This has been a big week of changes for CURE international. CURE’s founder and visionary, Dr. Scott Harrison, has stepped aside from his role as CEO and President of CURE International. Dale Brantner has been selected and given Board approval to assume the roles.

I remember in the summer of 1997 meeting Scott and Sally Harrison for the very first time. I was taking my “one and only, never to be repeated trip to Africa” with my family. Both Scott and I were volunteer orthopedic surgeons working at the Kijabe Hospital as short term missionaries. The Harrisons and Meads ended up sharing housing as another one of those ‘coincidences’ I discussed last week. Scott and I found out we both cherish the early morning time. Scott and I took time to pray together and dream. Scott shared his dream of CURE, a hospital system dedicated to the care of the physically disabled child living in the developing world. We later wandered the site of the early stages of the very first CURE Hospital to be located in Kijabe. Although there were only a few stones and smoothed earth, I had a glimpse through the vision of what could be. We were eventually called to serve the disabled child in Kenya. We moved to Kenya to serve in 1998.

Scott and Sally committed time, talents, finances, and abilities to take CURE from a misty dream of what could and should be to a large organization spanning the globe. Thousands of children have been given emotional, spiritual, and physical care because of their efforts. What the long term effects for these children, their families, and their countries will be is unknown. How has CURE affected the numerous volunteers, workers, donors, families, and more who have come into contact with this mission called CURE International? How has living in Africa touched the lives of my family? I am not sure anyone can answer these questions. We do not have the big picture.

I can look at my family and see many positive changes. I cannot tell you how greatly my life changed as I joined in the vision of CURE. Many would point out all I left, but that is thinking of things that perish. I have seen my kids gain a special world view. I have friends around the world. I have eaten strange foods in stranger locations. Jana and I became closer in our marriage journey. Many kids were able to have their deformities fixed because the CURE team was in Kijabe. The CURE team impacted for eternity many, many lives. The CURE Kijabe team grew in stature as a Christian light on the edge of the Rift. This testimonial light and work continues on. I know that people and leaders will continue to change, but the message of Christ’s love will remain true.

Kenya had the first orthopedic residency started in Kijabe by CURE. Without CURE’s support and push, I sincerely doubt orthopedic training would exist in Kenya to the degree it does. CURE-trained national orthopedic surgeons are now serving in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Cameroon, and soon Ethiopia. Without the vision of Scott and Sally and their courage to be that ‘someone’ called, none of this training would have been started.

Children in CURE Uganda were some of the first treated on the whole continent with endoscopic ventricular treatment of their hydrocephalus.

Nonoperative clubfoot clinics are now available in many parts of the world due to CURE International surgeons’ efforts.

Each year children have their lives changed in ESP holistic fashion as CURE teams reach out to those in need with a special kind of love and caring. The dream that started as a small flicker has spread its light into many places. As we change leaders, we realize the need to keep the vision going. The vision’s work is not really about the people in charge or those working in the CURE facilities or the numbers we report; the vision as founded was about bringing a combined, integrated spiritual-medical caring effort of linked hospitals to the disabled children in the developing world. What a challenge! Thank you Scott and Sally!

As we venture forth today within a new era, the challenges still loom large. The world’s needs and magnitude of the problems are way beyond any one human’s effort. The work of CURE International is a God-sized challenge and requires we all travel and work firmly and securely In His Grip!

“Niger replaces Afghanistan as worst place to be a mother” from Mission Network News

CURE Hydrocephalus

“ETV program at Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute is going well” from IFSBH

CURE Afghanistan

“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

Lemoyne, PA – May 7, 2012 – The Board of Directors of CURE International announced today that they have unanimously chosen Dale Eugene Brantner as President and CEO of the organization.  Mr. Brantner assumes this role from founder Dr. Scott Harrison, who was President and CEO of the organization since it was founded in 1996.

CURE CEO, Dale Eugene Brantner

Prior to joining CURE, Mr. Brantner was an associate pastor at West Shore Evangelical Free Church in Mechanicsburg, PA. He also served as adjunct faculty member of biblical studies at Messiah College in Grantham, PA.  Mr. Brantner has a master’s degree from the Evangelical School of Theology and a bachelor’s degree from Messiah College. He has done both undergraduate and graduate work in Israel as well as Ph.D. work at the University of Pretoria in South Africa.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Mr. Brantner ’s caliber to lead CURE into the future.  His giftedness as a leader and his deep understanding of international and cross-cultural issues are significant assets to the organization,” said Jerry Tubergen, chairman of the CURE Board.  “The Board unanimously concluded that he is the right person to continue CURE’s legacy of providing medical and spiritual healing to disabled children throughout the developing world.”

“I enthusiastically support the Board’s decision to name Mr. Brantner as CEO.  He shares a firm commitment to upholding CURE’s mission to ‘Heal the Sick and Proclaim the Kingdom of God,’” said Dr. Harrison.   “I am fully confident that, under Mr. Brantner’s leadership, many more lives will be impacted by the medical and spiritual care that CURE delivers to children and families who are burdened with curable disabilities.”

Mr. Brantner’s vision for the future is to fully maximize the potential for medical and spiritual ministry built upon the foundation created by Dr. Harrison and his wife, Sally.   “I am humbled and deeply honored that the CURE Board would entrust me with carrying on the vision of CURE.  It is a privilege to serve alongside my colleagues around the world who work tirelessly to transform the lives and hearts of God’s precious children.”

About CURE

CURE was founded by Dr. Scott and Sally Harrison as a result of the enormous need for medical and spiritual care they witnessed in their travels to developing nations.  Since opening its first hospital in 1998 in Kenya, CURE has focused on providing first-world quality care to children who suffer from physical conditions that can be corrected or alleviated through medical and surgical intervention.  The organization’s teaching hospitals and pediatric specialty programs operate in 25 countries, and it is the largest provider of pediatric surgical care in the developing world.  To date, CURE has seen more than 1.6 million patients, performed more than 128,000 surgeries, witnessed over 122,000 expressions of faith, and trained more than 5,200 national medical professionals.

###

Sites on the way to Awasa

A few weeks ago our kids had spring break. We went outside of the bustling city of Addis for a long weekend to a town called Awasa. The town was about a five-hour drive south from where we normally are. Awasa is in a lush, green part of Ethiopia. It is located on a large lake. The drive was beautiful. We saw many herds of cattle and goats with young shepherds tending them – often five- or six-year-olds who were much smaller than the animals they cared for. I also saw a couple of herds of camels. I have seen individual camels in my life, but never a whole heard. They looked so majestic with their long graceful legs, all standing together.

Fish market

In Awassa, we went swimming in the hotel’s pool and relaxed. We went bike riding on the city streets – normally we would not allow our kids to ride bikes in Addis because the traffic is so unpredictable and downright crazy. We rode bikes to a local fish market, where fishermen were bringing in their daily catch of fish, filleting them, and selling them raw to retailers and/or frying them right there. We tried some fresh fish – it was great.

Boxing match at the fish market

Fisherman filleting his catch

Abby enjoying the fresh fish

Hippos!

The market was full of kids, big and small alike. We were immediately surrounded. Many were begging. Some were taking the fish guts and eyes from the fishermen as they filleted and either eating them raw or throwing them to the pelicans, which were everywhere. I won’t soon forget the site of a little boy with a handful of fish eyeballs, popping them in his mouth like candy. I know they would have preferred to have the white meat of the fish, but they took what they could get. What’s worse – eating the intestines or the eyeballs? I couldn’t try either.

We went on a boat ride across the lake. The sites were beautiful. The most awe-inspiring was a herd of hippos bathing in the lake. Mostly what we could see were their heads; the water was too murky to see what lied underneath, but we could imagine their huge bodies beneath that water. There seemed to be dozens of them, coming above the surface of the water here and there to show off their huge nostrils and mouths.

As we left Awassa to get back to Addis, we stopped at a local fruit market. The fruit in Awassa was relatively inexpensive because so much can be grown there. We were surrounded quickly by needy people who identified us as foreigners. They asked for money. In the crowd we noticed several young men with disabilities. One had a severe burn contracture of his foot. It must have occurred as a young child, because although the foot grew to normal size, it grew backwards because of the way the skin had contracted on itself. Another young man had a similar burn contracture to his hand – all of his fingers frozen by burn scar into uselessness. Another boy was crawling in the dust and dirt on the ground, with obvious polio contractures of both legs – unable to straighten them out and stand.

Our friend explaining how to contact the Cure hospital for an appointment to the crowd at the fruit market

Our Ethiopian friend explained to them in Amharic that there is a hospital in Addis where these problems could be corrected and that their treatment would be free. They could not believe it. I hope to see them soon at the CURE hospital!

As we pulled away, Chris quoted Peter in Acts chapter 3, “⁶Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk.”

Even though we could not monetarily help all the people that crowded around us in the market that day, through the grace of God (and faithful supporters) we had something more long-lasting and life-changing to offer them: the hope of a cure that would allow them to be physically whole and able to support themselves.

Originally posted at: http://ethiopia.thebernards.org/2012/04/23/silver-or-gold-i-do-not-have/.

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.

Today I did not dance and only blew a few bubbles… today was a coloring day! The kids in the ward were more plentiful as it is now Wednesday and there have been three full days of surgery. I am amazed how quickly some of the lips are healing up… again, there were some kids who have had their surgery and some waiting.

Yesterday there was a little boy who just cried and cried and Hassane decided to carry him along on his rounds. When the ward rounds were over, he asked the nurses if he could carry him outside. When this boy’s friends who were still awaiting their surgeries saw him, they were amazed!  They encouraged him not to cry because of the transformation that had already taken place… I am hoping that seeing him caused them to fear less and be more expectant for their surgery day. Seeing the children in these various stages of healing is interesting; some are really “out of sorts,” as one can imagine, some cry loud, some just have tears, some are relieved, and some are confused. Who knows what they are all thinking, but I have to wonder as I watch them… the arms have splints to keep their hands away from their freshly stitched mouths, and they are in a strange place sleeping in a bed (which most have never done) far from home.

I had the privilege of sitting with the same peaceful boy that I held in my arms yesterday (he fell asleep while playing). He must only be two. Today he was in a much different state, looking at the IV in his hand and just waking up from surgery, crying out… how I just wanted to cuddle him… I just sang to him and prayed that God would settle him and give him peace.  Oh, I pray that each of them meet Jesus in a profound way, that they feel His touch and His love. These kids are like a box of crayons… each their different color and expression… they change day to day, and I think it is quite wonderful how God creates us all uniquely… some blues, some yellows, some greens… all shades and mixtures with the ability to change and show different emotion… I love them all… and so does HE… I know he sees us as so much more than brown & black & white & pink & peach & sunburned & tan & freckled and… well, you get the point! That is only one facet of who we are! I am sure His heart swells as he sees the amazing color display…. such WONDERFUL indigos, lime greens, fuschia, and so on… just like a Crayola box without limits!

Abaynesh Before and After Surgery at CURE Ethiopia

Abanynesh suffered from a severely crippling condition called knock knees. She lived a life of isolation, never leaving the walls of her hut. When she was 10 years old, Abaynesh’s mother told her that her crooked legs were a curse from evil spirits.

“They called me ‘the crippled one.’ Everyone in my village made fun of me. My knees crossed each other like this.”

Abaynesh’s mother gave her away to another family to cook and clean. Horribly neglected by the family she was placed with, Abaynesh was given little food and was forced to search outside for scraps. When her mother found out, she took her to another village, hoping she would be treated better.

“I never thought I would be able to get a job to support myself, because I was only able to sit down and do the simplest of work.”

As her time inside the house increased, Abaynesh lost hope she would ever look or feel normal. She feared that she would be cursed this way forever.

“I prayed and promised God that I would devote myself to Him if He healed my legs.”

That healing came through CURE Ethiopia in November 2010. After a long and painful recovery Abaynesh’s results are dramatic and her life has been drastically changed. Abaynesh now earns a living working for a different family as a housemaid where she cooks and cleans.

“With my straight legs, now I can walk to the market. Without CURE, I would still be hidden away inside the walls of my hut.”

The changes to Abaynesh’s legs were dramatic, but even more so is the change in her now smiling face. Abaynesh is filled with joy and she has hope for her future. Thanks to CURE, children like Abaynesh are constantly being given a second chance at life. A second chance for which Abaynesh says she is eternally grateful.

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.

As soon as we got outside, Sagirou stopped crying. He was still sniffling a bit, but he seemed a lot happier. We walked over towards the patient guesthouse, where all the other kids who haven’t been operated on yet were waiting, and they ran towards us in a big group. They got right up to us and suddenly stopped in their tracks when they saw Sagirou. He was one of the first to be operated on, and they were all shocked to see the way he looked. Just the day before he had been with them, running and playing and a part of the group. But now something had changed; he was different, and they kept their distance. Still, they were totally fascinated by him and couldn’t take their eyes off of him. They were whispering to each other and pointing at him, and finally one of them came forward and said, “Don’t cry, Sagirou.” At that point he smiled, and they all ran forward and surrounded him. They were laughing, and he was laughing, and they were all talking at the same time. I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but it seemed a lot like, “What is it like over there! Tell us everything! Look at your lips!”

It was so cool to see their reaction to Sagirou. They were excited and full of hope. They knew they were coming to the hospital to be “cured,” but I am not sure if they really knew what that meant. I don’t think they really thought they would be so completely transformed. I think it boosted their spirits a lot, and gave them something to look forward to. Even though it is scary going into surgery, now at least they know that it is worth it. These kids are so brave – they travel hundreds of kilometers, without their parents, and come to a strange place where strangers do strange things to them. But they take it all in stride, they are remarkably well-behaved, and they are really, really cute. It will be sad to see them go but cool to think about what their friends and family will say once they get home.

Here are a few more pictures:

Cuties before.

 

Cutie after.

 

Of course, we are always glad to have "Mamma Maureen" around, and our Social Worker, Hannatou.

 

And Chris, the bubble-master.

 

Chris and Issoufou also did a lot of dancing with the kids. After this week I will probably never not have the Electric Slide stuck in my head.

I had the opportunity to attend a pediatric orthopedic conference in Dubai this week. This conference was the “First Annual” for the region and North Africa. The two-day conference was attended by many surgeons from the Gulf region and Egypt. Lecturers arrived from Canada, USA, Denmark, UK, and Finland. A wide range of topics was wedged into two long days. I enjoyed hearing the various talks and meeting different people during the breaks and lunch.

The course location was exceptional: the Atlantis Palm Jumeira resort. This majestic hotel crowns this artificially created land structure. From the air, the collection of roads, high-end condos, and other hotels looks like a Palm Tree extending into the Gulf. The Atlantis is a very high-end hotel with its famous ‘Bridge Suite.’ Although I did stay the intervening night in Dubai, I passed on Atlantis. The cheapest rooms start around $900 per night and rapidly climb from there. As a conference attendee is was able to wander around and check out the hotel. I was impressed but still too cheap to pay that much for a room.

The conference area was very good and the lunch was superb. I did meet a couple of other orthopedic surgeons who work in the UAE. I still find it strange that all those I met are ex-pats and none were Emirates. I would hope this would change over the coming years. The newspapers have spoken of increasing the numbers of doctors, but all the talk was of recruiting, not training. That method of recruitment will give a quicker answer but not a great long term solution. I think of Kenya, where CURE assists in training national doctors to become orthopedic surgeons rather than trying to recruit and send more ex-patriots to do more work. Nationals will better understand the culture and people than any visitor. They will have roots that can never be duplicated. Given training, they will succeed.

The conference was a good escape for me for many reasons. I truly enjoyed hearing and talking about caring for disabled children. My heart still holds tightly to their needs in the developing world. I also enjoyed meeting different people of different backgrounds.

As I was in a short line to get my café latte, I turned and met eyes with a speaker from Canada. We stopped and he reached out to greet me. We wandered off to the side to talk. He is a professor at The Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto, Canada. I asked him if he knew Francis Nyiiro. Francis and I worked together in Kijabe, and I helped write letters so he could get a fellowship at Sick Kids. John smiled and said, “Of course!” We started from there and discussed the world of teaching in the developing world. He related Sick Kids saves one position each year for an applicant from Africa. I thanked him and told him I think those African fellows will impact many more people and countries than the other American or Canadian applicants. He agreed. John then gave me a name of an orthopedist at Sick Kids who is in charge of their East Africa effort. “You need to get together to dream,” he shared.

Aren’t life’s coincidences amazing? The fact we both selected the special coffee lines instead of brewed — and at the same time — is quite a coincidence. That he was from Toronto and we had a common friend was another coincidence. Or was it? Sometimes I think coincidences are not just happenstance; they are times of divine appointment, where time and events come together. This meeting was filled with times of orthopedic problems, but I found myself seated by people at lunch and breaks that seemed to drift away quickly from the orthopedic topics they were teaching and moving quickly into world medical and more specifically orthopedic needs. I heard their stories of their efforts and dreams. I shared my past and also related I was unsure what the future direction should be.

So the question that teases away is this: Did I go to a meeting to learn and coincidentally meet these people to discuss deeper issues close to my heart, or was I really supposed to go to the meeting to meet these people and have these discussions and incidentally attend a meeting as well? I guess it really does not matter as the outcome is the same. I have shifted my outlook in life, looking for the ‘coincidences’ in life and seeking them out as opportunities. Life is more than random efforts followed by death. I believe there is a plan. No one can see the whole of life’s plan; we all are given life one day at a time. I know sometimes I would like to see the future, but that always assumes my perception of a rosy, happy future without stress or worry. Life is not like that for any of us. One day is more than enough to deal with effectively. For the rest of the future, I travel in faith; I travel in His grip.

“Government is committed to curb clubfoot-affected cases in Delhi” from News Track India

“Treatment facilities to be expanded for children with clubfoot” from the Business Standard