Africa Mercy - It's Over Now: One Nurse's Journey

Hi....this is Marilyn's parting post, ending her service as a volunteer nurse on the Africa Mercy, which takes place a week from now. Thank you for stopping by when you could and for all your comments. I for one will miss her adventure but look forward to seeing her again. Hopefully she'll wander up my way from Boise after she gets settled. I include her email at the end in case any of you wish to send a personal message.
Sharon
 

"It's Over Now"
14 March 2015

Yesterday, we did our last cataract surgeries for the year. Next field service, the ship will return to Madagascar, but they won't be doing cataract surgeries. For Madagascar, the program is finished. It has been a difficult year, trying to find the patients that God would bring to us, but somehow, more than 300 people received the gift of sight. I am pleased for them, and only wish we could have done more.

My patient for the week, the one that lingers in my mind, is a diminutive 72 year old lady who had light perception, but no vision, in both eyes. Usually, we only operate on one eye at a time, but for her, the surgeon did both eyes at the same time. Coming out of surgery with both eyes patched and eye shields in place, she looked like a very happy bumblebee, or one of those insects with big, multi-faceted, protruding eyes. Being completely blind for the day was not a big change for her, though, and the anticipation of vision to come lit her face with smiles.

When the patches came off the next day, she could see 6/12 in both eyes--almost perfect vision. Can you imagine what that would be like, after years of blindness?

I will be headed home a little over a week from now. We'll spend this last work week doing data entry, pack-up, and whatever we can to leave the eye program neat and tidy for the next team, in whatever country comes after Madagascar in the fall of 2016. It feels a little like writing your last will and testament, leaving your treasures to your successors, whoever they might be. I want to do a good job--but it is a little sad, this letting go of something so precious that I have been doing for two years.

What lies ahead for me personally? I don't know. I plan to move to Boise to live with my friends Deb and Dave. I'll need to buy a car, pay my taxes, sort through a year's worth of mail, and...well, I don't know what I'll find to do to stay out of mischief. I've faced these times of "the great abyss" before, and eventually, the Lord opens another door to a new adventure...or at least, he has, so far. What will it be this time?

It has been a wonderful two years, working with Mercy Ships--not
always easy, but wonderful. This past week was pretty stressful for
various reasons, and I had some days of discouragement and feeling totally inadequate to the challenges. One of my stress relievers is to watch the lights of the harbor dancing on the waters, sometimes scintillating sparkles, sometimes swirling little streaks darting in and out of the swath of light, sometimes a smooth patch that looks like a quilted, rumpled blanket. So, I was watching the lights, half apologizing to the Lord for mucking up his work here, half asking why he didn't just send someone more qualified instead of me. He brought several Scriptures to mind, including:

1 Cor 3:7 “Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes it grow.”

2 Cor 4:1 “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ..for we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord... we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

2 Cor 12:8 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

In other words, it's not about me. He does his work through broken, weak, inadequate people--and he's doing it just fine, thank you. At Mercy Ships, the lame walk, the blind see, and many people encounter a God who loves them enough to get involved in the details of their healing. What an incredible privilege, that he has included me, and what a relief, that it doesn't depend on me.

Thank you all for journeying with me and for encouraging me these past two years. It has been an adventure, and a ringside seat to watch God at work, hasn't it? I have been blessed beyond all measure to be here--and my patients have also been blessed by the Lord, both directly, and indirectly through us. Thanks to those of you who have prayed for our patients--you also have a share in this great work.

Blessings to you all,

Love, Marilyn

--
Marilyn Neville
marilynneville@elitemail.org

Africa Mercy - Poverty: One Nurse's Journey

Some reflections by Marilyn on poverty in Africa. Imagine being turned away from much needed surgery because your blood pressure or blood sugar readings are too high, and you can't afford the medicine to treat these conditions? Imagine sleeping on the street with your family after your home has been washed away in a flood? Her thoughts leave me with a "big gulp" inside when I think of all we have in the western world and take for granted. I'm thankful the Africa Mercy (and other volunteer groups like it) has brought hope and real help to those in need. .......Sharon


(This is a running email post written by a volunteer nurse serving on the Africa Mercy, a hospital ship that travels the African coast).


"Poverty"
07 March 2015

Remember the young man I talked about last week? He was initially rejected for surgery because of uncontrolled diabetes, but he got it under control and took the initiative to come from Tana to try again for surgery. His first surgery went very well--his vision in that eye is almost perfect now. He was scheduled for the second eye a week later and given a place to stay in the Hope Center while he waited. He came on surgery day, but his blood sugar was 598. (Normal is 70-120. The machine won't even read above 600, it is so far out of range.) It turns out that he'd run out of insulin, and they had no money to buy more. I had to turn him away. It was hard to dash his hopes like that, but what choice did I have? The surgeon won't do the surgery with a blood sugar above 300, and for good reasons. It really isn't safe.

Back at the Hope Center, it turns out that they really didn't have the money to buy insulin. It wasn't just a matter of rearranging their priorities to buy insulin instead of something else--they didn't have any money for anything. We're not supposed to give money to our patients, but one of our crew slipped them some money, and they bought some insulin. We rescheduled him to try again for surgery the next day.

This time, his blood sugar was 154, and he got his second eye done. Hopefully, his supply of insulin will last at least long enough for the eye to heal properly. Hopefully, now that he can see again, he can get a job and continue to buy the insulin he needs in the years to come.

Even though I see the shacks where people live, even though I see people every day who haven't been able to afford the medical care that they have needed for years, I sometimes forget what it means to be poor in Africa. To think that the lack of one bottle of insulin could stand between you and a surgery that would restore your sight, and that you could not afford even that one bottle of insulin...I guess this young man's plight has reminded me of what desperate poverty looks like.

I wonder how many of the patients that we have turned away due to high blood pressure, with instructions to see their doctor and get on medication, are not returning because they couldn't afford the doctor or the medicine, not even for long enough to try again to qualify for surgery? I wonder how many of the patients who arrive on the day of surgery with high blood pressure because they didn't take their medication that morning actually failed to take it because they couldn't afford to refill their prescription between the time they qualified for surgery and their actual surgery date? Perhaps the high rate of noncompliance isn't a matter of language barrier or lack of understanding, but is plain old poverty making compliance impossible. I have counseled many people on the importance of continuing their medications for glaucoma, diabetes, or blood pressure for the rest of their lives. For how many of those people did my advice sound more like a death sentence, since they couldn't possibly afford to do that?

It has been raining a lot for the last week, flooding the streets and houses, both here and even more so in Tana. Another tropical storm is headed this way, threatening to increase the flooding, especially in Tana. Many people have already lost their homes or possessions. In Tana, our team saw many homeless families sleeping on the streets even before these rains came. I can only imagine the suffering of those cold, wet, hungry people now. I suppose that this happens every year during the rainy season--but that doesn't make it more bearable. I am thankful for my warm, dry bunk with the promise of breakfast tomorrow, and even the availability of a hot shower before bed tonight. I grieve for the people around me whose lives do not include such luxuries, and even lack the essentials of food, shelter, and medical care. It can be overwhelming to think about--how much more it must be to have to live in such poverty.
--
Marilyn Neville 

[Click here to learn more about the nurses and doctors on board the Africa Mercy.]

Africa Mercy - Up to Speed at Last: One Nurse's Journey

Surgeries are finally up to speed for the Africa Mercy team in Madagascar, which is good news for Marilyn as she nears the end of her service there. She shares stories and photos, including one tumor surgery miracle. A sixteen pound tumor was removed. -----Sharon 


(This is a running email post written by a volunteer nurse serving on the Africa Mercy, a hospital ship that travels the African coast).



"Up to Speed at Last"
27 February 2015

Can you imagine what life would be like with a 16 pound tumor hanging off your jaw? A benign tumor is only benign if you are able to get medical attention in a timely manner. Years ago, it

Sambany before surgery

would have been a simple procedure to remove it. After decades of inexorable growth, this tumor presented quite a challenge.

Blood donors for Sambany

Surgery was risky, but Sambany said, “I know without surgery I will die. I know I might die in surgery, but I already feel dead inside from the way I'm treated. I choose to have surgery.” Twelve hours of surgery and 14 units of blood later, he was

Sambany after surgery

indeed a free man.
I've included before and after photos...and a picture of our local "blood bank." (Yes, we do invest our blood, sweat, and tears into our work around here...) Cataract surgeries are happening, too. Some days are crazy busy, with more bumps in the road than usual. Last Monday was such a day. It was exhausting, but it all became worthwhile the next day when the patches came off. We got some terrific results, and had some very happy patients. 
 

The rest of the week seemed more "normal"--most of the surgeries were quick andfree of complications. By Wednesday, I was saying, "Now I remember what it is supposed to feel like around here!" We were on a roll. The good news is, our surgery schedule has filled up. We have patients, finally. The bad news is, we only have two more weeks of surgeons coming to do surgery. Just as we begin to find our rhythm, it is time to wind it down and dismantle the program. The good news, though, is, it looks like we will be able to do surgery on all the patients that we have found in all the screenings we have done, and even to do the second eye for most of the patients who would benefit from that. We will reach the bottom of the barrel just about the same time as we run out of time. How often does that happen?  

This week's star patient is another relatively young man with diabetes. He came to the screening in Tana, but his blood sugar was way too high for surgery. We sent him away. Undeterred, he got his blood sugar under control, and he and his wife took a bus from Tana to come to one of our local screenings. He was profoundly blind and walked hesitantly, even with his wife on one side and me on the other. The day after surgery, he saw his wife again for the first time in a long time. In one of those funny, poignant moments, he smiled and started to shake her hand.

(Fortunately, it did end up in a hug.) He is returning next week for his second eye--I can't wait to see him in action, walking independently up the gangway and down the stairs. I leave for home in less than four weeks. I am sure going to miss this place! What a blessing it has been for me to be here. --

Marilyn Neville

[Click here to learn more about the nurses and doctors on board the Africa Mercy.]

Africa Mercy - Limping Along: One Nurse's Journey

This is one of Marilyn's parting emails before heading home possibly the end of March. Madagascar was healthier than expected, so it's likely her services will no longer be needed. She reflects on the last two years, and as typical, shares a patient's story. 

Sharon 

(This is a running email post written by a volunteer nurse serving on the Africa Mercy, a hospital ship that travels the African coast).

13 February

We have now done three weeks of cataract surgery since Christmas, and we have enough patients lined up for about three more weeks.We have screened for patients in six cities, but we have not found very many patients overall. That's good news for the Malagasy people...cataracts seem not to be the overwhelming problem here in Madagascar that it is in West Africa.

From a personal viewpoint, however, it has been a disappointing field service. We've worked so very hard to find patients, but we have done relatively few surgeries. Our last screening in Fenereve Est this week was expected to yield about 50 patients--we found 4.

And so, we will most probably be done with surgeries by early to middle March, long before the ship leaves Madagascar in June.  I will probably go home at the end of March, since my job will be done.

But, meanwhile, we have restored sight to some people, and those people are very grateful. Their smiles and words of thanks are payment enough for all our work behind the scenes on their behalf.

I just need to keep my focus on those we have helped, and be     thankful for the opportunity to be here to do as much as we have. My best story for this week is a young man, age 28, who has had diabetes for years and has been blind for two years.  He has a five year old daughter that he hasn't been able to see for nearly half her life.  His prognosis was poor--cataracts induced by diabetes are generally accompanied by other diabetic eye problems. We did the surgery anyway--some improvement is better than none.

Yesterday, when the bandage was removed, he could see almost perfectly!  Imagine, a young father/husband has been restored to a full, productive life, able to work and provide for his family. Now I remember why we're here!

I'll probably write once or twice more before I leave, but I'd like to take his opportunity to say thank you to all of you who have followed my adventures in Madagascar and have prayed for these people with me.  If I have one take-home lesson from these two years with Mercy Ships, it is an increased appreciation that God is interested in the details of what we do, and he gets involved in response to prayer. The splashy miracles that occasionally happen are fun, but I am even more impressed with his consistency in managing the little obstacles that we bring to him day after day.

Last year in Congo, the biggest hurdle to providing surgery seemed to be blood pressures, and we saw God put his finger on them to lower them just below the cutoff point with amazing consistency.

This year, both blood pressures and blood sugars are stumbling blocks to surgery, and once again, in his quiet, behind-the-scenes, non-dramatic way, God is enabling us to do surgery by controlling those numbers.

Blessings,

--

Marilyn Neville

   

[Click here to learn more about the nurses and doctors on board the Africa Mercy.]

Africa Mercy - Ready, Set, Go: One Nurse's Journey

Another post from Marilyn on the Africa Mercy in Madagascar. Cataract surgeries have begun again, and after reading her descriptions, it truly feels like love in action. This dedicated team has their hands full, and moreover, bad weather is headed their way. It's cyclone season in the Indian Ocean!  ----Sharon


(This is a running email post written by a volunteer nurse serving on the Africa Mercy, a hospital ship that travels the African coast).


"Ready, set, go"
23 January 2015

Cataract surgeries begin again on Monday! This week has been a
time of preparation--half the team was in Tana screening for more patients, and half the team remained in Tamatave to screen for local patients and to prepare housing for our Tana patients at the Hope Center. We moved 65 mattresses across town in an open truck bed on a rainy day. We got the first load of 17 mattresses moved just before the rains started, and we were able to move the rest during an intermission in the rain around midday. At least our patients won't have to sleep on wet mattresses! The next day, we needed to shop for linens and dinnerware for 60 people. Can you believe we accomplished it in three stops? 

It truly was a week of many small blessings. Next week, it will feel so good to be underway with cataract surgeries--that's what we came for. It seems like I've heard a lot of inspiring stories lately from elsewhere around the ship. I heard of one young boy who wouldn't smile at first. He went through surgery rather stoically, but didn't interact with others much at all. Then another young boy with the same problem was admitted, and before you know it, the first lad was befriending the second, and now they are great pals, playing all around the ward, shyness forgotten.
 
At the Hope Center, where patients go to live while they continue
their physical therapy or dressing changes after surgery, there was another young boy, maybe age seven. His caretaker was his
grandmother, but she wasn't very nice to him. He was an unhappy
little guy who wasn't putting much effort into recovery. The staff
of the Hope Center started intentionally loving the grandmother, and she really mellowed. The boy perked up, started working on his therapy, and is now happily riding a Big Wheel.  

Then there was the little girl, maybe aged 4, who was the caregiver for her mother. The Hope Center didn't have running water that day (it happens a lot there), so the little girl was trying to lug a pail of water up the stairs, one step at a time. One of our team stopped to help her. At the top of the steps, Kelly asked the little girl which way to go, but she didn't understand. Kelly took the pail in one hand and took the girl's hand in the other. The lights came on, the grin spread from ear to ear, and she led the way to her mother's bed.

Not all the stories are happy, of course. I'm thinking of an old couple who came to the eye clinic for screening this week. The woman was completely blind, but unfortunately, it wasn't due to cataracts, and we couldn't help her. The man couldn't see very well, but his problem, too, wasn't something we could fix. It was hard to deliver such news, but the reason they stay in my mind as the graciousness of their response. They thanked us quietly, and the old man gently led his wife out the door. His kindness to her touched my heart.

It is cyclone season here. Last week a tropical storm crossed Madagascar to join a rather large cyclone, not far from us out in the Indian Ocean. It could have had a significant impact on us, but fortunately, it headed in the other direction. We did get some pretty good swells, though, that broke a few of our mooring lines. Now the captain has announced a new weather pattern nearby that is predicted to produce even larger swells by Sunday. We may need to anchor offshore for a few hours to ride it out--it's safer than being too near the concrete dock. In the event of an imminent cyclone threat, we would need to suspend surgeries, transfer the existing patients to the Hope Center, along with some nurses to care for them, and take the ship north, out of the path of the storm. February could be an interesting month around here!

Perhaps, next time I'll have some stories from our cataract patients. I'm looking forward to that.

Marilyn 


[Click here to learn more about the nurses and doctors on board the Africa Mercy.]
 

Africa Mercy - Time Goes By: One Nurse's Journey

Marilyn's journey on the Africa Mercy continues. She describes a visit to an orphanage - "Grins were priceless," she writes.  ------Sharon

(This is a running email post written by a volunteer nurse serving on the Africa Mercy, a hospital ship that travels the African coast).

9 Jan 2015

Time goes by...but nothing changes.  We still don't know how this field service is going to go for the eye team.  I feel like I'm waiting for the second shoe to drop...and waiting...and waiting.

We have finished the first week of screening in the capital city of Tana, where we had hoped to find an abundance of patients.  They were not abundant...but not so scarce that we need to close down the program--at least, not yet.  Usually, the first day of screening brings out the biggest crowds, but for our first day in Tana, only about 120-150 people showed up, and only 6 of them qualified for surgery.

Discouraging!  But, on the second day, approximately 400 people came, and the number of surgeries doubled.  On the third day, fewer people came, but more of them were surgical candidates, bringing our scheduled surgeries to a total of 42.  I haven't heard yet how the fourth day(today) went.

It's surprising that the numbers are increasing each day instead of decreasing.  Forty-two is not even one week's worth of surgeries, but if the numbers keep on increasing, we may yet find enough patients to keep our surgeons gainfully employed.  Or not.  It is really hard to predict at this point.

We were supposed to begin surgeries on January 19th, one week from now, but they've decided to delay the start-up for another week.  That way, our second week of screening in Tana has a chance of filling the surgery schedule far enough ahead so that we don't run out of patients in mid-week.  Meanwhile, the container with the mattresses for the Hope Center arrived today, so perhaps that will solve the problem of where to house our Tana patients for the two nights they are in town.  I haven't heard if the transportation issues have been worked out yet or not.  I certainly hope so!  Slowly, slowly, the pieces fall into place--pretty much at the last minute, it seems to me.

Meanwhile, those of us who didn't go to Tana had an interesting week here.  Some of our time was spent doing the tasks normally done by the people who were screening in Tana--doing check-ups on patients who had surgery before Christmas, screening random people who showed up at the clinic hoping for surgery in the future.  A couple of days, though, we were able to do some extra things.  One day we went to a nursing home and gave the folks there some reading glasses.  They seemed really pleased to get them.  It was lovely to see how the staff worked with the residents there--so much kindness.

The highlight of the week, though, was our trip to an orphanage for mentally and physically handicapped kids.  We couldn't do much for them, but we briefly examined their eyes and then gave each one of them some cute sunglasses.  There was a mirror in the room we were using, so we'd take them to the mirror to see how they looked.  The grins were priceless.  One little girl went prancing out of the room like a movie star--she knew she looked good!

Next week will again be a combination of post-op checkups and screening, both at the clinic and in a couple of towns outside of Tamatave.  We're still just rolling along, doing the best we can to find patients and to bring a little light and good cheer to the people we meet along the way.

The future?  Well, stay tuned...

--

  Marilyn Neville

[Click here to learn more about the nurses and doctors on board the Africa Mercy.]