The significance of a dress

Another type of surgery, which began in April, through our 5 month service here was that of gynaecological repairs, following obstructed labour. Vesico-vaginal fistulas are holes or tears, which occur following prolonged labour, which in the Western world would normally progress to an intervention before the baby or mother is put at risk. However, without proper obstetric care the pressure of the baby's head onto the surrounding tissues causes them to become necrotic and die, causing holes to develop between the bladder, vagina, rectum and other tissues. This leaves them leaking stool or urine constantly and outcast from communities and families. Many husbands will leave them and they are left to suffer alone. One woman on the ward this year told the nurses that she was made to live in a hut by herself and if she tried to go to the village well to get water people would throw rocks and sticks at her as they were afraid that she would pass the condition to them.

They would come to be admitted with their heads hanging in shame and would become very upset when they leaked but also came with an air of resignation as this had been something that they had been putting up with for so many years. You would see the transformation take place on the wards where often for the first time they were shown love, care and the fact that they mattered despite what they had been defined by for so long.

Many of the women in the photos below have been on waiting lists for fistula repair since the ship was last here in 2010 and the difference the operation makes to their lives is just impossible to explain. For some of them the incontinence has been there for over 10 years and has wrecked the normal life they knew before. Following their operations they are given a new dress and a service to praise and thank God for all his work in their lives. Some of the women are just so inspiring in their faith in God despite their past sufferings and even when the operations fail to have the so wanted impact they praise and trust in Him who holds all and who is faithful even when we may not understand.

There was one lady, Fati, who touched me the most as she had had recurrent and complicated operations to repair fistulae years after the initial delivery. Unfortunately she had a very eventful post op recovery and even with repeated attempts we failed to make her dry. Despite this, one day when I was examining her wound which had become infected, she lifted her hands and was full of joy praising and thanking God for bringing her here and looking after her. As the field service draws to a close she is still here as is not quite fit for discharge and we hope to be able to pass her care onto a nearby mission hospital. Pray that though we haven't been able to help her physically God would continue to strengthen and keep her, giving her perseverance and joy in Him who never leaves or forsakes us.


Some links to articles explaining more about the impact of VVFs on women in developing countries and the work of the Hamlins in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/january/17.48.html

http://blog.christianitytoday.com/women/2011/03/mother_teresa_of_our_age_talks.html

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/january/18.53.html



A good book to read is Hospital by the river, describing the work of the Hamlins in Ethiopia.

A film which details more of these women and their suffering is A Walk to Beautiful, which also shows the Fistula Hospital and follows a number of women from their struggles from their home villages to their operations.

The work amongst these women reminded me of the story of Jesus healing the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years (Luke 8 v43 - 48). Praise to God who sees the suffering of these women over all the years and has compassion upon them. Many of those who came to us were from the North of Togo, where the majority are Muslim, so pray for our women to go back home having seen and heard, maybe for the first time, more of Jesus. May they declare of his power and compassion to those villages and communities they live amongst.

Dress ceremonies with the patient life team

Fati and Molly