Disclaimer: Contains frank talk about physiological functions – nurses talk like this routinely, others may not. Skip this post if you wish.
The dance world is filled with words or phrases that begin with “P” – all describing various dance moves or body positions or steps. I think of words like promenade, or pas de chat, pirouette, plie`, pivot or polka. We have our “P” words here in the “Ward Down Under” as well. No, Africa Mercy did not set sail and put us in the vicinity of Australia. Nurses here on Africa Mercy, still off the coast of Liberia, have just given “Down Under” as the name to the VVF ward, where all the focus is on what is going on with healing “down under.” And our six “P” words to remember to assess and instruct are:
Pain – are you having any? Where is it located?
Peepee – is your catheter draining properly? Are you leaking? If the catheter is out, are you staying dry and are you peepee-ing enough to be emptying your bladder?
Poopoo – have you poopoo-ed today? Do you have “running stomach?” We do not want you to strain to poopoo. That could undo what we have tried to repair in your surgery, so we hand out plenty, plenty medicine to help you poopoo.
Plenty water – you must drink plenty, plenty (3 liters a day) so that you are flushing enough through your bladder to keep the peepee running clear.
Pelvic exercises – in most cases we help you learn to do pelvic floor muscle exercises (aka known as Kegel exercises) to help you control bladder function when it is restored for you. To identify the muscles, tighten as if you want to stop peepee or poopoo of “running stomach.” Practice them at least 10 times holding 10 counts each time. Do this four times a day, when the sun come up, when it be time for sun overhead, when sun go down, and before you go to sleep.
Pericare – it is important that we keep you free of infection, so we help you by cleansing the area of your catheter twice a day with chlorohexidine wash and we teach you to always wipe from front to back and to always wash your hands after you have used the toilet.
So there you have it, the primary focus of our physical care giving in the VVF ward. But it isn’t just about providing physical care.
Ineke, our VVF nurse coordinator, from Holland, wrote last week (remember English is not her first language) about two very changed ladies, as a result of our work with them in VVF:
“‘Waha’ is a Muslim lady and came here to the ship. After the operation it was not that easy for her. She got an ileus and felt not well. We prayed a lot with her and she really felt that it helped. One night, when I (Ineke) was about to leave the ward, she said; ‘Hey come back, you need to pray for me!’ Then a few days later (by prayer of someone else) she gave her life to Jesus. She went home and this week she came for a visit. I asked her how she is doing and she told me that even her sister, who was Muslim, made a choice for Jesus and they are going to church now, together! Wow, amazing!
And then about ‘Denbu.’ One of our translators had an aunty, Denbu. She came to the ship for screening, but she was really afraid to come to the ship to get her surgery. (I, Linda, refer you to lziulkowski.blogspot.com for Laura's post entitled "Rumors") She just didn’t dare to and was staying in her house. We realized that it could be an attack from the devil, to keep her in her corner of depression and rejection! So we prayed for her and we were standing in the gap for her. And then . . . finally she came. It was such a nice old lady to see! She got her surgery and became dry. She gave her testimony and it was amazing to see how God wanted her to be healed and free from fear, loneliness and rejection.” -- end of Ineke's quote
I have mentioned previously that often the women we care for have been left by their marriage partners or significant others and suffer with the isolation and loneliness that comes from their “sickness.” This past Sunday, at our dress ceremony, ‘Bgango’ shared how her “sickness” began in 1991. She had sought help several years ago in one of the Liberian hospitals several hours drive from Monrovia, but was unsuccessful in recovery. But Bgango was praising God, because her husband never left her. In fact, as she was telling her story, he stepped forward from the audience to stand beside her, and we gave him the equivalent of a standing ovation. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place, as we heard her tell how he had said to her when she asked him why he didn’t leave like all the rest of men do, “I married you until one or the other of us dies and I will stay with you no matter what!” This man and wife understand the biblical principles of marriage and it was such a refreshing moment to see the supportive relationship he has maintained with her, and now, she is dry as well, as a result of her treatment here. And I say, the seventh and greatest "P," is PRAISE to God for the healing He is doing here in the "ward down under."
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