December 3, 2016
by Pat Rees
Early this morning, my very ill patient, Lewis, passed away. His wife was sitting with her packed suitcase, alone on the bench outside the surgical area when I arrived. She started crying as she saw me. I couldn't say words of comfort as I have no French, but the hug, the listening to her and nodding as she spoke seemed to be of a comfort to her. When I found my resident, we went to her and asked if we could pray with her. She said that both She and Lewis were Catholic Christians, and she grabbed our arms as we agreed in prayer. She prayed aloud with great fervency as my resident asked God's care for her. We prayed for her comfort, for her strength, and that family members would come to support her. Shortly after, she left Bongolo Hospital with the body, in a SUV to return to their home.
I know that Lewis' wife could use your prayers for her. The residents say it is extremely uncommon to not have ANY family members that would come to help or to comfort her or even for us to talk to over the phone. Lewis was in his late 60's (that is old for this culture) and she looks about that same age. They had been married for 33 years.
This is a sad story, but at the same time, it shows me Bongolo at its best. I don't totally understand the Gabonese people, but they don't seem to be effusive in their care of their family. In that same light, the staff nurses do what they are supposed to, but do not "hover" over patients. Yet, when they thought I wasn't noticing, I saw the individual nurses helping the wife care for her husband's needs, checking on Lewis multiple times during the day when they weren't required, even checking blood sugars on him at times I hadn't specifically asked them to. (He was diabetic.) The night of surgery, I saw the OR staff work really hard getting things done rapidly, running from the OR to the supply area multiple times, and then at the end, having to clean up the room (yes, they mopped the floor, wiped everything down, got the room ready for the next morning), all without a complaint that they were working extra. I also saw them walking by his bed the next morning checking on him.
The more I am with the staff here, the more I see they aren't the typical Gabonese. Their Christian walk makes a difference in how they live and how they work. They work here in a jungle hospital, in an isolated part of the country. They can't possibly do it for the great money, as their pay is only just on par with other similar jobs. I thank the Lord for the difference they are making in the care of patients and in the lives of patients and families here in Gabon. They are a big part of why and how God uses Bongolo hospital to heal and restore physically and spiritually hurting people.