Cameroon Update #3

Er'body,

I hope you had a good night sleep.  I slept well, but I didn't sleep long enough.  I stayed up until about 2:30 watching the Heels game updates.  No one can say I'm not a true fan.  The good news (I found out this morning) is that the game on Sunday is at 12:15 EST, so it will be 5:15pm Sunday night for me.  I won't have to skip sleep to support my team.

I rounded this morning on the wards.  The doctors and residents all round on Saturday, just like the weekdays.  Another patient on the children's ward died overnight.  It was not unexpected but still sad.  She had HIV and meningitis.  She had developed intractable seizures.  God chose to heal her in a way we don't deal well with in the medical field.  We often see death as a failure.  In this case, it was plain to see God's mercy in removing her suffering. 

I have another patient with tetanus that I admitted yesterday.  This morning we discovered that he has fractures in his back, presumably due to the intense muscle spasms that tetanus causes.  You don't ever want to get tetanus....trust me.  He is doing a little better this morning but still looks incredibly uncomfortable.  Go get a tetanus booster now if you are due for one.

A couple of days ago, we admitted a 16-year-old girl with osteosarcoma of her distal left femur (arrogant doctor-speak for "just above the left knee").  Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone tumor that is difficult to treat, even in the States.  She had previously received 6 rounds of chemotherapy in an attempt to shrink the tumor, but with little response.  I had to be the one to tell her that she needed an amputation of nearly all of her left leg.  Although I am told other physicians, at some point, discussed this possibility with her, she sure seemed shocked by the news.  She was very upset, as anyone would be at the prospect of losing a limb.  There are more difficulties and consequences to an amputation in rural west Africa than there are in the U.S.  She undoubtedly faces a tough road ahead.  As she cried, I asked her if I could pray with her.  I immediately watched God's peace wash over her as I prayed (well, I didn't actually watch it....my eyes were closed.....but I felt it).  Please pray for her as she undergoes amputation today and then as she works to recover and heal.  The bright spot in this situation is that the hospital here actually has a prosthetic department.  That seems almost unheard of here, but after she heals from her operation, she may be able to be fitted with an artificial leg.

I am still very much enjoying my time here.  I miss Tracie and the girls terribly, but I am happy that God is giving me this time to serve His children in Cameroon.  I am so blessed to have an amazing wife that loves God and wants to serve Him.  She is making the real sacrifice during this time.  I have the easy part.  She is wrangling the girls without me.....and doing a great job doing it.  I have a hard time keeping them both happy and uninjured for the 30-minute trips Tracie takes to Target.  Please continue to pray for her as well.  We are really blessed and thankful to have parents and extended family who have helped tremendously in my absence.  God is good.

Tonight, there is going to be a super moon.  I don't know what that means, but don't miss it.  Email me if you figure it out.

Stephen