Team Settles Into Work in Vanga

In route to Vanga, the team stopped in Kikongo and had an opportunity to assist with emergency consultations for three patients: a diabetic coma, a case of shingles with loss of right eye function due to infection, and a case of spinal TB with lower leg paralysis. The team landed in Vanga on May 7th and immediately met with Dr. Mpoo about the surgery schedule.

On Wednesday, May 8^th Dr. Tim made rounds with the Internal Medicine residents, while Kathy and Anna visited the nursing school at the Vanga Health Zone center. Anna  announced she was a public health nurse and was met with loud cheering and clapping, followed by the group bursting into a Congolese welcome song. Anna was able to provide nursing care and physical therapy. 

Dr. Rich and Becky visited patients who would have surgery on Thursday. Wisdom is needed as the team makes decisions regarding who will get surgery during the time here.  As news gets out that an orthopedic surgeon has arrived more and more patients have arrived with orthopedic needs.  

On May 9^th Anna and Kathy went to prenatal clinic where about 200 pregnant mothers were assessed and provided education, mosquito nets, and vitamins. Anna shared, “It has been an amazing DR Congo trip so far. Most remarkable is that it feels kind of normal. It is clear how God has been preparing all of us on the team for this trip for quite some time.” Becky Howard shared John 13:34 reminding the team that God's love has been given to us so we can love others facing extremely heartbreaking problems, like a 24-year-old women, Mama "C", with an abnormal leg x-ray and painful mass that needed evaluation. 

The following day, the team witnessed multiple technology miracles on behalf of this young woman. Doctors in Vanga found a two-bar wi-fi connection and cell phone service (miracle #1) and were able to make contact (miracle #2) with a mission-minded resident in St. Louis, who served as immediate liaison (miracle #3) to cancer specialists at St. Louis University Hospital. Within  thirty minutes (miracle #4), photos of the patient were sent by phone (miracle #5) and a text message diagnosis received back in Vanga (miracle #6). PRAISE the Lord with us for His incredible attention to detail! Please also pray for a medical miracle for this young woman. Despite amputation of a leg, her chance of survival is only 15%. Great odds for a powerful God!