Physical Therapy? Ashia!

Since about the end of August my back pain and resulting leg pain was getting worse.  So I contacted Dr. Sparks, a missionary doctor whose children attend RFIS, to find out my options for treatment here.  He replied that if physical therapy didn’t work, my only option is “The West”.  So, at his recommendation, I went to the Mbingo Baptist Hospital in the NW Region of Cameroon (about 8 hours drive from home)  to see a visiting American orthopedic (bone) doctor who knows about backs.  He recommended 2 weeks of physical therapy.  So that’s where I was Sept. 9-22… and that’s why there have been so few blog posts lately.

Entrance to Mbingo Baptist Hospital - we drove up under the covered area and they brought me a stretcher!

I hate to admit it but I was afraid to go — afraid that I’d be told to return to USA for surgery, afraid of being alone and lonely in a hospital room with no one to care for me (at that point I could not bend at all, so getting dressed was even difficult).  And I was not looking forward to being away from my family, and having my work load pile up in my absence.   I am so grateful to so many friends and family who prayed for me during this time.   Very soon all my fears were relieved.  God is good,  no, amazing.   He is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we ask or imagine.

I Got Your Back
I was driven up to Mbingo with Covenant missionary Sharon Davis and Sunday, the man who often drives her to villages where she does her ministry in community development.  Using the mission van, I was able to lie down the whole trip, which was easier on my back.  Sharon, who lives in Bamenda, just under an hour from the hospital, knew the contacts and made arrangements in advance for my stay at the hospital.  Before Sharon came to Cameroon, no Covenant missionary had lived and worked outside of Yaounde.  As Country Coordinator, I “had her back” then, helping her work through the administratie process that allowed her to live in Bamenda where she had a passion to work with the poor in English speaking villages.  And being so near to the hospital, she now “had my back” too — arranging for transportation, lodging and meals, and visiting me during my stay. 

Ashia!
Once we drove up to the hospital entrance and a stretcher was brought for me, I was wheeled from the registration office to the consultation room and then to the physical therapy dept.  People we passed (total strangers to me) would say, “ashia” (pronounced AHsh-ya).  This Cameroonian Pidgin word is a term of encouragement used to express empathy for one’s pain or sorrow.  It is also used to encourage anyone who is in the middle of hard work or a long journey on foot.  It really was an encouragement to hear this expression of sympathy from total strangers.  As I came upon other patients during my stay, I used that word to encourage them.  It brings a smile.

The Physical Therapy team assist another patient. “Ashia Mama!”

When I got to the consultation office, the first good news was when the doctor said surgery would not be needed.  The physical therapy department is well trained and they took great care of me.  Fredrick, my therapist, was helpful, answering all my questions about what was going on in my back, and what each exercise he assigned to me was meant to accomplish.

A few of the physical therapy staff. Fredrick, my therapist, is at the far right.

The next bit of good news was that I’d be staying in a very nice hostel room with a bathroom in it, internet (most of the time), and a beautiful view.

My hostel room at the hospital
 
The view from my room

More good news — all my meals were taken care of.  There is a dining room where excellent Cameroonian cooks provided 3 meals a day.

The cooks at the hostel dining room

And to top it off, the first day I met Margaret, a nurse who is at Mbingo hospital to study to be a nurse practicioner.  Mbingo is a teaching hospital where nurses and doctors are trained.  Not only did Margaret and I hit it off from the start, she came to my room to sing and pray with me a few times during my stay.  We had some great times of encouraging each other – truely a sister in Christ. 

Nurse Margaret with her cute granddaughter who was visiting her

Instead of being lonely and depressed, I decided that this would be my personal spiritual retreat.  I watched videos from a pastor/missionary conference (Covenant midwinter), read books, prayed and meditated.  So I came away after 2 weeks feeling better physically, emotionally and spiritually. 

Interestingly, Dr. Sparks whose children attend RFIS and who recommended this hospital, has said that without RFIS, he would not be able to do what he does at Mbingo Hospital.  And now I can say that without this hospital, we would not be able to do what we do at RFIS!

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