This is E… There are not many patients in Mandritsara who cannot find someone to accompany them to the hospital. Most can find a family member or a good friend who will cook, clean, change sheets and do other personal care. But E… has no one. She is completely rejected.
She lives alone, and has done so for many years. She has no friends or family. 19 years ago, married and full of hope for her life and future, she went into labour in her village. Sadly, things did not go as hoped. 3 days later she finally delivered a baby who was already dead. Shortly after that she started to leak urine, day and night. This is obstetric fistula.
Over the last 19 years, E… has bravely made her way across the country on 3 occasions to have an operation for this horrible problem. Each time, her hopes have been dashed as the surgeries were not successful. Each time, her spirit was a little more bruised.
She came to us about 3 weeks ago. She was cautious. Afraid to hope. But so happy to hear that we would try to help her. We found a local lady who was happy to help look after her in hospital. And we planned the surgery. E would need an operation via two approaches (above and below), including reattaching one of the tubes between her kidney and bladder which was emptying directly to the outside world, and repairing a heavily scarred hole in her bladder.
The operation ended up taking 3.5 hours. After that, the waiting begins – 14 days in hospital allowing everything to heal before we do a “dye test” to see if the repair has worked. E… knows the routine – this is her 4th time. And she knows how much hangs on the result of the dye test.
Yesterday we went back to theatre to do the test. As she was waiting E simply said to me, “doctor, I’m afraid”. She knows how much the results of this test will set the direction for the rest of her life. We do the test, waiting – will the purple dye leak out? And… there was no leak!!
As I told her the news she broke down with tears – of joy, of relief, of pain after 19 long years of rejection. I cried too. Fistula surgery is a huge emotional rollercoaster for the surgeon – to bear the weight of the hopes of these ladies. To share in their delight when they are healed, but feeling responsible if they are not, is the lot of the fistula surgeon.
So, we all cried, and praised God for his grace. Today marks the first day of a new life for E… A life where she is not ashamed to simply be somewhere. A life in which others don’t avoid her because of the smell.
E… is already a believer. She knows that God has already given her a far more durable new life in Christ. But what a picture this day is of that greater new life, in which our shame is lifted, in which we are loved despite our sin, in which we have a family who will never reject us. Will you join us in praising God for his grace in E…’s life?
Praise the Lord for His good hand upon E… and upon Ted as he operated on her – and for success after previous failures.
Pray for E… that she might be reintegrated into her village and community and become an active part of her local church.
Pray for Ted and the other surgeons as they cope with such complicated and challenging surgery week by week. Pray that they may be given skill and faith in God’s power to use them.
Pray for the many other women who present at the hospital with similar stories, that they may be healed physically and saved spiritually.