Fredo:

Fredo, a 63-year-old man, lives with his wife and two of his four sons in the Courtanceau neighborhood, about 20 minutes from our clinic. He came to us with a wound on his left foot, with all the toes infected and emitting a strong odor. The nurses provided the necessary care and then referred him to a specialized hospital.

After several consultations and examinations, Fredo was informed that he needed to have his leg amputated. This news was a shock to him, as he feared he would no longer be able to work as a farmer and take care of his family. Despite his sadness, he accepted the operation, understanding it was for his own good.

After the amputation, Fredo returned to the clinic for postoperative care. He regularly attended his dressing appointments, but the postoperative wound did not heal. Weeks turned into months, then years, and three years later, the wound was still present.

Faced with this situation, the clinic staff decided to send him for a second operation. Fredo accepted this decision, stating that he trusted their recommendations. However, the country’s situation complicated things, with hospitals closed or located in dangerous areas due to gang activity.

Finally, a hospital was found in a neighborhood less affected by gangs. All the costs of Fredo’s operation were covered, from transport to room fees. After several appointments, the day of the operation arrived. His wife, always by his side, accompanied him to the hospital.

On Wednesday, Fredo entered the operating room. Despite numerous complications, he kept his faith, convinced that everything would be fine thanks to God. At the end of the operation, Fredo declared himself happy and eager to fully recover so he could continue living with his family.  Please pray his leg will heal and he can be fitted with a prosthetic leg soon.

Luxon:

Luxon is 56 years old and lives with his wife and four of his eight children. Fifteen years ago, he felt a swelling in his scrotum accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in that area. After a medical consultation, the diagnosis was made: Luxon had hydrocele. In October 2015, he was transferred to a specialized hospital where he underwent surgery to treat this condition.

Unfortunately, Luxon began to feel the same symptoms again after a while. The condition reappeared. Since then, Luxon had been waiting for a new surgery, but the country’s situation made this almost impossible. The daily deterioration of the situation, the risks associated with travel, and the closure of many hospitals due to gang invasions made access to medical care extremely difficult.

After a long period of waiting and uncertainty, a glimmer of hope appeared thanks to a generous donation from an organization. This donation allowed Luxon to benefit from an operation. After several examinations and x-rays, the diagnosis was confirmed and the date of the operation was set.

On the day of the intervention, Luxon was accompanied by his wife and one of his daughters to the hospital. Thanks to the donation received, the clinic was able to cover all the costs of the operation. On Wednesday, Luxon entered the operating room and everything went smoothly.

Since this second operation, the clinic’s medical team has closely monitored Luxon’s recovery. The first signs are encouraging. Luxon has started to recover well and has expressed his satisfaction. This surgery marks for him a return to a more normal and comfortable life.

These two patients, when they were ill, believed that their condition had mystical causes due to their faith. They were convinced that their illness was not just a simple physical ailment. This belief sometimes complicates our efforts to help them. However, it also provides us with the opportunity to talk to them about Jesus and bring them to Christ. This is why we are eager to help them, so we can guide them towards God. Will you pray for them this week as they recover here at the clinic? May God heal their bodies and open their hearts.