Return and Reflection

We’ve finally returned to the states this past weekend. Our two week stay in Kijabe went well. We were able to perform 76 surgeries and bring at least 20 families closer to God. No major complications were encountered. Every year, this trip reminds me of the bounty that we are blessed with. I thank all those that travelled with us, the nurses and staff in Kenya, and those that supported us at home. 

To see all of our posts from the trip, click on the links to the right.  Donations to help this endeavor can be made to Bethany Relief and Rehabilitation International (http://bethanykids.org/how-can-you-help/donations).

More faces from the 201o Kenya Cleft Lip/Palate Mission

Day 12: Nkinyi

Nkinyi upon her arrival at the hospital

Nkinyi is a two year old girl with bilateral cleft lip and palate who comes from a Masai village near Amboseli  National Park with her aunt. The Masai people are among the most well known of African ethnic groups due to their distinctive customs and dress and residence near the many game parks of East Africa. Traditionally nomadic, the Masai have been resistant to more modern lifestyles. Through CURE Hospital mobile clinics, patients with facial clefts are evaluated and encouraged to travel to Kijabe for surgery. In Nkinyi’s village, there are two other children with facial cleft disorders. However, trepidation and uncertainty prevent some from making the journey. For the Masai, many fear that those who are put to sleep for surgery will not reawaken. Furthermore, others believe that surgical procedures for clefts would be unsuccessful or ineffective. Only Nkinyi and her aunt were strong and resolute enough to make the 6 hour trip to Kijabe. They arrived on our last operating day. Although we normally try not to operate on patients the same day they arrive, we felt that we needed to make an exception for this child. Nkinyi was observed fasting for the required 8 hours in the hospital before her surgery was performed.

The day after her procedure, Nkinyi was drinking milk and eating porridge well. She will come back on another date for repair of her cleft palate. We pray that Nkinyi’s return to her village will be an inspiration of hope to the other two cleft children in her community.

Nkini, with her aunt, eating the day after her procedure

Day 11: Grace

Grace was born with bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate. She returned to Kijabe for further surgical management of her palate.  English is her favorite subject in school and she loves to read. The day after surgery, Grace declared that when she grows up she wants to be a doctor. Given her strong character, steadfast resolution, and God’s will, all things are possible. In addition to her post-operative instructions and medications, we placed some English children’s books we had brought in her discharge bag as her parting gift.

Grace with one of her English books

Day 9: Simon’s journey

Simon, three years old

Three year old Simon and his mother, Ruth, travelled 13.5 long hours from their home in Milani (near Kitale).  Their journey to the hospital in Kijabe took several legs, requiring a combination of four separate Matatu (small passenger mini-van) trips and one bus trip. Simon arrived late that evening, smartly outfitted in his tie and orange sneakers.

He was evaluated in the hospital clinic and was scheduled for repair of his left-side cleft lip. The next day, while waiting for surgery, Ruth and Simon met with the hospital chaplain Phoebe for words of encouragement and spiritual commitment to Christ. Simon’s surgery, which was performed by Dr. Eric Dobratz and Dr. Amy Ketcham, went spectacularly well. Simon went home the following day, newly made.

Simon and his mother during evaluation

Dr. Dobratz and Dr. Ketcham performing Simon's surgery

Simon, ready to go home!

Images from past missions

After hearing the stories of the patients who make the journey to the mission hospital, it is easy to justify the annual trip overseas.  As exhibited by Isaiah’s mother, Naomi, their visit to the hospital can truly be life changing.  While a cleft lip/palate itself is not typically life threatening, the social ramifications of a cleft lip are devastating. These patients bear a visible stigma—a scarlet letter on their face—that prevents them from being valued members of society. They cannot marry and have a difficult time holding a job.

A picture is worth a thousand words, though the stories go far beyond this moment in time.  The two week mission is filled with a blend unfamiliar and familiar surroundings in an operative setting.  To help communicate the environment, this video features images from past trips.

Faces from a past mission

Surgeon in action

Day 4: Isaiah and Naomi

Submitted by team member Patty Phillips:

 

Isaiah is from Kitale, about 250 miles northwest of Kijabe, where our hospital is located. He was born with a cleft lip. As is not uncommon, Isaiah’s mother, Naomi, was banished by her husband and his family, as they saw this child as a curse.

 

Isaiah was frequently referred to as a “snake.” Naomi fled with Isaiah to seek refuge at her maternal home. On arriving there, Isaiah was equally rejected and Naomi was told to kill the child. She took the baby to the tribal elders, who also advised her to kill the child and then see if her husband would take her back. Her faith in God began to waiver.

 

Isaiah before his surgery

Nevertheless maternal love would not let her end her child’s life, so she hid the baby under her bed for three months. Through word of mouth, Naomi heard that a team of surgeons from America was coming to A.I.C. CURE hospital in Kijabe to help children with deformities like Isaiah’s. They were then both evaluated at mobile clinic in a town called Eldoret, and were given an appointment to meet the surgical team in Kijabe. When she brought the baby to the hospital, she was amazed at the love shown to all the disabled children.

 

Isaiah after his surgery

 

 

 

Isaiah underwent surgical repair of his lip a few days later. Afterwards, Naomi was overjoyed, stating that her child “looks so smart now.” At the hospital, Naomi found a home and a family. To her, the warm and lovely reception she experienced made the difference. More so, the spiritual team who counseled and shared with her God’s word helped her restore her life back to God, accept her child as a blessing, and forgive those who rejected her. 

 

 

 

Day 3: One refugee’s story

Dadaab is a town located in Kenya 100 kilometers from the Kenya-Somali border. It serves as a UN refugee camp for 275,000 Somalis who have fled from violence provoked by political and civil unrest in Somalia. The next paragraph is an excerpt from a handwritten letter of introduction presented to us by a young patient from Dadaab when he was first seen in 2007.

“I am Somali by nationality, aged 17 years. [I am] a refugee registered under [the] UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). I have currently fled from Mogadishu and [am a] disabled person who cannot speak properly due to cleft [lip and] palate. People abuse me with my defect that God has created in me. My age mates always abuse and criticize me for my defect. I cannot play with my age mates due to this problem. I am about to suicide myself. I want to be rehabilitated [to] the most near way of personal beauty.”

Before surgery in 2007 and today

The patient has subsequently returned for further palate surgery. We received the following typed note from him:

“I would like to thank…my two surgeons and young lady who treated me like their baby and carried out their operation successfully without keeping anything back. My…words cannot describe how happy I am but I am very sorry not to [re]call your names somehow. However, you actually won to reform and build my beauty, which people and I enjoy…nicely. I can only say thank you because I can’t repay you for [all] your help. Forever you will…remain in my heart.”