 15:2 says, "...and every branch that bears fruit he prunes,that it may bear more fruit." Pruning is not easy business. It means that the unhealthy parts must be cut back so that new, healthy growth can occur. It is this pruning, this process of cutting back, that allows the healing to begin. It allows our "bones" to be re-aligned. To set things straight within our hearts. It leaves room for extraordinary hope and kindness to grow between the gaps. And just like our patients, we can walk through the world with newly straightened "legs." What a beautiful sight.
