Our Stories
Hope Restored
By Kym Robinson,
I recently had the privilege of volunteering with Marine Reach Fiji (YWAM). Marine Reach’s mission is “to serve the people of Fiji evangelically and medically - (including dental, optometry, ophthalmic and physiotherapy), spreading the truth of God’s love through our words and caring”.
Marine Reach conducts regular medical outreaches that go to the villages and islands where there is limited access to health care. Our outreach was to Tubairata Village and surrounding villages. Our team consisted of two dentists, a doctor, a nurse (me), 14 students from Redlands College and their two teachers and several support staff.
We were told of a woman in the village who needed an appointment with the Doctor. Unfortunately, she was unable to walk and come to our clinic. I did a home visit with Amelia (our interpreter) and two of our students to assess the woman and her health situation.
What I found really saddened me. Due to the complications of diabetes, Asivina had part of her foot amputated earlier this year. Prior to surgery, she was able to walk, however after discharge from hospital and returning home to the village - she was unable to walk. She was reduced to living on the floor - crawling around on the concrete floor of her home - unable to leave her house, or to go outside.
What a joy to be able to use my nursing skills, to clean the wound of her stump - to remove the dead tissue, to organise antibiotics for an infected boil, to provide her with a pair of crutches, to start the rehabilitation process, and to pray together. There were tears of joy from all of us.
Over the next few days we visited, did wound care and encouraged Asivina as she practiced using the crutches, and slowly built up her strength and confidence. On our final morning we were delighted to see Asivina determined to demonstrate her ability to walk with the crutches - walking more steps each time.
There were many stories from our week in the village. However, this one touched my heart the most. Seeing lives touched and hope restored.
A huge thank you to those who prayed and for those who donated crutches and walking sticks.
I recently had the privilege of volunteering with Marine Reach Fiji (YWAM). Marine Reach’s mission is “to serve the people of Fiji evangelically and medically - (including dental, optometry, ophthalmic and physiotherapy), spreading the truth of God’s love through our words and caring”.
Marine Reach conducts regular medical outreaches that go to the villages and islands where there is limited access to health care. Our outreach was to Tubairata Village and surrounding villages. Our team consisted of two dentists, a doctor, a nurse (me), 14 students from Redlands College and their two teachers and several support staff.
We were told of a woman in the village who needed an appointment with the Doctor. Unfortunately, she was unable to walk and come to our clinic. I did a home visit with Amelia (our interpreter) and two of our students to assess the woman and her health situation.
What I found really saddened me. Due to the complications of diabetes, Asivina had part of her foot amputated earlier this year. Prior to surgery, she was able to walk, however after discharge from hospital and returning home to the village - she was unable to walk. She was reduced to living on the floor - crawling around on the concrete floor of her home - unable to leave her house, or to go outside.
What a joy to be able to use my nursing skills, to clean the wound of her stump - to remove the dead tissue, to organise antibiotics for an infected boil, to provide her with a pair of crutches, to start the rehabilitation process, and to pray together. There were tears of joy from all of us.
Over the next few days we visited, did wound care and encouraged Asivina as she practiced using the crutches, and slowly built up her strength and confidence. On our final morning we were delighted to see Asivina determined to demonstrate her ability to walk with the crutches - walking more steps each time.
There were many stories from our week in the village. However, this one touched my heart the most. Seeing lives touched and hope restored.
A huge thank you to those who prayed and for those who donated crutches and walking sticks.
Posted in Our Stories