The English saying: “Every cloud has a silver lining”
Hospitals are a concentrated accumulation of human suffering. (S)He who does not work there prefers to avoid such places of pain and agony. Understandably, since they remind us of our mortality. But since the door of room 121 is open we will have a wander in.
Having had an accident Fabian (49) suffers an almost complete paraplegia. For six years now he has been enduring a stinking foot-wound. The reason is a chronic bone infection (Osteomyelitis). Dr Lukas Steffen performed an amputation of the lower leg and thus re-established a clean bodily condition. Now the patient is waiting for his leg prosthesis. Asked what he thought of his treatment at the missionary hospital, he gave a thumbs-up.
Miguel (32) lives a lamentable existence. Colicky stomach pains have plagued the man for many months. Since ulcers from mouth to bottom plague him he has lost around 25kg over the past few months. Depressed and hopeless an ambulance brought him to the Hospital Diospi Suyana. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed in the CT scan: Morbus Crohn. 48 hours after the therapy started he felt no more pain and one could see that he had regained his appetite. Despite his difficult physical disposition he has found his joie de vivre again.
And thirdly Felix (64). When admitted to the A+E he was gasping for air so much that he could hardly talk. Due to a heart-failure he had huge swellings (oedema) in his legs. The x-ray of the heart showed that his cardiac output was close to decompensation. Thus he needed to be treated immediately. Taking down his details, measuring his blood pressure, diuresis (washing out) and giving him oxygen. After his body had lost 8 litres of fluid over several days he could finally breathe normally again and started walking.
An alcoholic wanted to speak to our pastor. Now he reads in the Bible and wants to totally sort his life out. Only a missionary hospital provides 100% help: for body and for soul. Most days there are more patients queuing outside the hospital than our doctors can attend to.
And what does the fourth patient in Room 121 have?…
