January 29/Chapter 9 Breaking a Record
The medical team did break a record. I got the final totals from team 1 from yesterday - 471 bringing the total for the day to 1239. Way to go teams. Totals for today reached 941. With vaccinations, vitamin A, deworming pills and tetnus shots total treatment for team 1 was 1104. For team 2 total treatments were 1274. This doesn’t mean we focus on numbers but just want to show you the importance of this medical mission. Many of these people would not be able to afford or even receive medical care .
The surgery team has been a little bogged down. They haven’t been able to accomplish what they set out to do in the first week ”yet.” Or have they and they just didn’t know? Some of the doctor’s that are from around the area have been helping in the OR and at the same time they are learning from our doctors. This seems to be turning into a mission for education. The Lord is in control of each of these mission trips. He already knows the things that will take place. Having the mission team teach these other docotrs will have a huge impact once the team leaves.
Surgery was a little difficult today. Everyone is doing fine but pray for a speedy recovery for the patients. Two of the patients that came to the hospital for surgery had to be canceled. Lab test are done before each surgery and these two patients are HIV positive. Even though they weren’t able to have surgery they now know they need treatment for the HIV.
Things with the medical teams are going well. Rebecca Diaz saw a patient today that was wheeled in on a bike. He had infected ks tumors on his foot due to HIV. There was not much that could be done but to give him some antibiotics.
Roy has a translator that has done a really good job. The translator brought his dad to see Roy today. When they left, the translator returned with a chicken and gave it to Roy. The translator said he was very honored to give the chicken to Roy. The chicken was given to Dr. Patrick and he took it to his mom. When he set the chicken down it laid an egg, this is supposed to bring good luck. Dr. Patrick said he didn’t know if that means good luck to Roy or the medical team or to Mercy Trips. Maybe all three.
Today Bonnie was playing with some kids and she barked like a dog. When the people working in the pharmacy heard this they got scared thinking it was a real dog.
Some of you may not know of the Free Wheelchair Mission. A past team member, Lynne Dobson, became involved with this mission and was able to raise enough money to bring 550 wheelchairs to the Mbale area. A recipient of one of the wheelchairs came to the clinic today. For those of us that have been invloved in the wheelchair mission it is a special moment. If you have to opportunity visit the Free Wheelchair Mission wedsite. It is incredible.
Tomorrow will be a day of rest for the medical clinic. The surgery team willl have one or two cases then hopefully take the rest of the day off.
Until tomorrow………………………..
February 1st, 2010 at 10:17 pm
Hi everyone,
She was the main “go to” person, my devoted partner. The whole 10 day mission went so smoothly and was just a beautiful experience of giving.
I am a photographer who went with the team in 2008.
I wish everyone well this last week in our beloved Uganda. I think of you all every day and know how much hope and love you are giving to these beautiful, deserving people. I’ll be back this June!
I went with the team two years ago and it was this week, that I met my little guy Fred Felix Busindo, 11, in Budaka village at one of our outreach clinics. He sat on the church’s dirt floor, as he couldn’t walk. My life changed the instant I saw him and I felt such love and need to do something. I was moved by God and him, to do the wheelchair mission, eventually. First Helen bought him a standard wheelchair that spring, which improved his life, but was not quite right.
Then, Betsy, Dr. D’s wife, told me about Free Wheelchair Mission. I could not have done any of this without Helen-what a great operator she is! She organized the pastors who found the recipients in 18 villages, and along with Pastor Chris from Mbale, last June we delivered 550 specially designed wheelchairs that our team of Ugandan men assembled. She imported the container from Mombasa. Yes…Helen organized the men too.
If anyone wants to see my photos of Helen and I and these wonderful moments of lifting lives up- please visit www.vimeo.com and search for Free Wheelchair Mission. I also took my son Luke and it was a great experience for an 18 yr. old American boy.There is so much polio, cerebral malaria, birth defects and more that robs them of mobility. The recipients are so thrilled and grateful to gain their independence and dignity back. The mothers and fathers no longer have to carry their disabled children on their backs. Those afflicted with polio don’t have to crawl. It helps the whole family.
We hope to do another container in 2011. It’s been a huge blessing in my life that started with Dr. D, Mercy Trips, and Helen and Patrick. I am forever and deeply grateful. May God bless all of you in your heartfelt mission this week!
love, Lynne