Zorash and Amama came to work today to make up the days they missed earlier in the week. We were happy to see them. We had a ½ a bushel of soybeans that needed to be washed and dried. Amama did that while Zorash, Steve and I painted bicycles. Not all of the church leaders were able to come for the monthly class in October so they did not get a bicycle. By now word has gone all around about the bicycles and those that did not get one in October will try their best to come for class this month. This batch of bicycles did not need quite as much work as the last ones did. We bought them from a different vendor so we had a better selection to choose from. We hired the same bicycle mechanic to change out the tires and tubes on the bicycle that were not holding air. We got the job finished and are happy that is behind us.
The father of the little 2 year old that needs the hernia surgery came to the mission house this morning to talk about the child’s upcoming surgery. The family is poor so they will only be able to pay for about 1/3rd of the cost of the surgery. Fortunately, we have wonderful supporters that give us money for “whatever comes up” and we will be able to help with the remainder of the surgery cost. The child goes back to Tamale next Tuesday for a re-evaluation. They are having the mother wrap the umbilical hernia trying to make sure that it will all fit nicely back into her stomach.
The other little girl that had such a huge umbilical hernia that was not able to be repaired in Tamale has gotten an infection in her repair. An infection could have serious consequences. After the surgery was done in Accra, the Accra doctors referred her back to Tamale for follow-up checks. When the Doctors in Tamale realized there was an infection they told the mother to take her back to Accra. They chastised the mother for not keeping the incision clean. It has been about 1 ½ weeks since the mother was told to go back to Accra. Today I asked Zorash how the child was doing and she said that the mother never took the child back to Accra. She said that the family had no money for the bus fare to go so they are just sitting in the house confused and not knowing what to do! We would have already helped with the money if we had known they had not yet gone! We gave Zorash the money to give the mother for the transport and told them to go as quickly as possible.
Zorash said that the mother of the baby that had the hair lip repair surgery earlier in the week was so happy that the baby got her lip fixed because the father of the child who has 7 wives and 31 children told the mother to have the baby killed because he did not believe that it was a real baby; he said the baby was a witch. The mother would not agree for the child to be killed and conflict in the family is the reason they waited so long to have the surgery. The child is around 2 years old. The father would not give the mother permission to come to the Child Center for help with the surgery. The mother’s hands are tied if the father refuses to let them take the baby to the hospital. Zorash said that some years ago the man had another handicapped child that he said was a witch; the child was disposed of.
The only reason this baby received help was the baby’s uncle who had been away at the university finished his schooling and came home. He pressed for the baby to have the surgery and he quarreled with the baby’s father and brought the child to the Child Center. This child was one of the lucky ones. Now that the baby has had the surgery and looks normal the father said that perhaps the child is not a witch after all!
Please keep these children in your prayers.
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
