There have been many special moments, but one in recent days admittedly without compare: a joyful reunion with a former patient. As word spreads that we are back at King Faisal, there comes a steady stream of healthy, smiling Rwandans - former patients - returning for follow-up but bringing with them so much more.
To see these patients, once so thin and compromised, now so vital, ready with robust hugs and grateful greetings - what a gift. And what they are making with their lives - a teacher here, a medical student there, and another student, this one in procurement - they carry with them the inspiration of their new lease on life.
On Thursday a quiet young lady arrived. Donatha from 2015! Our last patient on the last day. We would have liked to have her scheduled in the beginning, because of her extreme wasting due to the rheumatic heart disease, but an error in pre-admission lab testing disqualified her initially. The screening team worked to get her retested and she was accepted to be our last procedure of the trip. She never would have survived to travel to India or until another team arrived. She required hospitalization for 9 weeks, but now is healthy and back in school to make up lost ground. We are all so happy....the stories such as this are incredible. #wecanonlydo16. #shemadeourday
patsy@mail.postmanllc.net
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