Elizabeth
This blog I am posting most for prayer, for a woman named Elizabeth. She is the mother of 5, 2 of which are in the diaconal feeding project in Huaycan (Marcos and Daniel... if you remember my post on them). As for many impovershed families in Peru, jobs are hard to come by, and after her husband abandoned her and the kids, she has been looking hard for a job to provide for her family. She finally got a job, which she was to start this past Wednesday, however, this past Monday, she was hit by a "combi" or public transportation van, leaving her with a broken leg in several places. She was taken to Bravo Chico hospital (the same hospital that I went to last year with the man who fell off the roof.... in other words a sorry hospital that doesn't care much at all.)
On Wednesday I was in Huaycan for their VBS to do my health charla for the kids at the VBS (toothcare). Pastor Adrian Fernandez (the national pastor we work with) told me of her situation, and asked if I would go visit her with him and his wife after the VBS. And we did.
Upon walking into the humble brick home, she was in the little den, on top of a mattress, with blended wool and alpaca blankets serving as pillows behind her back. (It is summer here, and quite hot.... that will get uncomfortable soon). The only light in that room, where six to eight of us sat around the mattress, was coming from another room. There was no light where she was. We all talked for a bit, and then I started asking her different things regarding her pain, and anything the hospital might have informed her of for care at home.
She was told nothing of her care, other than she had an appointment with the doctor a few days later.
Her leg was unelevated and also uninformed of changing positions in bed to avoid getting bedsores. The educator/nurse in me kicked in, and I explained the importance of that. Her oldest daughter Miriam was there, and so I was able to show her, together with her the proper way to turn her mother (without the luxury of drawsheets). I also explained how to put her on a bed pan (in this case a shallow bowl).
Some of this stuff was so basic for me as a nurse, and I am so glad that I could use something that, on any other day, I might take for granted. It may not be much, but God-willing it will save her from having horrible bedsores, in a very unclean environment, for her lengthy time in bed.
After we all talked for a while, we prayed with Elizabeth and her family, which is always the best thing, and for me a special thing, in a home visit. She did loose her job, but I am so encouraged how the church is coming around her and her family at this time. The churches in Huaycan and Santa Anita are taking up a special collection for her and her family.
Please pray for this sweet sister in Christ and her family in this hard time. Thank you.
On Wednesday I was in Huaycan for their VBS to do my health charla for the kids at the VBS (toothcare). Pastor Adrian Fernandez (the national pastor we work with) told me of her situation, and asked if I would go visit her with him and his wife after the VBS. And we did.
Upon walking into the humble brick home, she was in the little den, on top of a mattress, with blended wool and alpaca blankets serving as pillows behind her back. (It is summer here, and quite hot.... that will get uncomfortable soon). The only light in that room, where six to eight of us sat around the mattress, was coming from another room. There was no light where she was. We all talked for a bit, and then I started asking her different things regarding her pain, and anything the hospital might have informed her of for care at home.
She was told nothing of her care, other than she had an appointment with the doctor a few days later.
Her leg was unelevated and also uninformed of changing positions in bed to avoid getting bedsores. The educator/nurse in me kicked in, and I explained the importance of that. Her oldest daughter Miriam was there, and so I was able to show her, together with her the proper way to turn her mother (without the luxury of drawsheets). I also explained how to put her on a bed pan (in this case a shallow bowl).
Some of this stuff was so basic for me as a nurse, and I am so glad that I could use something that, on any other day, I might take for granted. It may not be much, but God-willing it will save her from having horrible bedsores, in a very unclean environment, for her lengthy time in bed.
After we all talked for a while, we prayed with Elizabeth and her family, which is always the best thing, and for me a special thing, in a home visit. She did loose her job, but I am so encouraged how the church is coming around her and her family at this time. The churches in Huaycan and Santa Anita are taking up a special collection for her and her family.
Please pray for this sweet sister in Christ and her family in this hard time. Thank you.
posted by Becca @ 8:11 PM
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