Covid & Cases

Dear Readers,

As of now, we write to you from one of only 14 countries in the World yet to have a confirmed case of COVID-19. (The PNG Government thought there was a case earlier in the week, but the man tested Negative). Life and work here continue as normal, but under the surface there is a bustle of readiness preparing the Hospital and educating missionaries and staff for the possibility of the pandemic spreading to our remote Highlands. We are well supplied and our administrative team has worked overtime to construct a comprehensive plan which will address each stage of a COVID outbreak in our community. As many countries are closing their boarders and travel is becoming more difficult, we are not taking the first available flight home. God has brought us here at this time for His work to be done, and we have great peace and joy to serve Him here, come what may. In fact, because some of the usual medical staff and volunteers are no longer able to return to Kudjip, our ability to remain here as able-bodied volunteers provides timely support to a medical staff already few in number. While we are praying for all of you who have already suffered pandemic changes to your usual routines, please continue to pray for us as we serve here and prepare for medical and social upheaval. 

======================

Now, to some interesting cases in the last week:

CASE #1:  This boy fell while playing, breaking the lower part of his Humerus. As you know, it has been quite some time since I have casted anything, so I was pleased with how straight his arm turned out after a little traction, positioning, and splinting.

=====================

CASE #2: This boy traveled with his father a long way from the Jimi valley to be seen. His spleen is 20x the usual size, which I explained is caused by repeated malaria exposure. Unfortunately we don’t have a solution for Tropical Splenomegaly, so I prayed with the boy and his father and sent him home. (Yes, patients who I see on the Peds Ward are often stickered. 😁)

======================

CASE #3: This boy presented with extreme throat pain and inability to swallow, and on exam had a thick Grey/White coating all over the back if his throat. Even though rarely seen now, I diagnosed him with Diphtheria and started specific antibiotics to kill the infection. Diphtheria is a component of the DTaP vaccine usually given in a baby’s first few months of life, but not all children are vaccinated in PNG. After 48 hours on IV antibiotics, he turned the corner and today he was smiling and spoke for the first time. He is still at risk of developing other conditions (heart failure, paralysis, etc) related to the toxin released by Diphtheria, but so far he is recovering well and we are praying he continues to do so! (Second picture is the patient getting an Electrocardiogram with the most interesting system of spring clamps and suction cups I’ve ever seen).

======================

CASE #4: While I was on call one evening this week, I had three traumas present at the same time - an older gentleman with a machete chop to his right arm which our surgery team came in to help with, a man with a single small bullet hole in his low back (xray showed it to be shallow), and then this young man who had taken the bad end of a policeman’s shotgun to the legs. 😳 I was concerned about pellets remaining in/near his joint space, and admitted him for surgery to manage further in the morning. 

======================

CASE #5: Finally, this little gal is on our Peds Ward healing from a fall into the cookfire. Burns are very common here as open fires exist in the middle of most homes. For this patient, and all of the sick patients we are caring for, please pray for rapid healing, and for our medical/surgical teams to have wisdom in providing the best care.

======================

May the God of hope fill you

with all JOY and PEACE as you TRUST in HIM,

so that you may OVERFLOW with HOPE

by the power of the Holy Spirit.

ROMANS 15:13