Prayers for Ben

Technical difficulties have plagued us for the past two days. We have had some success—we now have working cell phones. The internet modem we purchased has not yet been successfully activated, after many hours with tech support, but one of our friends working at LJS that we see every year has loaned us his personal modem. This so typifies the amazing hospitality we see every year in Tanzania!

Our day began today with a visit to the KKKT diocese office to pay our respects. Lance and Eileen presented Bishop Mameo with three stoles as a gift from their retired pastor, Ross Worch. Discussions of our schedule led around to our tech concerns and Bishop Mameo brought our visit to a close to accompany the team to the local Airtel. Several hours were spent trying to reactivate the phones and the modem we purchased last year. Phones were successful but Airtel said they still needed to work on the modem and it would be several hours.

Lunch was at a local café and we lingered over great local food and conversations. Unfortunately, Airtel was not ready for us as promised, so we continued on to Mazimbu hospital.

Our arrival at the hospital was met with heartfelt welcomes from all of the staff. Matron Seguru, who has worked with us each of our years at Mazimbu, was ready for our arrival and had a room prepped and ready for our dedicated space. The team set to unpacking our supplies and drugs and organizing for tomorrow, our first day with patients.

Dr. Omar Kasuwi, the cardiologist that is the head of Mazimbu, was particularly warm in his welcome of the team. After our initial greetings, he told us about a particular patient that he wants Doug’s help in consulting and advising. Ben is a 27 year old father that was gravely injured many months ago in a motor vehicle accident and was left paralyzed below the waist. His treatment for his injuries has been thorough, including orthopedic surgeries and travel to India for neurological treatment. He is now suffering from pressure ulcers on both hips and both heels. He was admitted to Mazimbu more than two months ago and has been slowly failing. Dr. Kasuwi told us he began praying for Ben when Cindy’s last email, 3 weeks prior, told him our General Surgeon would be part of the team.

The day before we left the US, Doug was doing his last minute preparations. He has received donated meds in the past and stockpiled them in his office. On this last day, he decided to review the donated meds. Most of it was a med that was unlikely to be used. Included in this group was a 9 day supply of a strong IV antibiotic which are frequently used on serious infections. Doug has had access to this med in the past but has not brought it as it is heavy and a space-hog because it includes the fluid necessary to administer.

As we were preparing to pack up and call it a day, Doug decided to look in on this patient Dr. Kasuwi had mentioned. Ben is fluent in English so was able to help Doug in his examination. Ben’s pressure ulcers had advanced to the point that they were close to life threatening. In addition, the open
wound caused by the ulcers led to an infection. Ben described a sensation of burning down his leg. Doug suspected osteomyelitis, an infection of the bone.

Treatment of osteomyelitis requires strong IV antibiotics, which are not normally available in Tanzania. Which happened to have been packed at the last minute by Doug.

How can we express our feeling when this mission, which we have worked to make happen for so long, is so clearly touched by God’s will directing all of our actions? All we can do is give thanks and pray for His guidance throughout the rest of our time.