A baby saved
(Photo: © Ruth Hulser/CMS)By mission partner Dr Ruth Hulser, clinical lead at St Philip’s Health Centre in Tabora, Tanzania
Today’s ward round took one and a half hours to see four children and two adults. Why so long?
Well there were some crying needs – for example, a baby who was not getting better.
I discovered that he only had half the oxygen he needed in his blood. So I adjusted his machine and it went up to 90 per cent in three minutes. But then it took time to carefully explain everything to the desperate mother.
Next, I visited a lady with longstanding HIV. All available treatment is failing her. No one at the regional hospital had taken the time to tell her why she has lost 30kg and is sick with infections every two weeks. I sat and talked with her and her family for half an hour, answering all their questions.
This round made me realise the importance of simply dwelling with people.
Dr Ruth and HIV+ foster child Juma
(Photo: © Ruth Hulser/CMS)
Then there is little Juma, whom I am dwelling with full time. Juma has HIV and he, his granny and his little sister are staying with me right now.
His sister asks me every night to pray for her family, who are local healers and pagans and Juma is learning to trust God, too.
I think of young Luka, who came to us in 2009 with a broken neck, unable to move. He’s now so strong we were able to take his neck brace off, thanks to people like you, who supported our working with and dwelling with him.
I think about the importance of dwelling in palliative (end of life) care.
Our longest standing “palliative care” patient died recently. Mwajuma (aged 70) came to us with severe disseminated ulcerating breast cancer. I thought she had about three months to live, but thanks to donations we could afford to give her tamoxifen, which reduces breast cancer progress, and as we dwelt with her, spending time with her, she remained remarkably active and independent for three more years.
Beyond treating their illnesses, I believe dwelling, sharing my life with people here for seven years, has made a difference.
We can all learn the value of dwelling from Jesus, the word of God who became flesh and dwelt amongst us (John 1:14).
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