From Nurses to Doctors

Thursday, March 17th turned out to become yet another medical mission for Byron and Dawn. Robert Sityo's uncle, Fred, had fallen off a boda and injured his arm. He did not initially seek any medical assistance. Some fellow villagers made a splint from bamboo and wrapped the arm with cloth. He had his arm splinted completely straight for 4 days, until we saw him.


Robert brought Fred to Paul and Pam's house for Byron and Dawn to treat. After assessing the injury, we felt it was necessary to have an x-ray done. We loaded in the taxi with Fred and headed to a local clinic that had a working x-ray machine. Upon arrival to the crowded clinic, we were able to get the x-ray done immediately because the patient was accompanied by white people. We then stopped by a local pharmacy to get supplies we may need to treat the injury. We also were able to get medications that would otherwise need a prescription in America.



After completing the x-ray, we brought the films back to the house to review being that the radiologist was still at the hospital and it could have been all day before we would have known if there was a fracture or not. Dawn and Byron reviewed the film and did not think there was a fracture, but wanted to be sure. So, thanks to technology we were able to contact Dr. Klinger back in Fairview to review the x-rays via email. It is difficult to get a good picture of a picture, but Dawn did the best job she could. We all agreed that there was likely no fracture. So, we wrapped the arm with an ace bandage and made a sling out of an old shoulder bag that Pam had around the house. We sent him home with pain medicine and muscle relaxers that we purchased from the local pharmacy. When he left us he was having less pain and he was very appreciative of our assistance.


Continue to pray for Fred as his arm is healing. Pray that God will heal him quickly so he can return to work on his farm.

Posted by Dawn