Catching Up

Looks like it's been a while since I've updated my blog. In December I had the privilege of going home to Texas for 2 weeks AND I surprised my family by just showing up to dinner one night. They had no idea I was coming home and it was fun to surprise everyone. I got to enjoy a little cool weather, coffee with friends, Christmas Eve service at Marvin UMC, and spend Christmas with my family! But the best part was getting to spend time with my brother! I wouldn't trade those 2 weeks for anything!

family game time Christmas day

I got back to the ship a few weeks ago and things are back in full swing here on the Africa Mercy. Plastics started out strong a week ago Monday with a screening day where we saw 64 patients and scheduled over 50 over them for surgery. And Tuesday we had our first ever Plastics Evaluation Day! We invited all of the plastics patients that had operations in the September-October round back to the ship to be evaulated by Dr. Tertius (surgeon) and the plastics team. It was a day of reunions and rejoicing! The patients got to be so close when they were on the ward, it was cool to see them reunited with each other. There were so many stories to share and they all quickly found their little group of friends from their hospital stay. And they were so excited to see the surgeon again. It was a joy to see all of our patients in one room together. We rarely get to see our patients 3-4 months after surgery to see how they are healing and to have so many in one place at the same time was just awesome. We got to see how their wounds have healed, how function has been restored, and how life has been given back. Most of them were very happy with their surgery results and grateful for their newly restored function. Thankful to God for the team I get to work with and the privilege it is to serve in this place.

Round 2 of Plastics is 2 weeks in, with 7 weeks to go. Keep us in your prayers as we see another 100-125 patients with plastic surgery needs.

Plastics Evaluation Day