One of my favorite patients and her mom is back on the ship. I had a long talk with Lovetee this afternoon and she shared some of her story with me. She lives about 6 hours north of Monrovia in Ganta with her only daughter who is around 3 years old. Her daughter had contracted Malaria; which is a very common occurrence but had to be treated. She took her daughter to the clinic to receive treatment. The daughter needed IV fluids, which she received, but the IV ended up shifting and the fluid infused into the surrounding tissue. Oh, and the IV was in her scalp; she must have been so dehydrated that it was hard to find a vein anywhere else. For some reason, the tissue became necrotic and a large ulcer developed, exposing the bone.
She had to seek special medical care and was recommended to come and find that in Monrovia. How was a single mom supposed to carry her toddler to a town 6 hours from her home when she doesn't have a car? She said she had to beg and finally was able to gather enough money and food to make the journey. They arrived at the hospital in town and luckily her brother lived nearby and she was able to stay with him.
The daughter stayed at this hospital for months to receive dressing changes in hopes the skin will begin to heal and cover the gaping wound on her head. At this point, Lovetee says "Uh, Jodi. How much we suffered." But she then heard of Mercy Ships and made her way here. She then says, "I remember I had tears running down my face. I was so desperate for my girl to get help." I happened to be her nurse before her surgery and was able to walk them both down the hall to pre-op and pray with them. "I still have the picture you made of us together. You were my first white friend."
The daughter's skin graft is healing well, although they had to return to keep getting daily dressing changes, there's only a small area that is not completely dry yet.
She gives God the glory and is thankful for His perfect timing. If she would have waited she may have missed the ship altogether. To me she is a picture, among many, of a mother working hard and giving all she had to save her daughter.
She had to seek special medical care and was recommended to come and find that in Monrovia. How was a single mom supposed to carry her toddler to a town 6 hours from her home when she doesn't have a car? She said she had to beg and finally was able to gather enough money and food to make the journey. They arrived at the hospital in town and luckily her brother lived nearby and she was able to stay with him.
The daughter stayed at this hospital for months to receive dressing changes in hopes the skin will begin to heal and cover the gaping wound on her head. At this point, Lovetee says "Uh, Jodi. How much we suffered." But she then heard of Mercy Ships and made her way here. She then says, "I remember I had tears running down my face. I was so desperate for my girl to get help." I happened to be her nurse before her surgery and was able to walk them both down the hall to pre-op and pray with them. "I still have the picture you made of us together. You were my first white friend."
The daughter's skin graft is healing well, although they had to return to keep getting daily dressing changes, there's only a small area that is not completely dry yet.
She gives God the glory and is thankful for His perfect timing. If she would have waited she may have missed the ship altogether. To me she is a picture, among many, of a mother working hard and giving all she had to save her daughter.
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