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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
October 2001 |
Horror and hope:
Cries that need to be heard
As physical and emotional trauma haunts Americans and much of the world today, the heartache of man's inhumanity to man comes from others who have long-known unspeakable horror.
The following stories from Sierra Leone are "horrific," yet filled with hope that comes from the dedicated staff at Operation Classroom's Kissy Clinic in Freetown.
The frail cry of Marie Bangura echoes through Kissy. From the small village of Pa Lokko, Marie was abducted by rebels and left abandoned in the bush when she was nine months pregnant. She delivered a stillborn baby on her own. When discovered by her step-mom, she was taken to her village where she received traditional treatment.
Later she became one of the hundreds treated by Dr. Dennis Marke, Kissy's chief medical officer, a native of Sierra Leone. He stated that Marie's case was not the first of its kind, although it was rare.
Two-and-a-half years later, Marie still remains fragile and highly traumatized. She experiences intermittent dizziness, the sudden onset of heart palpitations and frequent mental confusion. Marie relives her experiences when she sees military figures. Alone, she continues to wash herself and her clothes in a nearby stream. Sally Morris, a UMC missionary calls her "one of God's awesome miracles." She pleads, "One person can make a difference. Marie Bangura is counting on you."
But so is David Sesay, age 9, who came to Kissy's newly established dental clinic, with an infected tooth. He received antibiotics and painkillers, awaiting the subsequent extraction a few days later. He left with a balloon.
Through Sally Morris' efforts, OC was able to secure needed equipment for the clinic. It was sent late in September. Dr. Doyle Ellis of Vincennes, Dr. Marvin Lloyd of Arkansas, Dr, Clarian Thomas of GBGM and UMCOR and others through OC secured the basic equipment. David was their first patient.
All stories don't end happily. Take Aminata Bangura, a two-year-old from Komo, a town rebel-held until recently. Her family walked the 214-mile journey to Freetown, with Aminata strapped to her mother's back.
Dr. Marke, after examining her, stated that she suffered from anemia, as a result of malaria and malnutrition. She needed an urgent blood transfusion. Her mother donated blood which matched, but before Dr. Marke could start the transfusion, Aminata passed away.
He said, "In anguish, I wrestled with the idea that perhaps supplemental oxygen could have helped save her life. I don't believe it was even Aminata's time to go. The cruel truth is that I was constrained due to lack of equipment. As I informed her mom of Aminata's death, I could sense her trauma compound and multiply. I did some counseling, as that was all I had left to offer her.
"We badly need an Oxygen Concentrator at Kissy. We need it for our babies born blue, our patients with respiratory disease, severe pneumonia, bronchial asthma, pulmonary edema, and the list goes on." The cost is approximately $1500 from a distributor in Holland.
Kissy's outreach can expand.
Now, with Kissy's outreach, more and more can receive medical care, education, and counseling. More patients are awaiting help, and more stories can then be told of how the desperate were healed, how their lives became whole, and how the staff adds to its pleas for help, its gratitude for everything that OC and United Methodists have done in the name of Jesus Christ.
To answer the cries of the suffering, contact OC through Rev. Joe Wagner, at P.O. Box 277, Colfax, Ind. 46035, or send e-mail to ocmission@compuserve.com or to ccwagner@hotmail.com .
Last updated on 01/14/2004