Esther

Esther is a 25 year-old likeable girl with a thoughtful personality. She has emerged a whole person despite some awful experiences in the last 7 years.

In 2000 she had an unplanned pregnancy when she was a 17 year–old school-girl. The labour took place behind her house with a ‘birthing attendant’ from the neighbourhood. It went on and on for 3 days and nights. Eventually her family collected a lot of money and 2 blood donors and she was hurried to a mission hospital in Mattru her nearest town, where they carried out a caesarean section. The baby was dead, as they expected, but some awful injuries to her bladder and rectum had also occurred. Afterwards her urine and faeces started to leak uncontrollably. She was also limping badly because her right leg had been injured by squatting for long hours during the delivery. At a stroke her whole life completely fell apart. There was nothing to look forward to.

Five long years passed until she heard that ‘Mercy Ships’ had opened a hospital in Freetown to help women with her sort of problem. A special clinic at the mission hospital was arranged for these women. Her hopes rose, but they were soon dashed when she was told by the nurse from Mercy Ships, “I am very sorry, your injuries are too great for us to deal with at present. But come back in 3 months, and maybe we can help you.” She came back, but the answer was the same. On the third occasion, however she was taken by the nurse to a mission hospital near Freetown where a big abdominal operation was carried out. She bled afterwards and needed blood transfusions. The rectal problem was cured, but she was still leaking urine.

Two years later Esther was taken again to Freetown, this time to the Mercy Ships hospital in Aberdeen, a place by the sea she came to love. Everyone was so kind. A very experienced fistula surgeon was visiting, and she managed to close the big scarred hole in Esther’s bladder. She went home dry at night, but still leaking when she walked about.

In May 2008 she came again, her sixth trip. Dr Dave was there, who said he could possibly make her dry by stitching some tissue from her abdominal wall under the mouth of her bladder. The operation was a success. She was dry. She could now walk about freely with no fear of smell or wetness.

Dr Dave’s wife Helen was there too, who always had a smile on her face. Esther learnt some basic craft skills from her during previous visits and she made and sold a variety of items. She went to a craft school in her town and learnt to make other things. During Esther’s final visit Helen chose her to learn to run a telephone business. As she left she happily took a big black telephone with her. Now people in her village will come to her and make phone calls, and charge up their mobiles! It’s taken time, but Esther’s life and hope has been restored.

Wedding of the Street-school headmaster, Pastor Samura

Yesterday we took part in our friend’s wedding (Helen gave one of the 10 speeches) . He is also head security guard at the British Consulate, and so the British Consul was thre as well.

Six reverends and three pastors officiated (not an unusual line up) and a bishop was there and preached very well. About 500 attended for the meal and speeches.

Note the woollen 3-piece suit that about ten men are expected to kit up in in 80% humidity; also the travel arrangements for the bridal party, and a 1 mile walk through a market and up a steep hill for the guests. Our contribution went towards the fancy cake!

Award Ceremony singing competition

Last Saturday we attended this 4-hour event at the national stadium put on by Maada, who also put on the 'Bowl of Praise' event at the stadium. (see blog Feb). We were asked to give ou the awards.

Supporters stormed the podium when the female vocalist winner was announced!

Note the Frenzy ’07 T-shirts worn by Maada’s ‘Springs of Joy’ group.

Death of a fistula patient

On top of Kadi's death the same week we sadly lost a fistula patient to infection, the first in several hundred operated patients this year. She had a bad fistula and the reconstruction part of the operation could not be completed at the time of the dissection. A virulent bacteria got in during the intervening days which festered and didn’t respond to antibiotics. I was very glad that on site we had an unprecedented 3 experienced surgeons, an experienced resuscitation doctor, and also an exceptionally good ward sister. Usually I am on my own with the sister.

Death in Sierra Leone

If a family member dies you must have a large, expensive public ‘bury’ to avoid disgrace, which can cost you more than a marriage. A Christian bury will go on for over a week; Muslim funerals are quick and the body is in the ground by sundown wrapped in a sheet, but the public ceremonies go on for days, weeks and the year.

Kadi, our very popular seamstress, who is very good at leading worship at hospital prayers had a big wedding last summer which we all attended. The hospital was rocked three weeks ago when she lost a baby at seven months. Then 36 hours later she died for no obvious reason. We feel like a piece of our lives has fallen out. (the mortality rate in that ward is said to be an incredible 1 in 3, and 4 died during that shift. The lifetime risk of a woman dying due to childbirth in Sierra Leone remains the highest in the world at one in six).

Perhaps 1,500 people attended the funeral, all dressed in white. Helen spent seven hours non-stop that day attending the open laying out of the body in two homes, 3 processions, a three hour funeral, and a graveside ceremony. Whew! (felt dead at the end)