Passionfruit Harvest in September

September 6, 2016

Joy and sorrow.

This past week our hearts have been heavy as we learned of the death of a close friend after a serious accident.  We have also lost many patients lately.  It is pause to consider what we are doing with our lives that really matters.  It gives joy to remember who our friend was, yet at the same time it brings sorrow.  We know she knew Jesus and that we will see her again. 

Passionfruit flower, a beauty

"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked...Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."  2 Corinthians 5:1-3; 5.

Indeed, we are travelers on a journey and this earth is only a temporary home.  We have an amazing life ahead of us.

Peace and pain. 

Furaha is a girl with diabetes that we have been managing for the last few years.  After a long struggle to manage her medical problems, she developed kidney failure.  We did all we could for her, but in the end I sent her home on palliative care with her family.  God can do miracles and sometimes he does, we will see.  As I spoke with the family who has suffered and given up so much for their daughter, they can’t imagine having done anything else.  Life is so valuable.  Even suffering has a way of bringing out love.  There is peace knowing we cared for her, even though it hurts.  The meaning of her name Furaha is "joy" in Swahili.

Strength To Walk Again

I was reminded again this past week that we care for patients so that they can tell others of the goodness of God.  As patients are healed they bear witness to others, and God receives the glory.  So many times in the New Testament Jesus heals and the result is many people praising God, not simply the one healed.  My jaw dropped recently when one of my patients walked into the pediatrics ward for a clinic follow-up.  Delphin was hardly able to walk in April due to tuberculosis affecting multiple bones in his body.  After many arduous surgical drainages and lots of pain, the infection seemed to be under control enough to go home.  I had his story translated into Swahili and told the family to share the good news with their friend and family. 

Wbat a great kid!

What joy to see him walk with a smile on his face!  The purpose of this visit was to see if he should start the academic year.  I gave a wholehearted “YES!”

One of my other patients stood for the first time last week.  Neema is a 3year old who has been struggling for months with the neurologic complications of tuberculosis.  She has been all smiles these past few weeks, able to sit independently and swallow food.  Just as we were watching Neema stand, we asked, “Can she walk?” Her mother said “No.” I think Neema heard us.  In an instant, she walked towards the door, holding onto the bed.  It was as if she wanted to show us what she could do!  What joy!!!  Neema means "grace" in Swahili.

Not apple picking, but passionfruit picking

I have been reminded to treasure Emmanuel this past week!  It keeps me going when work is difficult to know that I can come home and play with him.  He is growing so fast and is really such a sweet little boy.  He is learning to communicate his wants and needs, so there is far less frustration on his part.  I am learning patience as we ignore the occasional tantrum and focus on the good things he is doing. 

Birthday celebration with Emmanuel's aunties

He was very interested in the video of a certain "baby" (himself!)

We took a fun trip together to buy passionfruit on Sunday.  We may not have apples in Congo, but we do have an abundance of passionfruit.  This is my new favorite fall activity.  Emmanuel was really excited to load the fruit in the car.  He wanted to help washing the fruit.  At one point we filled the bathtub full of fruit and warm water and put him in it!   We bought $12 worth of fruit and have over 15L of concentrate to make >60L of juice!  I do miss the temperate seasons here in Africa…so it is perfect to have little things to remind me what time of year it is back home.

We look forward to your emails and responses to our blog.  It helps us to feel connected to the rest of the world.  If you haven't dropped us a line recently, we hope you will do so.

Blessings and love,

Lindsey (for the Coopers)

I

Emmanuel, the Birthday Boy

August 28, 2016

Emmanuel’s Birthday

It has been a busy week in the Cooper household!  The BIG news is that Emmanuel turned 2!  Where has the time gone?  There are lots of kids pictures in this blog, as an aside or an apology?!  He ate his birthday candle and fed his cupcakes to the dog (not just one, but two)!  We have been practicing singing “Happy Birthday” for months now.  I think he was a little surprised when everyone seemed to be singing around him.  He liked blowing on his celebratory party streamer.  It is so much fun to see him growing and developing every day, learning new words.  Both Warren and I would like him to replace his repetitive “What’s that?” with another phrase.  I love little boy hugs and kisses and spending time in the afternoon with him.  Now that he is two years old, he prefers his stroller less.  The other day he ran all the way down to the airstrip with us and Cocoa, instead of riding in his stroller.

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from

him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth."  Psalm 127:3-4  Children are truly a gift.  We are so grateful that the Lord has given Emmanuel to us.  We are reminded on birthdays to celebrate his life and dedicate the way we raise him to the Lord.

A Special Visitor

In addition we have had a special visitor with us this week, an American internal medicine/pediatrics ICU doctor named Nicole. 

The funny thing is that it took her 4 days to travel 500km from central Congo to our village in eastern Congo, by air.  It literally would have been faster to travel to and from Europe than to travel in country.  It is wonderful to have a new friend and colleague!  Our residents were able to hear about her area of research on the pathophysiology behind cerebral malaria/meningitis.  It is just crazy that we don’t really understand why some people die from the complications of cerebral malaria and others survive.  Her visit was such a blessing to us.  It is really beautiful to see how God can accomplish amazing things through people who are open to His will.  It was an encouragement to me personally to be able to see cases together and feel like I am providing good care to people.  We look forward to meeting the rest of her family someday and exploring ways that we can collaborate and encourage each other. 

Our medical staff with Dr. Nicole

Sports Team from California

We were blessed to host an evangelistic sports team from California at the end of July.  This is their fourth trip to Nyankunde to meet and encourage the youth.  The youth gathered in the morning to study the Word of God and be encouraged through Scripture.  In the afternoon they then taught each

Mek and Emmanuel are buddies

Sports team from California (plus Sheryl)

other and played sports.  They have maintained relationships with the youth over the past 6 years or so and know their stories.  Many of them have received scholarships to study at Christian universities, with the prerequisite that they return to work/teach in their home village.  This really is a highlight of the summer for many of the youth.  They develop leadership skills and close relationships with one another.  We housed the team in the guesthouse and organized their meals and life needs.  It is an honor to serve in this way.

The theme of their two weeks here was to “Racheter le temps” or “Buy back the time”, or in the words of Ephesians 5: 15:  “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”  It is a very convicting question of how we use our time.  Are we making the most of our time to love others?

“You are what you eat!”

Have you ever heard the old adage “You are what you eat”?  People definitely have a good grasp on this concept, maybe better than we Americans do.  Food is perhaps the most widely discussed topic!  It is almost a personal question when you ask someone, “What did you eat today?”  What you are really asking is more than the food they actually ate.  You are asking for a little window into their world, their social support, knowing what they are planting in their fields (whether successful or not).  I have grown to enjoy the interaction of asking my Mamas which foods they are preparing for their children.  The most common plate here is foo-foo (cassava root) and fish with perhaps a cooked form of spinach on the side.  Whenever I get this food history I say, “He is a true Congolese kid!”

Often there is a partial understanding (or complete misunderstanding) about nutritional concepts, and   It is fascinating.  As Americans we have a lot of beliefs around food too.  When you are sick, don’t you need to eat chicken noodle soup?  If you have been sick, don’t you need to replenish your Vitamin C?  Maybe chamomile tea with honey for sleep?  During pregnancy women seem to require chocolate and ice cream.  You get the idea.

a lot of beliefs.

In Congo when you are sick you need to start with vegetable soup too.  I am told that carrots are necessary to eat when you are sick to strengthen your eyesight.  New moms need to eat squash leaves and beans to keep a good milk supply.  When you are anemic you need to eat more green vegetables.  It is true that green vegetables are rich in iron and can help with anemia, but the response is not immediate like everybody here thinks. 

There are some funny beliefs like drinking a red soda called Mirinda helping with anemia.  It is true that Mirinda will keep up your blood sugar though during a malaria crisis.  I think somehow the color of foods is more significant to people.

It is true that after weeks of an unhealthy diet lacking in protein, one begins to show external signs of swelling, lack of energy, etc.  A diet lacking in iron eventually leads of anemia, weakness and fatigue.  A diet high in fat/sugar is quickly seen in added weight and an increased waistline.  These are obvious things maybe, but often we don’t analyze the things that we eat.  We all need more fruit and vegetables, less processed foods.  So we are to some degree what we eat.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for Alili, a young boy that Warren wrote about a few weeks ago.  He is back in the hospital with respiratory difficulties and a mass pushing on his trachea.  Just minutes ago Warren was called into the hospital to do an emergency tracheotomy.  He almost died.  Pray for wisdom in knowing how to treat him.  He is such a special soul.

Pray for us as we continue to build our ministry support team.  If you are interested in being involved with our ministry we would love to hear from you.

Pray for new ways to invest in the hospital staff and various ministries.

Pray that we would represent Christ well in our words, deeds, and relationships.

Blessings,

Lindsey

The kid pile-up

...right before he fell over

A post from Emmanuel

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to tell you about my day.  It was a fun Saturday.  I got up in the morning and got my diaper changed.  Then I had breakfast and spent a couple of hours with Maziga, my nanny.  My parents had to go to the hospital, as usual, but I had fun playing and helping in the garden.  

Around 11 am, my dad came home and we got to go on the tractor.  We drove down the hill and I enjoyed waving to everyone we passed.  We dropped the tractor off and went to see the airplane.  As we were walking around the plane, the pilot told us that he was about to make a little flight and we could go if we wanted.  Of course we wanted, and we jumped into the airplane and made a 15 minute flight.  We flew over some amazing waterfalls and rock formations.  Congo has its problems, but it is such a beautiful country.  We landed near a big river and we got to wander around for a bit.  I met some new friends.  We saw cows and birds.  Thankfully we didn't see any crocodiles.  When all the passengers had arrived, we climbed back into the plane and took off.  On the way back the weather turned, and the sunny day turned into a rainy one.  We landed in a light drizzle, which became heavier.  

We walked up the hill, but by the time we reached the hospital, it was raining pretty hard.  My dad wanted to stop and see how an operation was going.  I went into the operating room with him and we saw a patient who had been transferred to the hospital.  She had been operated in another hospital, but was not doing well.  I got to see all the guts opened up.  It was somewhat disturbing, but fascinating nevertheless.  I tried to touch the shiny instruments on the sterile table, but my dad wouldn't let me.  He tried to leave me with the ladies in the sterilizing room, but I cried until he took me back into the operating room.  

It was raining pretty hard by now, but we happened to see the pilot driving by on the road and we motioned for him to stop and pick us up.  He gave us a ride back up the hill and we ran into the house.  I was pretty cold, but I felt better after a change of clothes.  We had spaghetti for lunch.  

After lunch I played for a bit and then I took a nap.  I woke up after a couple of hours.  I take my afternoon naps pretty seriously.  We went for a walk around 530 pm.  It was pretty muddy from the heavy rain.  After the walk we went to eat dinner with some of the other families.  We had pizza, but I was kind of distracted by the other kids.  I played pretty hard with Luke, Miriam and Lukas.  At one point, we had a screaming competition.  We ran back and forth down the hallway.  I was delirious with the excitement.  When all the dishes were done, we went back home.  After another diaper change, a struggle to get my teeth brushed and a bottle of milk, I was deposited in my crib.  I was pretty tired after a long and eventful day, but I fought the need to sleep.  I cried and cried, but no one came to my rescue.  Finally, I succumbed and settled down to sleep.

It was a pretty good day.  I think I have it pretty good.  I love living here in Congo.  There is so much to see and do.  I'm learning lots of new words.  I am picking up words in English, Swahili and French.  Mostly I just invent my own language.  My parents are trying to learn it.  I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I'm sure it will be full of adventure.

Emmanuel Cooper

Alili

"So, how did you get shot?" I asked the 12 year-old boy in front of me.  I had heard what had happened, but I wanted to get his account.  Here is the story he told me.  His family had lived in a village called Niania.  At about three in the morning, they were awakened by people shouting and gunfire.  His father went to the door and was shot and killed.  His mother was also killed.  I didn't ask too many questions.  Sometimes you don't want to hear all the details.  It was unclear who the attackers were.  12 year old Alili tried to hide but he was struck by a stray bullet which passed through the shoulder.  He fled into the bush, bleeding and terrified.  He stayed hidden for a week.  He ate cassava and raw sweet potatoes which he found in the fields.  His arm became gangrenous.  I can only imagine the horror and terror that he lived through.

An uncle did not find Alili's body in the village and he went searching.  He finally found him and brought home home.  More than a week later he finally received medical care and underwent a "guillotine" amputation (exactly what is sounds like) at the level of the shoulder.  Some time later he was sent to Nyankunde for management of the dead scapula which was protruding from the wound.  

It was a close brush with death, but an even closer one was ahead.  I saw him in the ward and we scheduled him for a revision of the amputation.  It seemed like a relatively simple matter of removing the dead scapula bone and closing the wound.  Well the operation got delayed a bit.   It seemed like there was always something more urgent.  Several days went by.  Near the end of the week, I decided that we had put him off long enough, he smelled bad enough and we needed to operate that day.  I sent for the patient and was surprised to hear that he had been transferred to the ICU.  

As it turns out, that morning he had started having difficulty breathing.  He was transferred to the  ICU and put on oxygen, but he deteriorated rapidly.  By the time I saw him he was in severe respiratory distress.  Something seemed to be compressing his trachea.  To make a long story short, the bullet and the subsequent infection had caused the superior lobe of the lung to die and the infection had entered the neck and was compressing the trachea.  I opted for an emergency tracheostomy, and with a bit of luck I found the trachea, pushed way over.  I didn't have an appropriate tube, so I put an ordinary endotracheal tube in.  We were able to ventilate the patient, sighs of relief all around, but in performing the tracheostomy, I had stirred up some pretty major bleeding.  Not exactly "audible bleeding" but close.  I ended up ripping off the clavicle to ligate the subclavian vessels.  I was tying off bleeding arteries without actually knowing what they were.  

The patient had entered the OR in a state of severe anemia and he went into shock.  There was no blood pressure or pulse.  There was only one family member with Alili and he had an incompatible blood type.  I asked the blood type...B+. Oh well, time for me to give again.  I asked for an empty blood bag and poked the huge needle into that little scar in my left antecubital fossa.  I've stuck it so many times that I have no nerves working in that area and I feel no pain, just the slight queasiness of sticking a needle into my own body and watching the blood flow.  I had just stuck myself and was sitting down, when Ayiko, the head anesthetist told me not to bother.  It wasn't worth wasting my blood.  He's usually pretty optimistic, and usually pretty accurate.  I decided that I'd come that far, I might as well continue.  

As soon as I'd filled up the bag, I pulled the needle out of my arm.  There was only a tiny IV in his hand.  We needed something bigger.  I got the ultrasound machine, located his jugular vein and stuck a 16 gauge IV in.  Unfortunately the puncture site in my arm had not yet clotted and I was dripping blood all over the table and floor.  One of the other doctors grabbed a gauze and held pressure on my arm until I had fixed the IV in place.  We poured the blood in.  I squeezed the bag and got it in in a couple of minutes.  Alili came back to life.  There's no other way to put it.  He started breathing again, his pulse came back, and he opened his eyes.  

Since that day, he's actually done quite well.  We got the tracheostomy tube out after a day or so.  We took him back to the OR to remove the scapula and pull the wound together.  He looks a bit funny, but he is doing well.  After all he's been through, I've kind of concluded that he is a tough kid.  He is still missing a good portion of one lung and he still has a large infected wound, but he's alive.

Anyway, I don't have any real conclusions to make.  It was a case that moved me.  This kid has suffered more than I can imagine.  He has been so close to death, but he seems ok.  He smiles, he laughs, he's really a pretty cute kid.  This can only be the grace of God.  For me it is a reminder to go all out, to not give up easily.  We've had a lot of disappointments in the surgical department, a lot of death.  Still, there are those cases which make me believe that it is possible to make a difference.  

Right now, I'm sitting in the airport in Entebbe, Uganda.  In a couple of hours, I will get on a plane and return to the US.  It is a focused trip.  I am bringing back some endoscopic equipment that needs to be repaired.  I'm hoping to learn how to do service and repair of this equipment.  I'm not looking forward to going back alone, and I already miss Lindsey and Emmanuel.  I'll be back in Uganda in about ten days and then we will spend a couple of days together in Uganda before returning to Congo.  

Pray for us as we give our blood, sweat and tears.  Pray for Alili, that God will comfort him and give him the strength to go forward.  

Warren