A letter from Darlene and Paul Heller in Malawi
April 29, 2009
Well babies
Dear Friends,
A baby being weighed during the well-baby examinations done by a team led by Dr. Ken Root.
Here in Malawi it’s hard to get routine physical exams. Well-baby visits are a luxury we simply don’t have. However, last week a medical team from the United States led by Dr. Ken Root was able to do just that. His team of two doctors, an occupational therapist, three medical students, a premed student and a Malawian dental technician examined 15 babies and 10 staff members in one afternoon.
They checked the height and weight of all the babies and did complete physical exams. We weigh babies every week, but the team came with growth charts for each baby, so we can start tracking the weights and following them on a graph. Fantastic! Developmental screenings were done on those we felt had problems. The team was organized, calm and thorough. Everything went smoothly. It was like a dream day at the pediatrician’s.
What did they find? Generally healthy and happy babies! A few had fungal diaper rashes. But for the most part everyone was OK. Developmentally, we had one baby with a tight hip, and we were shown how we can exercise and stretch it to gain normal function. Everything was fixable. It was good news for us all.
The visiting medical team did thorough medical check-ups on 15 babies and 10 adults.
When our team examined our staff they treated everything from high blood pressure to a toothache. Maladies are very difficult to treat here and long-term illnesses present special problems because medications are often not available. However, the team came equipped with medications as well as expertise. We got creams for the fungi and medications for the staff. Everyone got what they needed.
All in all, it was an amazing day. We were grateful for the time, energy and expense it took the team to do this for us. We are healthier for it. And we had a great time!
There is always something new at our blog, Suffer the Little Children. Please visit us and let us know you stopped by by leaving us a comment. Thanks.
Paul and Darlene Heller
The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 44
P.S. Forty mission personnel will be visiting hundreds of congregations across the United States this fall to tell how God is at work around the world. The event is called World Mission Challenge, a reprise of a similar event in 2007. It’ll be held September 25 – October 18, 2009. Learn more at the Mission Challenge Web site or call Ellen Dozier at (888) 728-7228, x5916.
World Mission Challenge will conclude with World Mission Celebration, a large gathering for Presbyterians who care deeply about mission. The event will be held October 22–24 in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and the adjoining Duke Energy Center. Learn more at the Mission Celebration Web site or call Lis Valle at (888) 728-7228 x5279.
