Blog
A Voice in the Jungles
The downpour of refreshing rain is falling here in Manado Indonesia. I have been on the remote Island of Halmahera in East Indonesia for three weeks with two teams. We are back in the big city with malls and crazy drivers. We are on a slow trip home–departing in six days.The time at the Hohidiai base was awesome–I will have more to write later. I have a few minutes before the team comes back from lunch and then we are on the run again. A total of eleven amazing people joined me on this adventure–each one brought gifts and...
read moreSoon to Leave
Three teams will be going to the Hohidiai Clinic in Indonesia this next month. The first team has a variety of interests–medical, children’s work, English language training, video editing training and counseling. This will be a very rewarding time for our workers at the base. This first team is very skilled and prepared to give a lot of their skills and expertise.The second team will be leading a staff retreat for our leadership. There will be about 30 leaders who will attend the retreat. The retreat will be a three day event. The...
read moreFriends
I just returned from a trip to Springfield, Illinois. I was reflecting on the time that I got to speak to several groups. I also stayed at three homes in the 10 days I was there. I can only come up with the word friends. I met a lot of people and made a number of friends.I especially liked the opportunity to speak to a group of men and to a group of teens. They were interested and open to what I had to share. The work in Indonesia was presented and more partners are helping us in these efforts.I see us making friends of all the people who...
read moreL.A. and Illinois
What does L.A. and Illinois have in common? Tomorrow–IFC will be represented in L.A. and in Illinois. Esther Scarborough is in L.A. and will be speaking at the fundraiser for Grossman Burn Foundation. I am in Illinois where I will be speaking at several events.Esther will have the privileged to speak to a group regarding the burn care in the North Maluku region. She is passionate and will share the dilemma we have with so many people being injured as a result of accidental burns. We need a better program to provide care for...
read moreMaking Friends
Tison has been in Alaska for ten months. He is speaking English very well and has made a couple good friends. His friend, Isaac, spent the night–they played and watched movies. This is a new concept for Tison–to have a friend spend the night. What a life–watching movies, eating popcorn and drinking soda. He is having fun and building friendships. Tison is a good friend and is kind to the other children he knows.He has several surgeries ahead of him. His visa extension application is in process. After consulting his plastic...
read moreEster In America
Esther Scarborough, the medical director for IFC in Indonesia, will be in Los Angeles to speak at a fundraiser. Esther has already been to Singapore and Hong Kong. She is an inspiring speaker and advocate for the poor. Esther was invited by Rebecca Grossman of the Grossman Burn Foundation (GBF) to speak at her fundraiser on October 8.IFC has many partners and friends in L.A. This will be like a homecoming for Esther. She knows so many people and will find other doors to open while she is there. She is interested in the proposal of a burn unit...
read moreMia–cerebral malaria
Mia is a young mother who has been a staff member in the medical work for many years. She is very petite and has a beautiful smile. She is a wonderful mother to her young daughter. She recently had a serious reaction to what the is believed to be cerebral malaria. Peter wrote, ” She was unconscious for 40 minutes and is now semi-conscious. Mia is a faithful team member, she is small in stature but has a big heart–one of her specialties is caring for terminal cancer patients. We are also trying to contact her husband who works an...
read moreSuccess
We are cautiously optimistic about the results of the last surgery. Tison’s doctor took a look at the graft on his shin which was done a week ago. Dr. W. was very happy with the results of the surgery. The graft was holding–this is so important because of the potential infections if the graft doesn’t take.Tison will have to have another couple weeks of limited activities. It will be very hard on him because he is so active. We have had him outside in his wheelchair but he wants to get on his feet and enjoy the sunshine. It...
read moreRecovery
Tison had a successful surgery on Monday. The shin on the right leg had was badly damaged in the burn–it needed a large skin graft. This was a very serious injury because it could have resulted in an infection in the leg bone. He could have lost his leg due to the infection. Skin for the graft was taken from his upper thigh. The first day and night was painful and unsettling for Tison. He is a brave little boy but it wasn’t until 2 a.m. that the right combination of medications allowed him to fall asleep. He liked the X-Box in his...
read moreNumber Five
Tomorrow is an important day for Tison. He will be going to the hospital at 7 a.m. and check in for his fifth surgery. He has had a lot done already but there is a lot to do. Tomorrow his Doctor will be putting a skin graft on his right ankle. The inside of this foot is being pulled up. The contractures allow him to walk only on the outside of his foot. The left foot had the same surgery ealier. The issue is the tendons can be frozen due to lack of use. Even after the surgery, it may take a while for the tendons to loosen.Tison believes he...
read more