“This is why I am here….to see God’s miracles first hand!” wrote Becky Wallace in a recent blog entry, as she described the miraculous recovery and growth of two of her young patients. Dr. Wallace frequently blogs about her experiences at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, but her praise reports are a particular reminder why, as believers, we help to support ministry to children and medical ministries.
Dr. Wallace writes:
This week I had the joy of seeing two of my previous patients in follow-up at the clinic. The first was Joel. He was a 4-year-old boy admitted with fever, headache and seizures. It quickly became apparent that he had more than the typical meningitis. He had encephalitis--a viral infection in the brain for which we have no cure. I treated him with antibiotics anyway, Tylenol and steroids to decrease pressure in his brain, and four different seizure medications. These barely controlled the seizures. I told his mom, 'It is now up to God whether he lives or dies. I will pray that God will heal him. Praise the Lord for his healing!'
As I would come in each day, slowly he started to recover. His seizures decreased and he is now a completely normal little boy. He has such a sweet smile and his mother was so thankful. I was humbled by their gratitude and I tried to remind her that I didn't do the work, but God did. What wonderful undeserved mercy!
My other little boy is Benjamin. I treated him about eight months ago for tuberculosis and failure to thrive. He was nearly starving to death and very weak. We struggled to get him to eat and grow, but finally, little by little, he did. He was discharged after about two months of living in the hospital. Everyday his mother, Anna, had a smile for me.
For a long time I didn't see him and worried that maybe he had gotten sick again and they didn't come back. But I was wrong. He has grown and gotten his 'baby fat' back. He is now a healthy and happy 14-month-old child. Praise the Lord. This is why I am here. God is still in the miracle-working business and I get to see it firsthand. Thank you, Lord. You are awesome!
Praise reports like this help to illustrate the Asia-Pacific Region’s emphasis on children and youth. Whether through relief and development, child sponsorship, medical intervention, education or evangelism, Nazarenes across the region value children (even those who are severely ill) and see tremendous Kingdom potential in all of them. We look forward to the day when children like Joel and Benjamin not only honor God with their cute smiles and laughter but with their whole-hearted service.