Week 6: D Ward

D ward is for maxillofacial (max fax) surgeries, which involves removing facial tumours, repairing cleft lips and cleft palates, as well as ear-nose-throat diseases. D ward often has the most impactful before and after results, especially because the focus is on facial problems. Again, these are things very rarely seen in North America because tumours would be removed when they are very small, and cleft lips/palates are corrected in infanthood. Often with the small babies, they must first go into an infant feeding program to ensure they weigh enough to be safely operated on. Sometimes the babies come to us weighing less than they did when they were born.

Our max fax surgeon is Dr.Gary Parker, who has been with Mercy Ships since the beginning. He has served 29 years on board the various ships and has become one of the best surgeons in his field. He is an amazingly humble man and has dedicated his life to helping others. He does approximately 4 surgeries a day, 5 days a week for 10 months of the year. This is far more than most surgeons in North America do – they often only operate 2 days a week. He also spends time training local surgeons and is very good with the media and vision teams that come. He is one of the brightest, most humble and compassionate people that you will ever meet.

Many amazing stories come from max fax, such as Claudio, the 14 year old boy who had a 7lb tumour on the back of his head. It had been growing since he was 2 years old and his mom didn’t think he would have a chance at a normal life. They thought it would take 8hrs to remove but it only took 2.5hrs, and Claudio was soon up and about, playing around. He told me he wants to become a nurse or doctor, to help heal people the way we healed him. However there are also very sad stories, such as when people come and after testing we discover that their tumour is cancerous, which means we can’t operate. We aren’t a fully equipped hospital, more like a floating surgical ward, so we only operate on people that we can heal with surgery alone. Sometimes they will make exceptions if operating means extending their life for a few years, but these are often the hardest cases, where we have to say no to people.

One new thing: On Sunday we were blessed with the opportunity to go to service at a Malagasy church in Tamatave. It was really wonderful to be in a place full of brothers and sisters, singing and praising the Lord. Even though we didn’t understand what they were saying, I found it really encouraging to be in their presence, and see that how they worship is very similar to how we worship. We were there because one of the day crew had invited us, and later that evening we brought him on board the ship for our worship service. It was really neat to share our different styles of worship with each other, and know that we are all worshiping the same God.

One thing I observed: Children are basically the same, everywhere you go. I had the opportunity to help take care of 22 of the crew kids for 24hrs, while their parents went to a marriage retreat, and it was awesome. We had a huge scavenger hunt, trying to find the ‘secret church’ and not get stopped by the guards; we did henna and crafts; we had big dance parties and played lots of games; we watched movies and ate snacks; and we had lots of pillow fights. 7am pillow fights; 10pm ‘meetings’ to discuss the terms of the pillow fights; and lots of ‘training’ pillow fights in between. It was exhausting but also a huge blessing to spend all that time with the kids and get to know them. I think it’s one of the few scenarios where you have to be like, so who are your parents? What do they do on board? And link the kids with people you know.

One thing I felt God was telling me:  We are so blessed to live in this amazing community of people. I realized this week that the whole time I’ve been here I have had no stress, nothing has angered or upset me, it’s just been really good. Normally I would get stressed about things work wise, like people not doing what they should and whatnot, but here I haven’t felt like that at all. I just roll with everything, I’m super calm and just trusting God for everything. He really opened my eyes to that this week, how life shouldn’t be hectic and crazy but rather just one interaction at a time, loving on one person at a time. Sometimes you can’t go 3ft without running into someone and having a conversation but it’s great because you learn so many people’s stories and are so loved on. I’m surrounded by people who are full of grace and mercy; people to play cards and spoons with; people who will braid my hair because I can’t; people who will come with me when I’m dropping off media teams so I don’t have to drive back alone; people who will run or work out with you; people who will go to the beach and eat with you; people who give you valentine’s day cards and who you love so much you buy them lots of chocolate; people who invite you karaoke and you get to see them dance and sing; people you can sit next to and read quietly; dining room staff who always smile at you and say good morning and ask you how you are; people to worship with; people to have intense biblical debates with; people to go on adventures with; people who push you to be more Christ like in all you do. God has brought me here to this amazing community, where we have the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and I am forever thankful. There is nothing we do without Him – we simply obey and participate in His good works. Last night’s worship is still ringing in my ears: It is well with my soul.

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? - Esther 4:14