March 2025 trip

By -

 We arrived safely Sunday night 3/16 after our long journey from Rochester to Bomet, Kenya.  God's grace has been so evident this trip so far.  

1. On our flight we had an empty seat between us! This never happens on Kenya Airways so we declared it a miracle.  

2. All four of our suitcases made it through xray with no dreaded "X's" marking them to be searched.  We breezed through customs in 5 minutes!  

3. My first week of patients were hand chosen for me.  I saw familiar issues and was able to triage to surgery or medical management fairly easily.

4. We had two patient's give their lives to the Lord- His kingdom is expanding! We connected them to the chaplain who met with them and will follow up with them.  What a joy!

5. Although my sleep has been poor I have felt fine with plenty of energy for the long days. Truly the Grace of God

6. My first several days I did not have a general surgery resident working with me but a medical officer interested in ENT asked if she could work with me.  This was a gift from God.  She helped me navigate the health system here.

 


This poor 4 year old has a Luc's abcess.  This is a complication of an ear infection causing spread of the infection under the muscles in the temporal area.  He underwent urgent drainage of the abscess and mastoidectomy on Tuesday.  All went well but he will be in the hospital for awhile and will need a second surgery.

The financial crisis at the hospital remains an urgent issue.  The new health care system has been implemented and although it is much easier to get authorization for surgeries the reimbursement rates are extremely low.  Not enough to support the work being done.  The hospital is making payroll but is defaulting on many of the suppliers.  As a result, we are lacking basic disposable items like scrub brushes, soap, paper towels, and tongue blades. Please join me in prayer for the mission hospitals like Tenwek that are struggling.

Thank you for your faithful prayers- they are effective.  Please pray-

1. That operating room time will open up for me.  I am struggling to get my cases on the schedule due to several OR rooms being closed from lack of staff and renovation issues.

2. For Jimmy who will be going to the Mara this week for a water filter project. Protection while traveling and for adequate, healthy food.

May God bless you,

Chase

Popular posts from this blog

First Week October 2024

By -
Image
Continued political battles in Kenya are monopolizing politician's time rather than more pressing issues of the economy and healthy care.  The impeachment process of the depute passed in the parliament and will  be voted on in the Senate this week.  In the meantime, the economy continues to struggle with high cost of living leaving the poor to struggle to afford basic necessities.  The hospitals have been left struggling due to slow release of funds from the Government.  Tenwek is in a state of major strain from loss of back payments and now reduced daily income as patients are uninsured and lack funds to pay for services.  Its a mess! Somehow God has continued to provide for the needy and this last week I saw many ENT patients and operated for 2.5 days.  The patients have heart breaking stories of delayed care.  So many suffering of treatable diseases.  This week I performed several tonsillectomies, endoscopic sinus surgery, and several biop...
Read more

Arrived to Tenwek safely

By -
Image
I arrived to Tenwek safely Saturday evening.  This was the easiest trip I have had so far.  I walked right through customs with 2 suitcases of medical supplies and was not stopped!  This was a real answer to pray, Praise the Lord! The country side remains beautiful!  This is a bridge over the Mara River that I passed over on a hike.  The water levels are high even though the rainy season has not started yet.  Although the land looks green and well nourished the health system is in a disaster.  The Kenyan government has decided to change their national health insurance.  They did this with no preparations in place.  The reimbursement fees are lower and what they will cover is much less.  This all stems from a very impoverished country that has still not recovered from the devastation of COVID restrictions.  Tenwek administration has refused to sign the contract with the government so we are in a virtual strike.  Patients are una...
Read more

Third Week

By -
Image
 This week has been a time of steady work in the clinic, operating theater and casualty.  There have been some really tragic cases coming through casualty.  My heart breaks for the suffering here.  We see these things in the US but I have such a love for these precious people that I have to hold back the tears when I minister to them. This 38 year old male was so destitute that he cut his throat in an attempt to take his life.  When asked why he did this and does he know Jesus he replied, "Yes I know Jesus but this was satan who told me to do this."  His injury was 7 days before he presented.  He was unable to eat and talk as the laceration was through his pharynx (upper swallowing tube).  He was taken to the OR where we needed to place a breathing tube and repair a large tear in his pharynx.  He has been in the ICU but recovering well.  He has been unable to communicate due to the tracheostomy tube.  This is temporary and will come...
Read more