After Hernia land, I find myself in Eye world now. When I first
came to the ship in 2009, I had no eye experience, but eventually every nurse
will take a spin in the cataract rooms. A literal spin, because that is how
fast we go taking care of our four patients in two rooms. Lots of nurses and
translators caring for patients as the surgeons go from one to the next
removing cataracts in just minutes. Last week I cared for many patients, but a
few of them stand out. I led a Papa (African term of endearment) to his
stretcher one day and he had the widest smile and was most thankful even before
we began the procedure. He was only 90 years old and danced his way out the of
operating room after his surgery. Mama, similar generation, came in with her
daughter to help with translation. We explained to the daughter what we were
going to do, but she interrupted as she had her surgery done just months before
on the ship. After her sight was restored, she drove all the way to the north
of Cameroon to pick up her mother. We asked where in Cameroon, offering major
cities north of Douala and she kept responding, "The village after that
and hours away." I scrubbed in on one to assist the surgeon and the Papa
on the stretcher said he would choose a wife after he could see. What I did not
expect it that he would choose me in the operating room after his surgery! Then there was Frank, just four years old- such a grown
up name for a little one. My friend Suzanne and I went over to the ward to
visit him and his Mama before surgery and to see the progress of dilating
drops. He was not happy (again, no breakfast), but also the drops are always
hard for a young patient. Thirty minutes later, I went to pick up Frank and he
was a different boy. Reaching out for my face to feel it and he placed his
hands in mine- looking out of the corners of his eyes. He was able to see past
the cataracts probably for the first time because his pupils were dilated. He
had first glimpses of lightness and shadows. He sat in his Mama's lap as we
prayed and jumped into my arms willingly to head to the operating room. My
friend, Kim, reported to me the next day, that Frank reached out for a sticker
in her hand- he could finally see!
We do cataract surgeries Monday thru Thursday and then Friday there is a
Celebration of Sight at the outpatient eye clinic in Douala. Patients come from
all over Cameroon for their 6-week follow-up and YAG laser treatment to prevent
cataracts from reforming. They come in to the clinic and have several stages to
pass- their vision is checked with "E" chart (many celebrations start
there), then drops for the laser, another vision test if they need glasses,
than the laser. After the laser- just seconds long- I had the privilege of
walking them to the discharge table. They receive their last discharge
instructions and a French Bible. We finish the long line of patients and then
we set up for the Celebration of Sight. Benches are set around the room,
but there is not much need for them because we are up singing and dancing soon after. The passage of Nicodemus and
being born again was told by a storyteller. Then the testimonies began- any
patient could stand up to share just for a few minutes to share their story.
First was Mama Paula who was on the back row, she needed help by her son to
stand up and move to the front. She left her cane at the bench and took her new
Bible with her. Paula urged the crowd of patients "to thank God for your
sight" and was grateful she could read her Bible again. One Papa was blind
for five years and exclaimed his "medicine now is the Word." Mama
Christine had cataracts for three years, another Papa for seven and was happy when the patch came off. A father of a pastor stood up to say his was
in darkness for 12 years before having surgery. A wife of a patient said she
lost all hope because they had run out of money trying to find a doctor to help
her husband. They met someone at the market that knew about Mercy Ships and we
were able to do his surgery for free. They all had testimonies, they thanks
Mercy Ships, but all of them gave greater praise to God. The end of the
celebration came quickly to an end, but not until one last song. The leader
asked "Who is happy?" Most raised their hand, others answered with an
"Amen" or with clapping. He blessed the patients and told them
"Don't keep your testimony to yourself- let it shine!" And then we
closed singing the song "let it shine, let is shine, let it shine..."
“You
are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it
under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to
everyone in the house. In the same way, let
your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly
Father." Matthews 5:14-16
