This is an email I wrote to my Mom a while back and I thought I would share it!
Today clinic was pretty busy and I got out late again. I ran into Hannah (10 yo) on the road and she wanted me to come over and swim in their water hole. So, I but on my suit and went over. They have dug out a huge hole in the middle of their stream and dammed it up so they can swim in it. Its pretty cool, out in the jungle, completely covered over by trees and lotsa vines hanging down that the kids swing on and drop into the water. The last two times I've been there I just swam a little and watched them climb the trees and swing from vines. This time they really wanted me to drop into the water but I hate jumping into water from that high, so I kept making excuses. Usually 5 feet is about my limit! Then they got the main vine all stuck up in a tree and I was relieved. Unfortunately, we somehow ended up making the deal that if they got the vine out of the tree, I would swing on it. So, with renewed vigor, Gabe and Hannah spent 20 minutes throwing things up into the tree and then finally climbing up on a very precarious branch to rescue the swinging vine. I was very sad. :(
I had to keep my end of the bargain, so I climbed up the muddy embankment, over the tree roots and grabbed onto the vine. I stood there for a while looking way down at the water thinking I had lost my mind. Then sudddenly a push from behind and I was flying through the air, screaming at the top of my lungs. The water loomed below and I had no idea where the deep part was to let go! So, I just let go and landed in a quite shallow spot, hitting my butt on the rocks! It didn't really hurt, just shocked me a little. So apparently this fall dislodged the sense from my brain because I promptly climbed back up the muddy hill and swung again and again until I finally landed in the deeper part. I swear, these kids are a bad influence on me! I felt like I was in a Tarzan and Jane movie, very fun!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Karen
When you see a man of strength, a man of leadership and power, a skilled surgeon, turn away from an xray, walk to the end of the room and hang his head, then turn back with tears in his eyes...you either have to turn away or start balling your eyes out. I chose to turn away for a moment.
Normally, when I realize that a young child has metastastatic cancer and is going to die, I would feel sorry for the child and her mother. However, in that moment, I felt more sorry for the strong man with tears in his eyes who had yet to explain to this poor family who had already suffered so much, that their precious little girl was going to die.
Karen has a long sad story of cancer in her leg that was not removed until very late because the family kept waiting, refusing surgery, praying for a miracle. This surgeon had pursued the family, talked with them, prayed with them, cared for this waif of a girl and finally removed her left leg. Once, I even saw him climb onto an old bus packed with people in the middle of a rainstorm to take a look at this girl's leg when her mother recognized us in the line of cars waiting to cross a flooded river. That's what I call going beyond the call of duty!
After the amputation, little Karen had a slow recovery and was very depressed but finally learned to walk with crutches and soon was dropping by the hospital with her Mom and a radiant smile to visit her friends. Everyone knows her and her story and we were so relieved when her parents finally brought her for the amputation.
However, when she arrived today with pain in her chest and an xray showing cancer in her lungs, it seems that all this care and fighting to save her was for nothing. Or was it? Her Mom still has a smile and still praises God for the care their surgeon gives her daughter and for the life her daughter has had. Maybe she doesn't understand my medical mind ponders. But, then again, maybe she does and she is trusting God with the life of her little girl.
Normally, when I realize that a young child has metastastatic cancer and is going to die, I would feel sorry for the child and her mother. However, in that moment, I felt more sorry for the strong man with tears in his eyes who had yet to explain to this poor family who had already suffered so much, that their precious little girl was going to die.
Karen has a long sad story of cancer in her leg that was not removed until very late because the family kept waiting, refusing surgery, praying for a miracle. This surgeon had pursued the family, talked with them, prayed with them, cared for this waif of a girl and finally removed her left leg. Once, I even saw him climb onto an old bus packed with people in the middle of a rainstorm to take a look at this girl's leg when her mother recognized us in the line of cars waiting to cross a flooded river. That's what I call going beyond the call of duty!
After the amputation, little Karen had a slow recovery and was very depressed but finally learned to walk with crutches and soon was dropping by the hospital with her Mom and a radiant smile to visit her friends. Everyone knows her and her story and we were so relieved when her parents finally brought her for the amputation.
However, when she arrived today with pain in her chest and an xray showing cancer in her lungs, it seems that all this care and fighting to save her was for nothing. Or was it? Her Mom still has a smile and still praises God for the care their surgeon gives her daughter and for the life her daughter has had. Maybe she doesn't understand my medical mind ponders. But, then again, maybe she does and she is trusting God with the life of her little girl.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
