Bed Ridden.....again

Last night while playing soccer out in Cotonou, I collided with another player, heard a loud POP, and landed on the ground in severe pain, grasping my knee. A few seconds of breathlessness and shooting pain allowed me to realize that I would not be finishing the game. After being carried off of the field by a couple of guys on the team, I was propped up with some cold water bottles on the sidelines by some of the nurses that were also playing. From this spot, I really could do nothing but observe …and think.

Although it sounds odd, I found it uncomfortable to be the one ‘hurting’ in Africa. Sitting on the sidelines, I was confronted by so many concerned and loving people. The language barrier made it difficult for me to communicate that I was going to be ok….and the local people just continued to care and show immense compassion. At first, I wasn’t sure if this was ok.

Isn’t that why I came? To relieve suffering, to show compassion for the hurting, to bring hope and healing? At this moment, my eyes were opened to two very significant realities that are an inevitable part of being human.

Suffering and Compassion.

They co-exist, within everyone.

Yes, I can be the one ‘suffering’.

Yes, they can be the ones showing compassion.

In that short hour, I realized that I am much more comfortable with giving compassion, then receiving it. How humbling…to have those who I have ‘come to help’, be the ones who help me. Perhaps that is the lesson God wants to teach me in all of this…how to receive compassion.

It didn’t end there either. The crew on the ship have continued to show endless amounts of compassion….really showing love in each and every action. From getting ice, to bringing food and chocolate J, to finding the doctor, to giving up the bottom bunk, to teaching my class for me, to carrying me up and down stairs, to visiting me and praying with me. I could go on. They have a true understanding of 1 John 3:18 “Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions.”

Thank you for your actions of love….I am truly humbled.

Is this normal?

It amazes me how fast a total change of life can become 'normal'. I realized as I was driving through the sand-roads of Benin in a Landrover filled with people, dodging zimijans (motorcycles by the trillion) and waving to people as they yelled out 'YOVO YOVO! (white-person)....that life in Africa has already become what seems, a 'normal' way of life. I know that my journey here began with me trying to figure out if I was moving to Africa for an adventure in my own will... or if this was actually the path God had chosen for me thus placing a desire in my heart to leave my comfort zone and go.

After now being here for six weeks and having never felt more 'in' God's will than before, I can say with all confidence that God has led me here and I couldn't be happier! I will definitely admit that it took me a while to adjust to the fact that I am in Africa, living on a ship floating in the ocean.....and I am likely still adjusting. What I find amazing is that being here actually feels normal. I think it has alot to do with that 'peace that passes all understanding'....but every now and again I like to have little reminders that God has led me on a road less travelled (as I wrote about before).

Tonight was a reminder. I finally had the chance to take part in a program on board called Adopt-a-Patient. This program allows crew members to choose a patient in the hospital and visit them, play with them, talk to them (through translation) and really, just love them. I was nervous about doing it and I'm not really sure why. Walking into the ward and seeing my smiling little 5-year old was one of my favourite moments so far. Jenga with my patient....soon turned into Disney Memory with 4 other children, a mother and a room full of laughter and cheers. I have never enjoyed 'Disney Memory' so much! I got to see joy tonight....I got to see evidence of lives transformed....I was reminded tonight, that life here does not have to become normal. And that a life with God, is the complete opposite and farthest possible thing from 'normal'. In fact, it is really the only way to have and live 'life to the fullest'.

Maomai Dangbenon: Salvation Has Come

Maomai Dangbenon: Salvation Has Come

It was the middle of the night, and Perlagie couldn’t sleep. The image of Maomai, her three-month-old baby girl, flashed through her mind every time she closed her eyes. A huge tumor the size of the baby’s head was jutting out of Maomai’s neck. Perlagie looked over at her daughter, peacefully sleeping in her hospital bed, and began to cry.

For over a week, Perlagie had stayed in the hospital, waiting and praying for a doctor to help Maomai – but no one came. In the morning, they were being sent home. Perlagie didn’t know what to do.

When Perlagie finally fell asleep, she had a dream.

“In that dream, I saw a person, who told me I should be quiet and pray – that salvation shall come.”

The next morning, Perlagie felt confident and peaceful. She didn’t know where help would come from, but she knew God was going to take care of her baby.

***

Maomai was born with a teratoma, which means monstrous tumor. It started out as a small, golf-ball sized lump on her neck, but within three months, the tumor had grown to the size of her head.

Everyone in Perlagie’s village was afraid of Maomai. The grotesque tumor was difficult to look at, and the villagers thought they could be contaminated by it. No one would touch or play with the small baby.

“One time I was in the bathroom, and the baby was crying. People were around the baby, but they would not touch her because of the tumor. They left her crying, alone. Even the members of my family,” said Perlagie.

Perlagie was alone. Maomai was a precious, beautiful baby girl, and she could see that, but others simply couldn’t see past the monstrous tumor. In a country where perceived physical differences mark people as outcasts, Maomai was treated like a monster instead of a baby girl.

“I was very, very, sad. I was not able to sleep,” said Perlagie. “Every day, I was crying. Also, I was not eating. I had no appetite because of the condition of my baby.”

Perlagie and her husband wanted to get Maomia help. They took her to a local hospital, but there was no surgeon to perform her surgery. Perlagie didn’t become anxious or fearful. She confidently left the hospital, trusting God to bring healing and deliverance from the tumor.



When Perlagie returned to her village, her sister-in-law told her about the Africa Mercy, a hospital ship filled with doctors and nurses, which had come to Cotonou. She had just returned from the ship after being treated for an eye problem and thought they could help Maomai.

Perlagie brought her daughter to the Africa Mercy and was screened by the medical team. It was obvious that she needed immediate surgery. But the tumor had made it difficult for her to feed, and Maomai was very underweight – too underweight for surgery. The Mercy Ships medical team placed her on a feeding program and scheduled her for surgery in one month. Mercy was on its way. The salvation Perlagie had dreamed of was becoming a reality.

A month passed, and it was time for Maomai’s surgery. The morning of surgery, Peralgie worried it would not be successful.

“I started crying. Some nurses and translators told me the operation was possible with God. The doctor will be successful with surgery, the tumor will be removed, and the baby will be healed. They gave me that hope,” said Perlagie.

After six hours of surgery, Maomai’s tumor was removed. It weighed 375 grams, 15% of her body weight. The monstrous tumor was gone, and the beautiful baby girl remained.

Maomai spent over a month recovering in the hospital. Still struggling to maintain her weight, she had to be fed through a surgically placed feeding tube.

The nursing staff encouraged Perlagie to use the feeding tube. At first, she was hesitant. Perlagie distanced herself from Maomai. But as she grew more comfortable in the hospital, things changed. The nursing staff taught Perlagie how to use the feeding tube. As she took ownership of Maomai’s care, their relationship thrived.

“Initially, we were worried about her,” said pediatric nurse Ali Chandra. “But now she’s been here for over a month, and she’s blossomed. Perlagie has completely bonded with Maomai in the time they’ve been here. And it happened as we started teaching her [to use the feeding tube]. She’s doing really well,” says Chandra.

Maomai has continued to grow stronger since her surgery. Not only has she gained weight, she’s gained vibrancy.

“Maomai used to be this kind of listless baby, and now she’s bright. She’s doing more age-appropriate things than before,” says Chandra.

Psalm 13:5 says, “I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation” (NKJV).

Perlagie knows this to be true. She trusted God to take care of her baby, and He brought her salvation. Perlagie is rejoicing in His mercy.

“I thank God, and I thank each of you, for all you have done for me. God is healing and still working. I have seen my salvation in this child,” she concluded.

Written by Megan Petock
Edited by IOC Editing Team
Photography by Debra Bell and Megan Petock