CHRISTIAN HEALTH SERVICE CORPS
Story from the Congo by CHSC pediatrician Dr. Lindsey Cooper.
Serge was dying. He had actually been dying for the past week. His year-old body was a small lump wasting away under the sheets. It felt like a battle was being lost. His family had brought him to the hospital because he didn’t want to eat.
He had chronic diarrhea and slept most of the day. It didn’t take long to figure out that Serge had AIDS. The disease was already affecting his brain. Further testing revealed that both parents were HIV-positive. We had some difficult conversations, but they accepted the disease and were willing to start treatment. Serge’s condition went from bad to worse. Near the end he lapsed into a coma.
I was moved to see how the family came together around Serge. Together they journeyed through the stages of grief. His mother stayed by his side day and night, even as hope of recovery dimmed and as she gained insight into her own condition. She comforted others in their difficulties. Many people in this situation simply give up; even abandon their sick child. On the day the family left the hospital the mother spoke to me. She told me that she understood and accepted what had happened and prayed that God would forgive her. Serge died later that day at home. Here at Nyankunde Hospital, we struggle to deliver medical care, but people are hurting on so many levels. In this situation there was a real spiritual need. It makes me sad to think of his death, but I know that Serge is in a place where he no longer suffers. It is my prayer that this family will learn to live with their own illness. I pray that they will truly experience the forgiveness of God. They have a difficult road ahead, but I believe that God is at work in their lives. http://ow.ly/U4TLK
Story from the Congo by CHSC pediatrician Dr. Lindsey Cooper.
Serge was dying. He had actually been dying for the past week. His year-old body was a small lump wasting away under the sheets. It felt like a battle was being lost. His family had brought him to the hospital because he didn’t want to eat.
He had chronic diarrhea and slept most of the day. It didn’t take long to figure out that Serge had AIDS. The disease was already affecting his brain. Further testing revealed that both parents were HIV-positive. We had some difficult conversations, but they accepted the disease and were willing to start treatment. Serge’s condition went from bad to worse. Near the end he lapsed into a coma.
I was moved to see how the family came together around Serge. Together they journeyed through the stages of grief. His mother stayed by his side day and night, even as hope of recovery dimmed and as she gained insight into her own condition. She comforted others in their difficulties. Many people in this situation simply give up; even abandon their sick child. On the day the family left the hospital the mother spoke to me. She told me that she understood and accepted what had happened and prayed that God would forgive her. Serge died later that day at home. Here at Nyankunde Hospital, we struggle to deliver medical care, but people are hurting on so many levels. In this situation there was a real spiritual need. It makes me sad to think of his death, but I know that Serge is in a place where he no longer suffers. It is my prayer that this family will learn to live with their own illness. I pray that they will truly experience the forgiveness of God. They have a difficult road ahead, but I believe that God is at work in their lives. http://ow.ly/U4TLK
