A Short Tale of 2 Co-workers

I am always amazed at the generosity of people. One of my co-workers recently spent two weeks in the hospital. Because of all the illnesses that led up to the hospitalization, she had used up all her PTO (sick and vacation) days. When she returned to work this week, she was in such a worried state because she was going to miss one entire paycheck and she was already under heavy financial stress. My other co-worker called our main office to find out if she could gift her the PTO hours she had earned and they said yes. Thus one co-worker gifted the other two weeks of PTO hours and now the other will not go without a paycheck. Isn't that a generous thing? It gave me pause to ask myself if I would have done the same thing? (I just started here and I haven't earned any PTO yet, so I didn't have any to offer).

Ghana Update

I know that my first email was heart wrenching and sad. I wrote it trying to mirror life, death, and the medical care available in third world countries in general and Ghana inparticular. And remember, this is an oasis of health care in a very underserved area of the world. Working here would drive one crazy if one did not focus on successes rather than what could have been done in the States.

Just a quick update on the medical problems that we see here. I have seen two cases of tetanus. Unfortunately, both died. However, it gives impetus to the need for immunization even at home. It is easy to become complacent about getting our "shots." Even adults need the tetanus immunization.

We have now had three cases of bowel perforation from typhoid. I had never even heard of such a complication from typhoid. All three underwent surgery and survived. If BMC were not here, all three would have died from peritonitis.

Two more teenagers had retroperitoneal abscesses. Again, both did well and would have died otherwise.

Right now, a four year old boy is in surgery for a ruptured spleen. Of course it was diagnosed at laparotomy (no CT available).

We have had five or six cases of meningococcal meningitis. All but one survived.

Dr. Faile repairs about eight to ten hernias a week. Yesterday, we had one that was incarcerated and strangulated--a certain death sentence without surgery.

Currently, there is a Dutch urologist here. He has done many surgeries. His main goal here is to repair vesico-vaginal fistulas (bladder leaking into the vagina). He has done several this week already. He has made the lives of these women so much better. If BMC were not here, they would continue to be shunned.

Everyday, children are admitted with malaria, anemia, and dehydration. Almost everyday, one dies. However, many more survive because they received IV or oral fluids, antimalarial drugs, and supportive treatment.

There has been a c-section almost every day since I have been here. They are mostly for prolonged labor at home. There is no such thing as fetal distress since fetal monitors are not widely used. To my knowledge, all have survived except ones including a set of triplets and a set of twins.

Many more people receive treatment giving comfort and relief for less severe problems in the clinics. Much suffering has been relieved here.

I hope that the above sheds some light on the successes of BMC. No, everything cannot be done here. In fact, a lot of things cannot be done. X-rays are of poor quality. Certainly, there is no CT scanner or MRI. Sonogram is pretty good done by the three MD's who work here permanently. Lab consists of hematocrit, malaria test, urinalysis, and stool test. Blood is transfused directly from donor to patient after undergoing HIV and hepatitis screening. Surgical capabilities are limited to a general surgeon. There are no codes, ICU's, specialty hospitals, etc.

There are many things that you can pray for.

Praise God for the physicians and their families, the pharmacist, the Ghanaian employees of the hospital (nurses, translators, lab techs, pharmacy personnel, clinic personnel, maintenance people, custodians, guards, drivers, and many more).

Thank him for the many volunteers who come here each year. Ask him to send experienced volunteers in many areas of medicine. Ask for wisdom and clinical discernment as everyone here cares for patients with minimal information.

Thank God for those who had the foresight to found this facility. Ask God to send physicians and a surgeon in particular to staff BMC on a permanent basis. Pray for the patients here that they will hear the Word and answer the call of the Holy Spirit. Thank Him for all who have received salvation!

I will be leaving in sixty hours. Ask God that I have a safe trip home and a joyful renewal with my family. I thank each of you for your prayers while I have been away.

Jim Howard

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a secondary celebration at our house. It's Keegan's birthday and that takes precedence over St. Valentine in my opinion. This year was no different and we invited family over to join in the celebration. As usual, Keegan has to be different :-) and doesn't want birthday cake but pies. This year Bethany surprised him and made him his two favorite pies from scratch, chocolate and creamy lemon meringue.


Ummm, they were delicious! Naturally the birthday boy gets to pick the meal, and we grilled out thick juicy pork chops with black beans, steamed sweet and white potatoes, and fruit salads on the side. After sating our appetites we circled the TV and watched Christian comedians, laughing until the tears flowed. It was a fun evening with family, one of our favorite times. In two weeks we will celebrate Erin's birthday and we get to do it all over again, except of course, she gets to choose everything.

Please Pray

The following is a recent letter from my brother in law, a doctor, who is serving a month in Ghana, Africa helping out in a local hospital there. Please pray for him and for those who serve there.

Family and Friends,

It is much harder being here emotionally than I had imagined, even with my years of medical experience and trips to Ghana.This hospital is the "tertiary" care center for all of northern Ghana. Things work here. Medications are available here. Surgery is available here. Doctors are available here. The people and the equipment work. Yet, there are many things that we do not have. We do not have an ICU, ventilators or even oxygen. We do not have IVs at a constant rate--only slow, moderate or good rate. We do not have chemistry panels or even potassium levels for patients in ketoacidosis. There is no CT and only minimal xray. There are no code blues or even emergencies. This is the burn center, pediatric hospital, obstetric hospital, trauma hospital, cancer hospital, and any other kind of fancy whatever you can think of. There are three very dedicated men who are the physicians supported by equally dedicated wives. Two have children growing up here. Please, pray for all of these wonderful Christian men, women, and children as they dedicate their lives to His service. To date, we have had three pediatric deaths and at least that many adult deaths. They die from cancer and meningitis, liver disease and unknown causes since diagnostic capabilities are so limited. This kids have died from malnutrition, severe burns, and malaria anemia. The last one died as she was brought into my office today. I had written the admission orders and was preparing for transfusion (direct from family since there is no blood bank). She was bradycardic when I listened to here and her tiny heart stopped as I was doing the paperwork. I have a child in diabetic ketoacidosis right now. I cannot have a constant IV rate, an insulin drip, or even regular blood sugar levels or potassium levels. There is only one bottle of regular insulin available for entire complex. I tell you all of this, not to depress you, but to make you aware of life here.BUT, if this hospital were not here, many more would die. There have been two children with perforated bowel from typhoid and one with an intra-abdominal abscess who certainly would have died if they had not had surgery. I focus on what we CAN do, not on what we cannot do. We have had at least a dozen snake bites who have received antivenin. I doubt if they would have died but they would have suffered loss of function of their hand or foot. Baptist Medical Center is a true oasis in the desert of need. Pray for the future of BMC as it prepares to undergo transition over the coming years. Pray that a surgeon will be raised up to replace George Faile. May God bless each of you this night and always.

Jim Howard

Long Overdue and Late

Wow, has it really been nearly two months since I posted last? There is nothing to say except I let the time slip away each day without sitting down to write. Let me give the briefest summary. Holly, Greg and family came for Christmas and we had a wonderful family time. The children are all growing up so fast; in fact, we celebrated Connor's 5th birthday while they were here. Bryce and Erin gave us a special gift on Christmas day-- announcing they would be having a little Williamson in August. After Christmas, I began working full time in my new job at Accolade Home Health. I love it and I am so glad I made the change! Then the upper respiratory illness knocked me down for nearly two weeks before passing on to Bethany. At least it wasn't the ugly flu that is so prevalent here right now. Keegan finally got his official letter of completion for his doctorate in late January--Hooray, hooray! How's that for brief?! Let me show you a few pictures, and then I hope to be back at this regularly.Christmas Morning

Everyone had to get some outside in the warmer weather, even Alyssa loved it.

The "Twinks" were too busy playing and, yes, eating the dirt to pose for a picture. In fact, they were very, very busy the entire time they were here. They love to double team anyone willing to take them on! I don't know how Holly keeps up with them on a daily basis.


If anyone is interested in Fritz, he has made a full recovery and is absolutely beautiful. He is as goofy as they come and thinks he's a lap dog, but he made his greatest inroad into the family with how he let the Twinks love on him in their usual rough and tough fashion.