The trip took us 30-40 minutes and I was driving fast, reaching 90 miles per hour as many times as I could. All that time, Ethan barely made a sound and we were happy when we reached Mwaiwathu private hospital in Blantyre. Some say it is the best hospital in Malawi and that is exactly what Ethan needed at this point in time. We took him to the E.R., where we soon realized that the anesthesiologist was not around. Being Saturday evening, most doctors were already gone home, but he and the pediatrician responded on the call and came in good time. The anesthesiologist was the one that put the IVs in, while the pediatrician checked Ethan up and did the blood tests.
The first IV was just glucose (sugar water), but right after the first tests came, they changed that to salty water. According to the analysis, the levels of sodium were very low in his blood. This mineral is very important and the lack of it can negatively influence the cerebral activity of the brain, which can lead to convulsions, comma or even death.
The entire night between Saturday and Sunday Ethan was under IVs and his overall situation was getting better. It was a long night for him and for us also. Being a pediatric ward, even the empty beds were too small for us, so Lita had to sleep by him, on a bench and I slept in the car after midnight. I needed to get some rest because I believed the very next day we would be released and I needed to drive home. Sadly, the african mosquitos had other plans with me, so I fought with them for a while. We left totally unprepared and who even keeps bug repellents in the car? I ended up sleeping for a couple of hours with the engine and A/C on. Lita managed to make herself a bit comfortable using part of Ethan's bed and the benches available. All it mattered was that Ethan sleeps and gets better, which he did.
Sunday morning we were as tired as the night before, but extremely happy to see our baby alive and well, playing with his toys. He was still uncomfortable with the IV in, but at least he was feeling much, much better. The doctors came in the morning, were impressed with his conditions and ordered another blood test just to make sure everything was still in order. Being Sunday, the guys at the laboratory were probably somewhere praying or dancing, so we had to wait for them to come. At 2 pm the results were out and everything looked great. It was hard to keep him still now, because he was feeling good enough and he wanted to get down, walk, play and explore. For obvious reasons, we couldn't allow that, until the nurses came and removed the IV. Our prayer and hope is that we will not have to go through this again.
As you could probably see, the situation with the hospitals here in Malawi, in general, and in Zomba in particular is not great at all. They lack the necessary equipment and so many times even the basic things are not there. Even worse, some are not connected to the grid and don't have generators and others are disconnected from the main water supply. Those that have water, don't have medical alcohol or soap in the patients' bathrooms.
Malawi needs doctors. There are more than 17 million people living here, but only 177 specialist and a total of only 459 doctors, nurses and midwifes. According to
World Health Organization, in Malawi we only have 1,9 doctors and 28 nurses and midwifes for every 100,000 people. In contrast, US has 240 physicians for every 100,000 people, while UK has 280.
As a family, we are more than blessed even here, in this country. We have access to internet, we have access to Brothers, Sister and friends with medical knowledge or any other knowledge in general. We have cars, we have money, we have access to private hospitals and we can go there at any time during day or night. Of course, it is not because of us, but it is because of God's faithfulness and care for us. We know that probably the worst hospital in the US is better than the best over here, but at least we have access to it, while the people we serve don't. Most of them never see a real physician, only witchdoctors. Those that live closer to hospitals or clinics receive worse treatments than the one we received in Zomba, and that was bad. Most public hospitals only give aspirin for any illness one may have. People have to wait hours in line, just to see a doctor. Once I met a lady that walked from Kachere to Zomba - 6 hours - and she was sick! A couple years ago I helped a couple that have walked from Liwonde to Zomba, a distance they travelled on foot for 2 days. I gave them money for transport and they went back in just 1 hour.
We are blessed to be able to get better care than probably 90% of the Malawians. A local version of Ethan, with the same symptoms, would've died from this treatable small illness.
We have. They don't. My prayer is the Lord will send a physician or a nurse to us, to our ministry. We need a missionary with medical training and I would love to be able to start a clinic in Kachere first. There will not be a salary, there will not be benefits, but only experience and a reward in heaven. Everything has to do with the real need. William Borden, a missionary to China, once said: "
If ten men are carrying a log — nine of them on the little end and one at the heavy end — and you want to help, which end will you lift on?". I know that he was talking about the ratio of ministers in the East compared to those in the USA, but I think the idea behind the quote applies to our situation also. Malawi not only needs more missionaries, we also need physicians.
If you, as a doctor or nurse, would like to help where there is truly a big need, where do you think you need to go? Where there are 240 or where there are only 2?
I would like to thank you all for praying for us and supporting our ministry. We have surrendered our hearts and lives to God and for the people of Malawi, knowing that our lives are at risk and we could die of illnesses that could be prevented or treated in other countries. We are here because God wants us to be here. If not us, then who?
Thank you for your support. We can have vehicles, we can have money for fuel and we can drive anywhere we want, any time we want. In the worst case scenario, we can even fly somewhere else for medical treatment. Thank you for your prayers. Over all, we are a very healthy family, and it is very rare when we have to deal with emergencies. We sure don't deserve this blessings.
Of course, all the glory belongs to our Lord. The fact you have partnered with us is due to Him.
May His Name be glorified!
