The Gift

“They’re coming tomorrow, do you want me to call you when they’re here?”

“Who’s coming?”

“You know, my friend whose baby had the arm problem . . . . “

The “arm problem,” how could I forget?!  In the first few weeks that we were working out here they had wanted us to get comfortable with the OR, the OR techs and just the “way we do it here in Africa.”  So our first few c-sections, we worked with one of the general surgeons here.  But after that, we were on our own.  This patient had been one of the first few that I had initially done on my own.  My husband had asked me that morning if I wanted him in there with me and I had told him, no, that I could handle it alone.  It was supposed to be a “simple” repeat c-section that was planned, no surprises, right?!

So I had gowned up, the patient had her spinal and was all prepped and draped.  I cut and everything seemed to be going to plan.  It was a little more challenging as I had always been used to having a second physician in the OR with me –even in the US there had always been a second physician/resident in there to assist.  “Uterus,” I called as I was getting ready to cut into the uterus and pull the baby out.  Incision made.  Baby’s head . . . ok, got it . . . now for the shoulders and arms, but this is where I “hit my snag.”  I got one shoulder out but couldn’t seem to get the other.   I got my fingers under the one shoulder and was pulling in an attempt to move the arm across the chest and up and out, but in the process of the pulling I suddenly felt a pop at the level of the elbow, the baby then quickly emerged.  As I was handing him off to the pediatrician, I noticed how limp and motionless that arm suddenly seemed.   A lot of thoughts went through my head at the time, wondering if this kiddo was going to be permanently injured for life and praying that he wasn’t, wondering what the Togolese would think of this “new” Yovo doctor –would they trust me with other c-sections? Talk about needing to swallow some humble pie!

I did a lot of praying over the next week, as he ended up requiring and extended stay with an x-ray and phototherapy.   We were very upfront with mom and the family from the beginning and instead of getting upset with us they thanked us and continued to be very gracious to us over the next few days.   Before she left, I told the mother, I would really like to know how things progressed for this baby and explained it could be six months to a year before we would know what recovery, if any, this baby would get in that arm.  And then the family had left and I hadn’t heard anything from them since.  I kept asking the pediatrician if she’d seen them in follow-up at the clinic and she’d said “No.”  I asked the nurse who knew her if she’d heard anything from the family and she’d told me “No,” as well.  I’d kind of given up seeing them again and thought they’d been “lost to follow-up” and I would never know.

And then the question had come, “So do you want me to call you when they’re here?”

“Yes, yes, please call,” I said.  Unsure of what to expect when they were to come.  Hoping and praying that the baby was moving the arm again –at least a little better than previously!

It came on a day I was very tired from being post-call, “They’re here, doctor.”  So I headed over, unsure of what to expect . . . smiles, angry faces, a forever handicapped child? As I walked in I was greeted by smiles and one of the best gifts I could ever see, a beautiful baby boy moving BOTH of his arms and holding them up to me!  Thank you Lord!!  After a very nice conversation with the family, I was getting ready to head out the door when they asked me to wait, they had a present for me!  A present? For me?!  I was brought to the point of tears.  I had already received a gift wonderful enough in seeing this baby move both of his arms, but the family had lovingly and undeservedly brought me a “Togolese” gift and had even wrapped it!  I felt very humbled again but this time with a sense of joy, love and peace and extreme thankfulness to God for blessing this family and me in such an undeserved way!

Sound at all familiar? . . . As we go into this new year may we truly appreciate the gift of his Son!

”The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

God bless,

See our updated prayer page and new pictures!