healing changes everything
Haoua has been at the hospital for a few weeks. She came with her mom, Hadiza, and her little brother, Ganiou. She came to the hospital because she had a big tumor on her leg, and she has had it since she was 5 years old. She is 11 years old now.
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“ETV program at Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute is going well” from IFSBH
“Cure International’s hospital in Kabul” (photo) from The Baltimore Sun.
“Afghanistan no longer worst place for mothers – report” from AlertNet
“Afghan girls” (photo) from Reuters
I just love colors… all the various shades… the different feelings… you can have a very blue day and then a cheery yellow day, and how the color green just makes me feel alive! One of my favorite things as a kid was to get a fresh box of 64 Crayola crayons! Oh the possibilities. I am so thankful for colors. Today was a WONDERFUL coloring day. I love watching the kids choose their colors. Some are quite content to use the same one the entire time and others need a new one for each line and space. Read the rest of this entry »
This has been another busy week at the CURE hospital. We had a cleft lip camp, which started on Sunday and is now winding down. A group of doctors from Switzerland came to help out, and most of the patients have come through Sentinelles. It is great having so many little kids running around the hospital, laughing and playing.
On the first or second day of camp, Hassane and I were walking through the ward, and it was full of the kids that were recovering from surgery. They were pitiful-looking, all swollen lips, tears, and drool. But most of them seemed to be taking it well, and a few even managed a smile, or as much of a smile as their swollen faces would permit. But one of them, Sagirou, was crying. He was a bit younger than the others, and it seemed like he just didn’t want to be in there anymore. We asked him if he was in pain, and he said no, but just kept crying. Hassane picked him up and started walking around with him, and he calmed down a little, so we asked if he could come out with us for a bit. The nurses said ok, so Hassane put him down and we walked out into the sun. Read the rest of this entry »
I absolutely LOVE it when we have surgical camps. They not only provide important training, but they fill the hospital to the brim. A group of 28 children, with a few adults, arrived last Thursday evening from Zinder. They are such a polite, fun, and lively bunch. I spent both yesterday and this morning meeting all the new children who have come to have surgery (cleft lip/palate). Some have had their surgeries and were not very happy about it, some were awaiting surgery that particular day, and the rest were still playing and somewhat carefree. Read the rest of this entry »
Mahamadou and Harouna
Mahamadou Abdoul-Rahim is a dignified Hausa gentleman from a village near Tahoua. He came to the CURE hospital with his six-year-old son, Harouna, who was born with cleft lip. Harouna was full of energy, always running around, and talking on the toy cell phone that he found at the hospital. He took it everywhere with him. Mahamadou, on the other hand, was a quiet man who never really said much and had a sad smile. I noticed a few things about him: he took good care of Harouna, he walked with a limp, and he carried a cane. After a few weeks at the hospital he told us his story.
Mahamadou was married to his wife Faida for many years. They were happy together and had a large family. But when Harouna was born with cleft lip, Mahamadou was very upset. He couldn’t imagine that his wife had given birth to a child with such a defect, especially since she had already given him eight other children that were perfectly healthy. It upset him so much that he decided to leave her and take a new wife. Faida and Harouna still lived with Mahamadou, but he rejected them. They were not kicked out of the house, but they were set aside and Mahamadou took a new wife. She soon gave birth to another baby. It seemed as though Faida and Harouna would be totally forgotten. Read the rest of this entry »
I love Tuesday mornings; I start my day with a visit to CURE to do rounds. I visit the patients, pray, and of course blow bubbles. This past Tuesday I was a bit late and so I was still in Leron’s office when I heard the cutest singing coming from the corridor just outside. I opened the door a little and joined my little friend in song. He stopped and then peeked around the corner. What a delight, a sweet little boy about 6 years old with the brightest smile. Read the rest of this entry »
“ToonUps Continues to Blend Online Gaming and the Real World” from MarketWire
“Real World Civic Innovation Through Online Gaming: A Collaboration Between CURE and ToonUps” from Publicyte
“Lutheran General Anesthesiologist Readies for Mission Trip” from TribLocal
“Doctor to lend hand in Niger” from Northwest Herald
“Chicago Anesthesiologist to Fill Staffing Shortage in Niger Hospital” from Becker’s ASC Review
“Sierra Leone Ponseti for Clubfoot Training Report” from Global Clubfoot Initiative
I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight..
(Isa. 45:2 KJV)
Before:
This is Nouhou Issoufou. He is 16 years old.
Just a few phrases and pictures of life here right now… most of these were taken between three and four in the afternoon last Thursday.
low dust in the sky dominates most days now... Becca refers to it as African fog
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