Incredible that 10 minutes can totally transform one OR more lives...Cataract Surgery, a 10 min. procedure not only gives sight back but also allow the child "sitter" to be able to go back to school, PTL!
Many of these people are hopeless until they hear about Mercy Ships. One man expressed from the group - Yesterday we could not see but today we see, today we can walk without help; we were in darkness but now we see. There are not words in our hearts to express what we feel nor do we have anything to pay you with but to ask God's blessing on each of us.
The smiles, that are sometimes beaming, and the thankfulness that overflows on their lips and with handshakes is priceless. I wish many of you could experience with us...
Bandages Off - What happens?
When the bandages come off the day after their eye surgery one never knows what might happen...it may be a stoic face (culturally appropriate), tears may slowly ease down their face, they may calmly say I can see, someone in blue...then the realization of what they said, penetrates...Then a smile may spread OR they may immediately jump up and down with joy and through tears of joy - say I didn't think I would ever see a smile again, a person, a child jumping in a mud puddle! Thank you, thank you, thank you...
On this particular day, after a lady's bandages came off she kept pulling on my arm and wanting to talk. As soon as I could, I got a translator. The lady eye patient was in shock, she had been with me most of the day helping lead her safely on the ship, preparing her for surgery, then with post-op. She was so amazed that she did not realize I was white, so she just wanted to hold hands and thank me, but then she continued flipping our hands over and back again, just looking and letting her eyes absorb all she could.
Interestingly, that is the most common statement after eye surgery...I didn't know you were white.
Interestingly, that is the most common statement after eye surgery...I didn't know you were white.
One of the little kids who received sight and a back pack of goodies (donated by folks in Holland to all the little ones). What a joyous time for everyone!
Sadly, no one in Guinea could do kid’s cataracts, a different procedure than for adults. God provided a doctor that was able to do some. Below are a few highlights (for children surgeries, they are checked into the ward and stay overnight)-
Abdulah-grumpiest 4 yrs. old child, no one could touch him, he moaned and was miserable. He fought when nurses came to take off patch..then his life transformed. He saw people, a huge smile...Abdulah had not seen anyone, yet alone a smile. He then stood up on his bed dancing. The nurses were stunned with such a dramatic change; they said his smile never left his face while on ship.
Two small boys (approx. 3 years old) were beside each other in the ward. Before surgery they had nothing to do with each other; no interaction of any kind, at all. After surgery, when they saw each other, they instantly became best buddies. The two were inseparable, laughing, talking, playing together all the time. They even left the ship together, hand-in-hand with smiles that lit up the whole place.
This little 3-year old wouldn’t open eyes after surgery, no matter what they tried. He was happy in his dark, familiar world until the praise & worship team came in the ward. While they were praising God he opened his eyes and watched for a while, then went back to his dark, familiar world. But week later he was playing with kids at Celebration of Sight! After a while he climbed up in Pam's lap and hid his eyes and snuggled, his life is forever changed!
Thierno-13 yr. old that had an enlarged eye and blind in both eyes. Sad that the only help the docs could give was to take out the enlarged eye. But he and his family were so thankful because he had been in constant, sometimes such excruciating pain that he cried out. Thank you, Jesus for guiding the hands of the surgeons to take his pain away.
Harmonie secretly went to the screening for surgery by herself; not wanting to get anyone hopes up. She was SO excited that MS could help but still didn't want others to know, in case the surgery didn't work. She secretly brought her sister as her caregiver.
The day after surgery, when they took the bandages off, they helped Harmonie open her eyes and gave her a mirror to look. She was sitting side by side with her sister and when they both saw the miracle they turned, grabbed each other and wept with joy! Everyone around wept with them and they thank Jesus for this gift.
Upon returning home, her father took one look at Harmonie and collapsed, weeping with joy over his daughter's transformation! When her mother heard the news, she screamed with delight as only a mother can...what joy has entered this home!
Every morning afterwards, when Harmonie awakens, she lived for so long with her eyes crossed, that she thinks it has only been a dream. Then she feels a mirror, under her pillow (that she looked in after surgery) and she looks; tears well up and sees that it is not a dream; that it has really happened!
After her debut singing solo at her church, Harmonie shared
what was on her heart about her journey to healing with Mercy Ships. “While
having crossed-eyes didn’t keep me down, the discrimination and fear around me
would have. Thanks to Mercy Ships, people will now see me and what I can do.
And thanks to God’s blessing on me, the horrible shame that filled my heart is
completely washed away.”
Another lady, 50 years old, started losing sight 5 years ago. She went to doctor and would cost 500,000 GSH for surgery. She did not have the money so she asked for her brothers and sisters at church to begin praying for her; not knowing how God would answer.
When Mercy Ships came to Guinea, her son, a plumber, got a job with the ship and told her that they were offering free surgeries. She lived several hours from port but would be able to travel to the ship. She was so grateful that her prayers were heard and answered. After surgery, she could hardly wait to go back to church to tell them how God answered her praise and give Him praise!
Bomtrobi-came for chin surgery (tumor) but also had a non-functional eye. She was told they could try and fit her with a prosthetic eye and she eagerly agreed. The first one was too large but the next one...Bomtrobi saw smiles…could it be a miracle? Bomtrobi asked translator for mirror, so she could see and the tears flowed. She could hardly talk, just nod, but every time she would look at the mirror, her tears of joy would begin again...
Everyday during her recovering time from her surgery she walked by the eye room, with her mirror and would come and give me a hug and a huge smile and I would tell her she was beautiful. She probably did not recognize herself without her unsightly tumor and with a prosthetic eye. It was a miracle and now she could have a life, without shame; no longer to be rejected by family, friends, & community, PTL!
so the blind can see, the lame can walk, and the sick can be healed in the name of Jesus
No comments:
Post a Comment