Matilda is improving!!

This morning I went with Matilda, her father, and Christine (my "assistant" and interpreter) for a followup visit at Cure Hospital in Lusaka.  The report is so good.  The TB medicine is working.  Something that is counted in her blood went from 89 to 17 which is very good.  (Forgive me any medical people who would like me to be more specific.)  Although more advanced spinal TB causes bone damage in the spine, and from the xrays it would appear that this has happened, she is improving.  She is able to stand - a little wobbly - holding onto something.  There is more movement in her legs, and the doctors were very encouraged that after only 2 months of the TB medicine she has made this kind of progress.  So keep up the prayers.  We all felt so good, but she still has a long way to go.  When I return to the states I will post a picture of her standing next to the sofa in the reception area of the hospital.

 

We also found out that they do knee replacement surgery at that hospital for adults who can pay.  So we are excited to tell Auntie Hope about this since she is in very bad pain with her knees. 

The Chimwemwe Ladies

Friday was the first meeting of the Chimwemwe Ladies.  Meeting on our veranda we had 9 ladies, including myself, who gathered to form this group.  Christine, our househelper, and I had been talking about this for awhile.  The purpose of the group is to teach each other crafts and ways to make things, as well as have Bible study together.  So each week we will meet for a couple of hours.  We will start with a Bible study (we will begin with the book of Ruth) and then learn to do bead work, crochet, and make different things. 

All of the women were very eager to be part of this group.  There is so little for women to do.  And no way for them to "better themselves."  Many of the women speak very little English, so Christine interprets for me.  She is such a leader and is willing to say it like it is.  I am putting in the start up money to buy the crochet hooks, "cotton"/yarn, plastics, beads, etc.  Our hope is that they will be making things that we can sell at the market.  Not only people passing on the Great North Road will stop, but when teams come from the US they will be able to have some of these crafts to buy and take back as gifts.

I'm very excited about this group and hoping that it will be a wonderful way for these women to have fellowship and feel that they are of value.

Matilda has a new baby brother

For those who have read about Matilda, the girl with spinal TB, I have a happy report.  Her mother gave birth to a little boy on Thursday night.  It is an interesting story, not one you would hear happening in the US.  Her mother thought she might be in labor on Thursday morning.  So she rode a bicycle to the hospital, up the great north road maybe 8 miles.  They told her no and to maybe come back in a couple of days.  In the evening her sister, who also lives in the village, heard her calling.  She went into their hut and surprise! - she had given birth by herself, no one around and helping.

Yesterday, Sena and I went to see the family and give them a blanket that was made by some ladies in the US.  We were invited into their hut and I got to hold the little boy.  It was a very hot day - definitely in the 90s.  The little fellow was all bundled up with a hat on and wrapped in a couple of warm blankets.  But he was sleeping nicely.  Matilda and her sister came in and I got some pictures of the Momma with her 3 little ones.