Surgeries This Week
Topic: Mission
Posted on behalf of the Anthis family:

Thanks to all who have been praying for Joel's surgeries this week. Two smaller cases on kids went well earlier this week. The one man from Niger with the huge maxillary/palatal tumor did not show up for his surgery on Weds, so time will tell if he returns or not. The young 25 yr old girl named Pasima from Niger did come for her surgery today. In summation, medically speaking, it was a difficult day. The tumor had eroded the majority of her anterior neck skin, but did not reveal itself to be unresectable until much later in the case. There is no such thing as a CT scan or MRI here to give advance warnings and guidance. The power went off during the surgery, as did the cautery machine and suction intermittently. This is all part of the reality of missionary medicine in most of the world, but knowing that doesn't make the transition any easier. We as physicians in America are accustomed to delivering the results that our patients expect - as I am used to and as it should be. So it was certainly discouraging to tell this young girl's mother that although we were able to remove a large part of the tumor, we had not cured her daughter, and there was no surgical cure available for her here in Nigeria. The patient and her mother both speak Hausa predominately, the language we will be studying starting next week. But for now it is frustrating trying to discuss complicated surgical details, and to try to discuss spiritual issues through a translator. Please continue to pray for Pasima's physical and spiritual condition.