Miskito Mother and Baby...

April 8th 2010: I got news that a mother and her baby were being flown into Managua for emergency surgery for the infant. They belong to the Miskito Indian tribe who live in a small village on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua. This was their first visit to "The Big City", and the fear in the Mother's eyes was apparent the moment my friend and I met them at the local public hospital. After a lengthy check in procedure we settled into a tiny room for the night.


The Mother's name is Jehyrah, and her 11 month old son is called Japheth, (after one of Noah's sons.)

Jo -jo, (as we call her) shared her story with me. Several weeks ago, her baby was bitten by a wasp and the bite became infected. She took him to a hospital local to her on the Atlantic coast and he had surgery to remove the infected area. The hospital was quite a distance away from her house, and she did not have the resources to get back for the follow up check ups needed. As a result of this, the wound became badly infected again, so she struggled to get the money together to get back to the hospital. By this time Japheth's leg was so bad that the doctors had to do surgery again to cut out the infected area. Well, repeat that part again: the poor baby had surgery 3 times, each time more of his thigh was being cut away to remove the infection until it became so desperate that the government offered to fly them to Managua for specialty surgery. Jo-jo had to walk SEVEN HOURS to meet the army plane that flew her over. Laden with her bags and a very delicate, sick baby. I cannot put into words how that made me feel: I knew in that moment that there was nothing I would not do to help this valiant Mother and her precious, beautiful child. And that is where I have been the past couple of weeks. Sometimes sleeping on the floor, I try to go visit with them every day: help with meals, wash their dirty laundry, help with Japheth to give Jo-jo a break, meet with the doctors and hospital staff to get regular updates, and whatever is needed. One of her biggest obstacles has been the racial prejudices, both real and imagined, that local Nicans have against the Indian tribes. Because of her feelings of self doubt, inadequacy and unworthiness, she hesitates to do anything alone and depends on me and a friend of mine for friendship and support. The differences between black and white and Nicans is sadly evident in this place.

The first time I saw Japheth's wound I was shocked at the severity. He had been cut to the bone literally, with skin hanging loose all around. I could not imagine how this would ever heal and wondered if he would ever have use of that leg to walk. We started a prayer chain immediatley and thanked God for a miracle for this little angel.

Japheth had a couple of pre op surgeries, then a few days ago he had major plastic surgery. The doctors removed skin from his healthy leg to place on his injured thigh. Although this was a very traumatic time for the Mother, The LORD used it to minister to us both, and others in the hospital as we shared our smiles and tears. It was a golden opportunity to love and encourage fellow sisters in Christ. Jo-jo reads her bible in Meskito as I read side by side with her in my NIV. One night we had the whole ward singing praise and Worship songs together!
They will have to stay here in Managua for several more weeks for follow up and physical therapy. Jo-jo has 3 other children back home: 5 year old twins and a 9 year old son. Please keep them in your prayers, that Jo-jo will have peace and that Japheth will heal completely this time, no more infections. Thank you LORD!!