We are praying and holding our breathe following Billie’s most recent surgery. He came out of surgery very well and was looking good. The pediatric surgeon removed 15 cm of his intestines. The next days seemed fine but then he started to struggle. His stomach distended and he had no bowl movement or passage of urine. His parents were very concerned as he was not improving.He has made slight improvements this week by passing urine. There...

We are praying and holding our breathe following Billie’s latest surgery. Billie came out of the six hour surgery O.K. The surgeon removedthe swelling in his stomach has gone down a little if his dad puts his ear to Billie’s belly he hears gurgling although he (Billie, not his dad) has not passed any gas yet he has 30-40 ml’s of urine in his catheter every hour instead of over 6 hours.

Billie is four years boy who came to the U.S. for surgery for a imperforate anus when he was less than two years old. Liz Wood, a nurse from Fairbanks, led the effort and his life was saved by her coordination of all the travel, funding and medical and personal sacrifice. Billie was operated on by Dr. David Bliss of Emanuel Hospital in Portland Oregon. The professional skills and compassion of Dr. Bliss gave Billie a future. He did very well...

Each morning at 8 a.m. on our base our staff study one hour of English. Several of them are doing very well–they just tackle this very difficult language with enthusiasm and hard work. I have taught these classes myself and enjoyed the passion some of them have to learn. Beverly Conover who was on our team in February did such a great job teaching for two weeks. She has a gift and is an inspiring teacher. She was well prepared and the...

Indra will get the needed surgery for the hole in his heart.I have to thanks a couple very generous and compassionate couples for stepping forward with the needed donations. It will mean a lot to give him a future.It amazes me that it really doesn’t take much to make a difference. The average surgery costs about $ 500 USD. I recently went to the hospital for a two night stay here in the U.S. and the cost was shocking. Thankfully, that is...

The little boy I wrote about in the last story is named Indra. He is four years old. He was abandoned by his parents and his aunt is now raising him. He is always in her arms. He has a hole in his heart and needs surgery for PDA.He is in a difficult time as his future is in question. He cannot run and play like the other children in the camp where he and his aunt are living. The camp they live in is depressing and not a good place to live....

I just got a note from IFC medical director, Esther Scarborough. She told me about a small boy (I do not have his name) who is living in a camp and needs surgery to close a hole in his heart. I got to see him because I have stopped at that camp a number of times. He is always in the arms of his mother and cries a lot. He seems lethargic and doctors feel they need to get him help soon. There are about 500 people living in this camp–they...

Lodi and Eka have their own son, Christian, who is ten years old. He is bright and full of energy. He comes home from school and hardly sets his books down and he is out the door with the soccer ball. He is also the top student in his class. He is now a big brother to his new sister Christiana. She is a new born who was adopted by Lodi and Eka. Chritiana was born at our clinic to a mother was not willing to give her a home. She wanted her to go...

We were taken to the Ward to see the newest arrival. It seemed important and had an sense of urgency. When we went to the room we could see a young man in serious condition. Jurambi is 21 years old and has an unknown illness. It was a little early to know because he had just arrived and was being diagnosed. He was malnourished and very weak. He looks like someone with AIDS. The Doctor was doing tests and asking the questions about contracting...

I am in Indonesia and have been too remote to get on the Internet–here is the latest news.Nur the young Muslim woman we have tried to get to the hospital in Kalimantan was able finally get to the hospital. She was so weak (due to her extensive burn injuries) when she arrived that in only two days she died. She fought for her life and everything was done on our part to get her help. Now we need to remember her husband and 13 month old...