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 May
2007
Upcoming
Surgery!
The
picture you see is of me, John. It was taken on May 31st as I was getting ready
to be released from Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after having a double
knee arthroscopy. I had left my wife Jodie and our daughter Jessica in Haiti to
finish school while I returned to have this procedure done, hoping that it would
give me the ability to go on another year or so before I would have to have a
knee replacement.
I remember waking up from the surgery in the recovery room, lying there
going in and out of consciousness and being greeted by my surgeon who said that
he had little he could do but may possibly have given me a couple months of
relief for my left knee and possibly none in my right. At more than two weeks
after those first surgeries I have come to realize the truth of his statement.
Although my left leg and knee feel somewhat better than it did when I came into
the States, the right is even much more painful allowing me little to no
pain-free walking and little sleep.
So, after the counsel of my fine physicians, loving friends, my wife,
family, and after much prayer we decided that I would have a bilateral knee
joint replacement as soon as we could get it scheduled.
I ask for your prayers and kind thoughts during this time. Although the
procedure is not as life threatening as I have had in the past when I had heart
surgery, it is still certainly major surgery with much more pain involvement
than I have experienced in my lifetime. I don't feel good about that but realize
the need for a body that is up to the task of daily life in Haiti so we can
continue work there. I thank you for your prayers.
 John's
Assistant Ill with TB
I
also ask your prayers for Eden the Haitian nurse that works with me in the
clinics. Since early in March she has been sick. Since that time I have been
doing all the clinics by myself and the only word I have heard from her was
through her family that just told me that she was very sick and in the hospital
somewhere. They gave me little idea on just how sick Eden was. On my last week
prior to leaving Haiti I received a note from Eden telling me that she would be
able to cover the clinics for me while I was gone. But since she gave no more
relevant idea into what her illness was I eventually took it into my own hands
and took the time to find out where she was and what her problems really
consisted of. This is what I found.
Upon getting sick, unable to eat, and unable to stand up due to dizziness Eden
went to a hospital that was recommended by a friend. So when I went out to find
her, her family took me to St. Fille Hospital. I knew St Fille well due to a
close friend of mine who a number of years ago used to do a great deal of
volunteer work there, but at that time we knew it generally as Mother Theresa's
Home For the Dying. It was and is a great place where godly women do a lot of
very sacrificial work for the Kingdom of God through loving those who have
terminal diseases. So I parked and waited for the family to come down with Eden.
When her brother carried her in his arms down to the driveway I pulled up and
they put Eden, very weak and emaciated to skin and bones, into my back seat. I
think she was embarrassed for me to see her this way. Since the family was
afraid to approach the medical people in the hospital concerning any medical
records and diagnosis, I eventually took it on myself to go into the
hospital and talk with the one of the Sisters of Mercy nurses as to a diagnosis
for Eden. She told me that Eden had both Tuberculosis and Aids.
From there we went to the Canopy Vert Hospital Lab, which I consider the best in
the country at the present time and had them draw blood for an HIV since I knew
through my past relationship with St Fille that they do get chest X-rays for TB
but usually their funds don't allow them to test for HIV. But since the
incidence of HIV along with TB is so high the hospital treats everyone who has
TB for Aids. Thus, Eden had the terminal diagnosis.
That afternoon I called the lab to confirm with them the fact that Eden was
negative for HIV. She did not have Aids. Praise the Lord!
From there we took Eden to Petionville to a small hospital where she would
continue her treatment of TB and also be in a place where her two children would
be able to visit her for the first time since she became sick a couple months
ago.
Since I am in the States for medical treatment there is little I can do.The last
I saw Eden was before we had the lab results that relieved us of an Aids
diagnosis. At that time I talked to her and asked her what she would think if
she was positive for HIV? Her response classic Eden. "I would give God all the
Glory for giving me life. That's all I could do."
I ask you to please pray for Eden, For her health and well-being and especially
for the protection of her 13 year old daughter Whitney, and her 7 year old son
Junior.
 Waiting
Area Near Completion
Our
first official "Project Link" project has been a long time in the coming, I had
hoped to have our waiting area started and finished sometime at least by the
month of March, but having never worked in this capacity since being in Haiti I
now know the reality getting work done here. The picture we have here is the
waiting area in an "almost finished" stage. I understand it is in its completed
stage and I promise all you who have lovingly giving to this very needed project
a picture of the final structure as soon as I can get back to make one.
To those churches and individuals who have given to this project we sincerely
thank you for your sacrificial giving. Know that as soon as I am back and in
place our new structure will be a very important part of the clinic work in
Prospere. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
John
  
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