Togo - July 2015 (First post)

Hospital of Hope - Mango, Togo

One of the nicest, most efficient, well-run hospitals I’ve visited on the African Continent. From Maternity, Pharmacy, Peds, ICU, Surgery, Nursing, Chaplains, OR staff, Ward clerks, nurse’s aids, cleaners, and washing. The entire hospital is hands-down the top. Medical/Surgical/Peds/Maternity/ICU/Outpatient/Wound care... Some hospitals are better in certain areas, but none come close to comparing in all aspects of overall care. 

I’m amazed at how well the hospital works as a cohesive unit this early in it’s infancy.

The compassionate care says a lot about the people who are working here - Nationals, Ex-pats, locals, and those who have moved from other parts of the country. All work together very well. They have trained ICU nurses, PICU nurses, ward clerks, nursing assistants...the list goes on. "Many hands make light work" - is true. The staff here work hard - but I've never heard any complaining. Rather I observe a lot of "glad to be here with you today" type of interactions. These people enjoy working together. And it is obvious.

Nothing is perfect, of course, but as a whole I am very impressed.

Thankful for the blessing and opportunity to be here to assist a bit for this month of July. The cases have been typical rural West Africa type challenges. Typhoid, snake bites, arrested labor needing C-sections, necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating bacteria) needing amputations, skin grafts, hernias, sequestrectomies, and broken bones requiring rodding and plating…

Dr. Lai was a huge blessing as he came at the beginning of our time here - performing some huge Head and Neck cases requiring a true plastics approach. Learned a lot from him. Amazing talent, and a wonderful attitude. He is an excellent teacher - not just an instructor - patient, kind, and always encouraging. The staff and personnel are looking forward to him coming back again.

Julian is one of the boys we operated on while Khoa was here: He smiles every day with the biggest smile, always thankful, and very appreciative. We can’t correct his facial deformity, but the mass that was bulging out through his nasal canal and roof of his mouth is gone. He can swallow again, and breathe easily :-)  He was gurgling through his spit when I first me him. I think his happiest moment this entire hospital stay was when he realized he could breathe through his nose again!
He woke up from surgery. His trach is out, he is taking full-liquids, and is nearly pain free. He is a happy kid! It makes rounds in the morning quite enjoyable :-) He put on his "serious face" for the second picture.

There are the sad cases too…like the little 3 1/2 month old boy whose liver is failing. We opened him  up to see if we could drain his liver anywhere, and there was no place to create a connection. His liver was already beginning to fail prior to surgery, but the family asked us to try. He did well with the operation, but his days are going to be few. He still smiles at me when I check on him in the mornings, even as his eyes are slowly becoming dull as his liver fails. He reminds me of the brevity of life, and how without Christ there is no hope. We are dead men walking, unless the spirit of Christ lives in us. And then, while are bodies will die, our spirits will continue to exist, live, be with Jesus, for eternity.

I am glad I do not worship a dead god who hangs on a cross, nor rebellious spirits that are constantly lying and provoking me to harm - but THE God who is alive, knows me personally, loves me, and relates with me with dignity, compassion, joy, and in reality. When my body ceases to function, I will continue to live, and live with even greater fulfillment. This life now is just the portal to a whole new world. 

My little guy with the failing liver will pass through this portal soon - and I know my God will walk him through this step too. I don’t understand why his life is shorter on this earth than mine. Nor do I understand why I have the privilege of walking a few days with him. But God knows. And I’m content to trust Him - because Jesus IS trustworthy - I know, because He has proven it to me.

It is a huge privilege to be here with these people - all of them - the staff, missionaries, nationals, workers, patients… Not always sure what God is doing, but glad to be walking with Him. And for the next couple of weeks, the Lord wiling, it will be here...

- for that I’m glad!