in Paris and on the way to Lagos

Bridget, Jack, Ben in Paris (it’s a lovely morning).  Devin on the way to Lagos then Abuja later today.  Ben is doing very well, but still no word on getting in to Children’s.  Keep praying!

Ben update

Ben is himself most of the time!  Which means (if you know Ben this is no surprise) he is HUNGRY most of the time.  This hospital in Nairobi has much better care than Nigeria, although we are more impacted by the imbalance in the world the longer we walk through this. The nights are LOOOOOOONNNG because, as the pediatric endocrinologist told us, we know a lot more about diabetes than any of the staff in the children’s ward, so we are up all night watching closely these “events.”  It is looking good for release tomorrow, depending on everything working out with our insurance and all!  When we get “home,” it looks like we will be able to have a few days at Children’s in Seattle.  Of course lots of people are helping us, all around the world.   I just don’t know what else to say besides thank you for being with us.

Better care!

Well, we still have to be assertive, but we are making progress.  If nothing else, the Nairobi hospital is comfortable and clean and the food ROCKS.  We’re in a private room with a bathroom with HOT RUNNING WATER (usually) and an extra bed for one of us to stay.  We checked in a day and a half ago and still haven’t had intake interviews or met with a doctor to get the results of all the blood tests we had upon arrival.  I guess that means they aren’t too concerned. Finally, this afternoon a diabetic dietician/consultant came in and actually talked to Ben and we received our first written materials – a picture page explaining hypoglycemia.  I think it both helped Ben understand why he’s been so tired and sensitive, while at the same time making him really sad.  “You mean unless God does a miracle of healing I will have to get shots EVERY DAY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE???”  We have done virtually all the glucose tracking and food tracking and most of the insulin injections.  We are not shy about tracking nurses down, and we have a stocked frig which helps for those low glucose readings.  There are still some frustrating things going on, which probably is based on our lack of time in hospitals, (or is it perfect in the US?) but, the people here have compassion, which makes all the difference.  This afternoon they changed the insulin, which will change the way we do things, and it should help with these big swings.  We’ve learned a lot just by documenting (I made a little graph to try to get a better picture of it all).

We aren’t holding our breath, but some say we may be able to travel Wednesday.  Our insurance team needs to talk to a doctor after another day of monitoring.

We woke up Monday morning to a greeting from Jill Parsons, a FMVISA missionary from California working with ICCM in Kenya.  She brought some books, some protein bars, a cell phone with a local number and some credit on it, and some local currency J  She also took Jack and Devin out to lunch, came back to visit today (with almonds – yum!) and is taking Jack to the elephant orphanage tomorrow.  What a blessing!

I’m hoping to be sleeping soon after dark, and Devin is at the hospital with Ben.  So many of you have said you are praying for our strength – keep it up!

Kenya phone number

We have a number in Kenya.

From US : 011 254 703 625 644

Nairobi... What? That wasn't on the flight plan!!!

Landed in Nairobi after midnight and got Ben admitted by 2:30. This place looks like the right place to be with actual machines that blink and go beep and Drs. and Nurses who chart stats and test results in a single location. They even have these things called computers to keep all the information together. We hope today to get a local phone number some schillings and Jack and I checked into a place that cost less than the room Ben and Bridget have at the hospital. The Mayfield guesthouse is close and caters to missionaries moving through Kenya.

We hope to work with the hospital staff to get Ben cleared to travel with a medical escort back to the US in the next day or two. We know all the testing and training they do here will have to be redone back home and Ben is tired of being a pincushion. We are still praying and believing that Juvenile Diabetes is not Gods plan for Ben and that when he stabilizes we will only need to monitor him. Please join us in that prayer and that we are able to get him home quickly with minimal poking and prodding.

More latter

Sorry for the babble I’m not hitting on all cylinders.

Off to Kenya

Keep on praying!

 

Ben is doing a lot better but his blood glucose level is still not stabilizing.  The biggest problem here is they are just not familiar with juvenile diabetes.  And, in fact, diabetes is really rare.  I’m sure we can’t tell the whole story, ever, but we were hoping, based on what we know, that he would become stable enough in a few days to fly home.  Since he isn’t really getting better, the evacuation company wants to move us to the closest wonderful hospital, which happens to be Nairobi, Kenya.  In about an hour, we will be driven by ambulance (overkill for the situation but I think it’s a liability thing), to an air ambulance to Nairobi.  (cool- like a private jet!!)  Once there, we are told we “will think we are in an American hospital.”  The hope is that in a few days he will be OK and we can come to the US, with a medical escort if necessary.  The whole family is going on this trip, but Devin will return to Nigeria when we come home, or as soon as it is clear that our trip is certain and secure.  We will be thankful to be in a city with many Free Methodists and are confident that all will be well. 

 

Stephanie is staying here in Abuja.  A team is with Phyllis now, in Emi-woro.  They will be flying out of Abuja on Monday, so Stephanie will wait here until that time and return to Emi-woro with Phyllis.  She is in a lovely Christian guest house in a safe area of town.   Pray for her, too, because it is all more than a little bit unsettling!!

 

Moving Day

Last few blood sugar test have been promising and we are scheduled to be on a flight to Nairobi Kenya tomorrow at 1:00.  It was decided by the company helping us and our Doctor/friends from home it is time to get out of Nigeria and to a better medical system.  I want to thank you all for your prayers and support during these ups and downs.  It has been awesome to feel so connected and to get solid advise for and conformation of decisions made.  Please continue to pray for Ben and his continued improvement. We know he is in the hands of the Greatest Healer even though sometimes we feel a bit on our own.  Pray that the trip to Nairobi is easy and fast and that our time there short.  Pray for Jack who is really feeling bad for Ben and that he doesn’t go stir crazy while we are in Kenya.  Please continue to pray for Bridget and myself to make wise decisions and not get to worn out until Ben is home.   Finally pray for Stephanie as she continues to work here in Nigeria helping Phyllis with the visitors in Emi-woro and helping pick up the pieces until I return hopefully first week in July.  She has been a real Godsend.

 

Thank you all. Your love has meant so much to us.

But malaria meds still taste awful.

Ben is horrible at swallowing pills and malaria meds are bitter. He used to
get to chase them with Altoids, but no sugar just now...

V for Victory

The IV is out! The DS is charged! The antibiotics are finished!

We are still having the anticipated swings as we try to find insulin
balance, but we are coming along!

morning follow up

Well, 7 came and went (of course).  About 8 the food arrived, so we could proceed – in theory.  Nobody knew how to use the new measured dose insulin pen the higher ups recommended we buy yesterday.  We asked everyone on this pediatric inpatient ward and on the emergency pediatric ward, and nobody knew.  They all pointed at the book that came with the pen, which said “according to the instructions from your healthcare professional,” and complained that it wasn’t more detailed and that the pictures didn’t show it clearly.  So we made our best guess, which is not the same best guess of the head nurse last night.  Anyhow, he’s had fasting blood sugar taken, received insulin from me (according to our best guess), had a good breakfast, and is laughing with Jack at this point.  Ugh!  Africa.  We thank God he hears our prayers.  And PRAY we hear about our departure plans today.

One thing... or two

One fantastic thing is Ben slept peacefully through the night, with no sugar crashes.  One frustrating thing is that the doctors gave him his first injection of a mixed rapid/slow insulin at 8:30 last night and not one person set foot in the room for the next 10 hours.  Thankfully, we can check on him with our own glucose meter.  Now his glucose level is high again, climbing throughout the night.  I went out and showed an attendant about an hour ago.  She says that we’ll treat him “by 7.”  If there is one thing we have learned in Africa, it is that 7 could mean any time before noon.  If there is one thing we’ve learned in this hospital experience, it is that we have to be very assertive to get care.  If there is one important thing we have EVER learned, it is that our God is SUFFICIENT.  We aren’t worried, but concerned and motivated to be the squeaky wheel.  I will try to get a good word out later.  Thanks for praying with us!

quick update

Thank and praise God with us.  Ben has moved into a different stage of treatment, and he should only need two shots a day.  We’re still tired – we all have some catching up to do on rest– but attitudes are definitely better now that we are under better care and a little more educated.  It seems Ben had malaria, and maybe not sepsis.  They also treated him for worms (apparently that medicine tastes awful).  We are surely in the hospital until Saturday, with some fluctuations still expected, but hopefully Jack, Ben and I will return to the US not long after that.  Devin will stay to support the work.  We are not really planning, but speculating right now and trusting God will be consistently good!  We are working with our  FM VISA headquarters and insurance company, but can’t make plans to travel yet – not until Ben gets the doctors’ OK.

There have been MANY frustrations and MANY amazing little graces, opportunities, and acts of kindness.  Stephanie has been a real blessing to us, of course.  We have a wonderful 11 year old roommate, who makes us thankful for the mild condition we are continuing in.  He and his lovely mother have been in this room 7 months.  We had a chance to check email today and it was such a blessing for Ben and I to see how many people let us know they are praying and with us in this! I apologize for the lack of updates – the days both drag and are full.  But, by the power and grace of God, Ben is laughing more, constantly hungry (his norm), and has a lot more energy most of the time.

Prayers needed

We are in the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja, and will be transferring to a hospital in Abuja in the morning.  Ben has been diagnosed with diabetic ketosis (sorry if I got the spelling wrong) and a blood infection, and we invite you to pray for healing now and AGAINST lifetime juvenile diabetes.  Our God who brought us here whole can carry us home whole!  By the way, we are thankful this is our only hospital time in these 18 months!  They don’t feed patients or even offer water!! 

 

Sermon on the mount

Last Sunday we needed a little something different. We tried to go to a
friend's church, but we had the time wrong. So, we went to the hill over
the top of Lokoja and did our own church by going through the sermon on the
mount. You can see the confluence of the Benue and Niger rivers and the old
part of Lokoja in the background. We sang, we laughed, we walked through
pieces of scripture then talked them out, we prayed intermittently as we
felt compelled. God was with us. It was GREAT!

Nice to have Stephanie around - we don't get many pictures with all four of
us!

transport

Another fundraising scheme - transport to the camps far inside the bush!
Even at a dime per rider, it could be big!

ministry??

Can I call it ministry when my little friends (this is Dule) do my dishes?
It's pretty fun most of the time. I get to let them taste things for the
first time while I'm cooking, like corn in a can, cherries in a can,
carrots, green peppers...

Two years in a row

We've been able to celebrate with Stephanie on her birthday. This year the
cake wasn't even burned - AND it had icing! And we had ice cream. We love
a good cause for a celebration - and Stephanie is definitely worth
celebrating!

our new fundraising scheme

Of course George is not nearly as cute or as talented as any of our
students...

grinding stone

 

Flexibility

Phyllis told us that there are 3 requirements for being a missionary.
Number one: flexibility. Number 2: flexibility. Number 3: flexibility.
Stephanie surely has what it takes to be a missionary! Imagine the Primary
4 teacher is sick and can't come to school. There is no substitute program
here in Nigeria, so the children were just going to - what, read books all
day? But Stephanie was working all week with the children who were still
waiting for a transition teacher, so she had a wonderful idea. She
partnered the Primary 4 kids with these very beginning students.
Revolutionary idea for our school! Guess what - the kids all loved it. I
think Steph had a lot of fun too. It's fun to see God stretching her. We
sense His pleasure.

Clement's finishing touch

Clement is such a great guy. Always going the extra mile, or in this case,
5 miles. He went on his motorcycle at 6 am to chop up a tree to beautify
our wheelchair giveaway.

Roseline in the new hat from her sponsor

Some of our favorite people

God really blessed us in Pastor Jacob and his wife Janet. They always seem
to show up at the right time with encouraging prayers - and pineapple. God
showed Pastor Jacob a vision of whites coming and doing a mighty work for
Him years before this mission began. When Jim an Phyllis started here, he
was like "oh, yeah, God showed me in a vision that there would be a mighty
work here." They are well connected, generous, gracious, and their timing
is amazing (comes from lots of practice listening to the Lord). We have
many testimonies about God's faithfulness through them.

Awesome guest Sunday school teachers

Salihu says

"If something is true, people are running from it. But if you find
something not true, not good, people are flocking that way."