Zorash came to work today to make up for one of the days she missed. Even though the Child Center was not open, several of the parents of the children we are helping came this morning. The little girl with the hair lip and the little boy that has something wrong with both of his arms came to pick up transport money to go back to Tamale to the hospital to see the specialists. The girl with the hair lip had to go back to have another blood test before they would do the surgery. We are not sure why another test is needed; maybe she is anemic. They are waiting for the doctor to read the x-ray on the little boy that cannot bend his elbows. He has limited use of his hands but has to be fed by his mother. They took the x-ray the last time they were in Tamale but the nurses were on strike and there was no one at the hospital to sign them in and make a chart for them. Please! We took the time this morning to show the mother a few things that should help the little guy learn to get the most use out of his arms. We broke off a long piece of kulikulee (peanut butter stick). He was able to get it to his mouth when his arm was resting on his mother’s leg. He thought it was great fun but it is brittle. We then attached a sucker to a popsicle stick. He was annoyed about the sucker. He was having nothing to do with the sucker. We then attached a piece of kulikulee to the stick; he could get it to his mouth and grinned at his success. Then we gave him 4 little matchbox vehicles. He was in hog heaven. He picked them up and put them back in Zorash’s hand over and over. Then we got him a metal can and a small plastic box. He took them from one can to the other until he became tired. It was hard work! Then he decided it would be easier to pour them from one container to the other. That is pretty good thinking skills for a 3 year old. He struggled but finally was able to pour them back and forth. We sent the toys and containers home with him.
Warihanna’s father brought her back to see us today. Warihanna is the young teenager that has osteomyelitis in her leg. She had 3 surgeries at Tamale hospital before the father gave up on them and went to a private clinic. After removing part of the bone and being in a cast for 6 weeks her leg looked pretty good but there was still one tiny place that had not completely healed. When she came today the sore was open and ulcerated. Most likely it means that the infection in the bone is still there. We gave them the money to go back to Tamale to the last doctor to see what he wants to do. We feel certain he is going to give her yet another round of high powered antibiotics. We are exhausted with this whole process; Warihanna and her father are fed up too.
One of the women that is helping haul blocks and cement on the building project brings her toddler with her to work. How dangerous is that? What if something falls on him or someone trips over him. He is just there wandering around, playing in the sand and water. No one else on the jobsite thinks it is dangerous for him to be there and his mother needs the work. Far be it from us to keep a woman from working but really!
Thank you for the love, prayers and support. You mean so much to us!
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
