Battle of the mango

The prize is a sweet juicy orange fruit, not commonly found in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea.  The contest is between the flying foxes, a group of bats which are resorting to surprise attacks in the cover of darkness, and the McCoys and I who either wait patiently for the ripened fruit to fall from the tree or try and shake the ripened fruit from the tree.  The winner is anyone who succeeds in eating this fine fruit.

This year, the mango tree outside my house has produced a record number of mangos - definitely over 100.  In the previous 3 years I have been here, we may have gotten 12 total, but this year I have eaten at least one a day since I have been back, and there are a lot more that haven't fallen.    There are more mangos than the McCoys and I can eat, so we are giving them away, but I would rather not give them away to the flying foxes who have recently discovered them.

One night I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep when I heard something that sounded like a mango falling from the tree.  Then I heard another sound, kind of like flapping that would come and go.   I wasn't sure what the noise was, but thought someone might be up in the tree trying to steal the mangos while it was dark.  Feeling somewhat brave inside my house, I decided to go to the window to see what was out there.  The security light illuminated the area right by the mango tree, and as I stood there watching the tree I soon saw the culprit.  Flying foxes, or bats, were feasting on a late night snack.

I stood at the window and watched the 3 or 4 bats flying and landing on the tree and the mangos.  Their weight was causing some of the mangos to fall to the ground, which was the thumping sound I heard.  The flapping was them flying by the window as they were either coming or going from the tree.  The next morning I went outside and found partially eaten mangos on the ground and one mango that had been stripped to it's seed hanging in the tree.

 In the nights that have followed, I have managed to sleep through the flying fox's late night feasts, but it doesn't mean they haven't come.  Most mornings the partially eaten mangos laying on the ground is all the evidence that is needed to know they were there the night before.  It also seems the 3-4 bats that were their the first night have told their friends and they are all feasting as the damage each morning seems to be increasing.

For now, we are stilling winning the battle, but the bats don't seem to be as picky as we are in wanting ripened mangos.  Picking them early, hasn't produced the best results for us, so we are left waiting for the ripe ones to fall or at times shaking the tree, while they feast each night.  The battle will continue.  

Trying to be all things to all men

Just as I am about to give chemotherapy to a pregnant lady with breast cancer, I look over and see Bill getting ready to give intraperitoneal chemotherapy to a lady with ovarian cancer.  Neither of us have experience in what we are doing, we are just doing our best and trying to help. 

In 1 Cor 9:22 Paul says, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”  Paul was talking about being able to relate to different kinds of people in the hopes of sharing the gospel and helping them learn about Christ.  In many ways, here at Kudjip we are doing the same thing.   As doctors, we came with a certain amount of knowledge and training, but everyday in order to reach those who come through our gates, we are being stretched beyond our knowledge, skill and expertise.   We are not specialists, but missionary doctors who read, learn and are willing to help where we can.   In the process of bringing comfort and physical healing, we hope and pray they learn more about Christ.

Bill and I are not oncologists, but to give the many with cancer a few more days, we do what we can with the chemotherapy we have.  Andy is not an orthopedist, but when the need arose, become an expert in treating talipes (club feet) and has given many little boys and girls the ability to walk on the soles of their feet.  Steph is not a neonatologist, but everyday she cares for our premature babies as she rounds in the nursery.  Scott and Rosie are not infectious disease specialists, but have and are caring for many with HIV and TB.   Susan is not a pediatric cardiologist, but takes care of our kids with congenital heart defects.  Jim is not a surgical specialist, but has helped many by doing everything from neurosurgery to gynonc to ENT to urology to orthopedics and anything that needs done. 

Individually we lack knowledge, skill and expertise, but collectively we share our knowledge, skill and expertise to serve those who come and attempt to bring hope and healing in the process.  There is still much to learn and more we can do, but it is a blessing it is to be a part of this team who is trying to do what we can to help.

Trying to make a difference

To the 26 wk unborn baby inside mom’s belly, every medicine I give and decision I make regarding his mom affects him.  In order for his life to continue, she needs to continue to live. 

At 26 wks, he is way too small to enter our world here in PNG   Our neonatal ICU is really nothing more than a warm nursery that happens to have an incubator.  We lack a ventilator, and the tubes and gadgets aff are routinely working and beeping in other NICUs.  He needs to continue to grow inside his mom for about 4 and preferably 6 more weeks, before he should come out. 

Unfortunately, he may not have 4-6 wks.  His life is at risk because his mom is dying.  For 3+ months a mass has been growing in her breast, and has now spread to her liver, lungs and lymph nodes.  She has metastatic breast cancer and unless God heals her, she is soon going to die.  The extent of her cancer prevents us from being able to surgically remove it, and thus our options are limited.  Prayer and comfort care is really all we have to offer her, but what about him?

God knows all of us, even when we are inside our moms, Ps 139 tells us He knit us together.  He knows this little baby and the life that he will or won’t live.  As a doctor, I am not the giver and taker of life, but God has given me gifts in the field of medicine which allow me to help people when they are sick. So for a time, I get to try and make a difference in the life of this little baby.  If I can drain the fluid in her lung and help her breathe better, maybe his heart won’t beat as fast and he will do better.   If I can treat her pain and bring her comfort, maybe he will be comforted also.  If I am able to shrink mom’s tumor with chemotherapy, maybe he will get the chance at life that he needs. 

So I try, doing what I can with the resources I have, to help her and in the process to help him, trying to give him the extra weeks he needs before he enters this world.  Knowing that he likely won’t know his mom very long on this earth, but being comforted that he can know her in heaven, as she now knows Jesus.   Please pray for this little baby and his mom.  

Back to work

For the past 4 months, I have done very little medical wise.  That all changed this Tues when I got to go back into the hospital.  I had apprehensions of not knowing if my Pidgin would come back, and if I had forgotten how to be a doctor.  Before I could think too long, Bill was introducing me to patients who had  acute leukemia, miliary tuberculosis, malaria, meliodosis and sepsis.  My head was spinning as I tried to wrap my mind about each of these diseases and what I needed to do to care for my patients.  In the process, I was reminded of why I love medicine here so much, you never know what is going to walk through your door, and it is usually not something you would expect.

As soon as I opened my mouth to speak to my first pt, my fear of not remembering Pidgin left and it came as naturally as riding a bike.  I spent some time getting to know my patients and praying for them on the ward, and then got to go back to my clinic room.  Here I enjoyed seeing a number of patients throughout the day who came with various complaints.  Medicine came back pretty quickly as started seeing pts with TB, HIV, pericardial effusions, PNA, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fractures in need of reduction and more.  I also got to see some patients that I had been caring for prior to leaving, so it was nice to see them again and find out how they have been doing.  It has been great to be back at work and to serve once again here in PNG and with my colleagues.  Thanks for all your prayers.

Back in PNG

34 hrs after leaving Megan and Joe's I arrived safely back at Kudjip.  The McCoys picked me up at the airport and when we got to the gate, there was Jim playing the PNG national anthem on his trumpet with security in salute.  The rest of the mission family was throwing flowers and came to greet me as I got home.  It was really nice.

I left wintery PA and came home to the green rainy season here in PNG.  I forgot how beautiful it is here.  I came home to a mango tree right off my porch that is full of mangos and a beautiful garden that Bill has done a lot of work to while I have been gone.  I had forgotten the horrible road conditions, how lines don't exist, the sound of rats in the attic, and how slow the internet is here vs being back in the US, but was quickly reminded.  It is good to be home.

Megan, Joe and boys - I miss you guys already.

Saying goodbye

My time in the US is coming to a close.  These past few months have given me a great chance to spend some time with my nephews, which I have really enjoyed.  It has been fun to be a part of their lives for this time, knowing that the next time I am home, they will have changed so much.  I have also enjoyed the time I have had with my sister and will miss being together when I am back in PNG.

Despite saying goodbye, I look forward to getting back to PNG and continuing the work God has called me to.

Worldwide Lab Improvement

15 yrs ago Ed and Carol Bos started Worldwide Lab Improvement.  This is an organization that helps mission hospitals and clinics with their labs.  They do training of lab personnel, help hospitals get the equipment they need, fix the equipment when it breaks and much more.  This past week, I had the opportunity to travel to MI for training so I can teach our lab personnel how to do a specific blood test that we haven't been able to offer for a while.

I spent the day with the folks at Worldwide Lab Improvement and learned a lot.  It was very obvious that everyone there loved the work they were doing and the opportunity to help so many.  I am sure thankful for all that they do and have done for us at Kudjip.