Dr. Michael stick arrived in Tonj on Friday January 20^th and he has been doing surgeries here in Tonj. Many patients have come from far distances to book for surgeries mainly on hernia repairs. Major surgical cases must go to Wau Hospital which is 2-3 hours drive away. Dr Stick and our medical staff together with community health workers have prepared a surgical theater that is at the government hospital. The first surgery was performed on 24^th January and was a hernia repair. There are so many people in this area that need hernia repair and since we didn’t have any clinic or hospital here in Tonj which does surgery these people are very happy to have Dr Stick with us.

So far we have had 28 surgeries performed just on hernias. Praise God! All cases have gone well and we have seen no complications. We praise God for the addition of Dr Stick and to our medical staff who are working tiredly day and night to serve this community.

Yesterday I had a chance to chat with two adults in the clinic who had been operated on and returned to the clinic for the wound care. Inal Deng Lual, 50 years old, was operated on 23^rd February 2012 for a hernia. He told me that he had lived with that deformity without knowing that one day he would have a miracle of healing. Sadly, when I ask him if he knew God, he said that he had never heard anything about God. But he is so very happy for the healing and I encouraged him that God is his healer. If he believes in God he will receive even a spiritual healing.

The second man Majok Madut Madir who is 32 years old, was operated on 14^th February and he is also coming for the wound care. He told me he feels much better though he still has pain on his wound. He knew a little about God because he said there must be somebody who created everything in this world including him. I prayed for them both and latter referred them to one of our Pastor trainees, Pastor Joseph, who will be doing some follow-up with them.

God bless our medical staff for their hard work, Surgeon Dr Stick, Indeed and Truth Team for their support and also you for your support and prayers for us for these surgeries to be successful.

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” – Hebrews 6:10.

Monday saw about 40 patients from 9 to 12 then scrubbed a hernia with Michael. It was an inginal hernia in the right groin the hernia sac was freed up quite easily and the vas and its vessels that come up from the scrotum through the inginal canal and into the abdominal cavity were isolated quite easily. If you do not isolate them and you cut as we often do you cut off blood supply to the testes and the testicle dies and the patient gets upset .We then had to work quite hard on freeing the hernia sac from the hernia walls so we could return sac and bowel back into the abdominal cavity. It was fun. Around supper time a vehicle with two gunshot victims were brought in I believe some Tonj police were trying to stop two drunk soldiers from fighting and bullets were fired one into the upper abdomen of a young man his stomach was lying outside his belly . The other had a in out wound to the upper leg which fractured his femur (the big bone in upper leg)He was given dressing and I splinted the upper leg  There is talk of him going to the village surgeon(witch doctor) but he is still here. The other patient with stomach outside abdomen was transferred to Wau. We are still not  quite ready to open abdomen in which we have no idea what we will find. We need suction and electrocautery and a little more experience with anesthesia . It all will come in God’s timing. #1rule in medicine is do no harm. We just trust God to guide us. I still think it is amazing how God got Mike and I here. I knew 20-30 years ago him and I would be in Africa together someday. God is amazing.

Friday nite I subbed for a tired midwife. Delivered a baby the head went right into the bulging amniotic sack and I believe it made for a nice controlled delivery. everyone did fine. Saturday morning a real sick 3 month old came in Dennis our IV starting champion got an IV going and we gave fluids and meds to stop the convulsions.  We started antibiotics and anti malarial meds and prayed.  The child was sick for over one week with care by the village witch doctor and only when the infant was at death’s doorstep did it come to the clinic.  Another seizure and aspiration into the lungs ended hope of a recover.  I always say we need 12 hours to turn things around and we only got 6 hours. It is always sad but we can only do so much. During that time interval I pulled a tooth of a 15 y/o girl it was a tough pull because the crown of the tooth was very decayed and the roots were very strong. I have pulled about 40 teeth now.  Michael Stick the surgeon from Madison continues to be a great asset to us here. He cannot believe all the hernias here and he is enjoying doing the surgery thing even when I assist him. I am starting to understand this hernia thing.  – Tom