Breath Again

Yuka Hospital’s close proximity to the Angolan border allows the hospital to cater for many of the refugees that are seeking medical attention. In January-2007,an Angolan young man age 23 came to the hospital seeking medical attention for a large mandibular assist which had obstructed partial breathing. The young man arrived at the hospital by canoe, and because of the heavy concentration of patients waiting to be seen, was put on a three day waiting list to be seen. The hospital personnel noticed that he was very embarrassed about his existing condition. Each morning he assembled himself at the extremities of the waiting room with his face turned towards the corner, anticipating his name to be called. . Finally, after being seen by Dr. Douglas Singini, Chief of Medical Staff with further consultation from Dr. Mangold, the scheduled date for surgery to commence was set for the following day. The charge for the surgery was to be K15, 000(US3.57). The following morning, when it came time for him to be prepped, he was nowhere to be seen. It wasn’t until three weeks later; he pulled up on canoe by the bank of the hospital. To the hospitals surprise, he traveled home to Angola by canoe in order to find the money for the procedure. Under normal conditions, cases of this nature would be referred to a maxillofacial surgeon, but because Yuka is one of the referral centers for the region and it was costly to send the patient to Lusaka, the procedure was to undertaken by the doctors on hand. Without the adequate supplies to conduct the surgery, the team placed the matter in Gods hand, the one to whom healing would come. Placing the matter in Gods hand, they began to operate. Various obstacles presented itself, such as the voltage fluctuation of the light and the cautering machine didn’t work. The surgery took a total of 3 hours to complete and they closed with prayer over the patient giving antibiotics with additional doses of prayer. Soon after, they sent the patient to the ward, and for the first day he couldn’t talk. After 2 weeks of gargling with salt water, there was no infection and each day the smile of the young man got larger. His breathing returned to normal and he was able to speak. On Mr. Concepcion morning rounds he noticed a small mirror encased in the boys hand. At every opportunity, he marveled in the transformation that took place in 2 weeks. He was discharged from the hospital three weeks later. He later moved into one of the neighboring villages for a couple days, and the residents were struck at the drastic difference. Since then, many Angolan refugees have been coming to Yuka hospital. Serves as just another testimony to what God will accomplish through humbled servants.
Yuka Hospital is need of medical equipment, supplies and donations. Please contact AHI Zambia to find out how you can help. edward.martin2@gmail.com yolyhel@gmail.com