Renate Mommsen is a 23 year old nurse and a member of the Woodcrest Community in Rifton, NY. She worked in the Yalve Sanga hospital from April to December, 2009 and recently returned to the Chaco to continue serving there.

The early reports are at the bottom of the page.

May 27

Although she continues to spike fevers, thankfully little Maria seems like she is in less pain, hopefully she will continue to recover.

May 26

I have always thought it amazing that we don´t see many children with burns in the hospital, considering that everyone cooks over open fires. It is even more so now that we have entered the chilly fall and winter months and families huddle around their small fires outside to stay warm. Tragically not all children are safe from accidents. Little one and a half year old Maria was toddling after her father in the Nivacle Community of Campo Alegre. He looks like he is not more than 18 years old, and obviously was never warned about the dangers of gasoline and fires. As he was attempting to light the firewood soaked with gasoline, maybe because it had just rained recently, he didn´t see Maria playing with the container behind him, dribbling the gasoline across the ground. As soon as the fire lit it leapt at Maria, and much damage was done before her father was able to smother the fire that had badly burned both legs, seat, hand, face, and some hair.

Maria lies in the large hospital bed, half of her little toddler´s body covered with white bandages. Her hair has a stiff and wiry texture from the fire. She begins to weep and scream every time we enter the room, or even touch her in her feverish sleep. The worst is when her pamper needs changing, exposing the raw, red skin and large burn blisters, and she cries inconsolably. Her young father watches worriedly over her, and tries to help with her care.

May 24

Manuel died yesterday, at 7:00 in the morning. The nurses who cared for him say his last days and hours were filled with intense suffering; meanwhile, the doctor was trying to arrange for him to go to Asuncion to recieve the intensive treatment needed for his kidney failure (it turned out not to be tuberculosis). During the last night he repeatedly asked for help and told the nurse, "I can´t take the pain anymore, please take me to Asuncion." He could not find comfort in any position - sitting or lying. Finally at 6:00 he was too exhausted to fight anymore and collapsed on his bed.

Both of us have been affected by his death, accompanied by so much pain, and leaving an impoverished and grieving family. Sometimes it seems like much is added to those already reeling under poverty and suffering, yet we know that God sees and understands, although we may not. We wanted to tell the story of Manuel so that it is not forgotten, and that those who read this might pray for his family.

May 20

It´s almost the end of the morning, when I see Manuel seated alone on the bench in the entrance, waiting to be admitted. One of the other nurses asks me to help bathe him, and I am dismayed to see how physically weak this strong-looking young man is - he needs help just to stand and then sit in a wheel chair. He is also shockingly emaciated, it looks like he has not changed his clothes for a long time, and they are crusted with blood. His gums are also bleedng, it trickles out of his mouth. I assist him to the bed, he is too weak to even cover himself. Suddenly he frantically motions for help - he needs to vomit. He fills the kidney dish with black liquid and blood, and during the afternoon and following days continues to vomit copious quantities of blood, it is terrible to see someone suffer like this.

The worst is when I see in his chart that he has five children - all born after the year 2000. Since Amaris and I travel to Asuncion this weekend, I wonder if Manuel will still live when we return on Monday.

May 2

Good news from the hospital, little Matias is now breathing without help from supplementary oxygen, and it looks like he may go home this week! He even breaks out into giggles when you talk to him.

May 1

The day began with a long hike with Sharon, Amaris and our little dog, Maxi, through the cow pastures to one of our favorite destinations, the tacamar(man made pond.) Now that the fall sun doesn´t feel as powerful and burning, the weather almost  seems like the first of May in New York, minus the new leaves and flowers. As we passed people on the road, many wished us a happy "Day of the Worker," which is what May 1st is here.

However, the most meaningful part of the day was when we mounted our bikes and headed out toward the Enlhet village of Efeso. We stopped at the house of one of our friends, Elena, and inquired for directions on how to get to Enelsa´s house. We had gotten to know 25 year old Enelsa previously in the hospital when she came in for a pain crisis stemming from her rheumatoid arthritis. Enelsa is extremely emaciated and her small hands are crippled and bent; in addition, she lost the ability to walk years ago.  When we arrived at her house we were warmly greeted by a large group of aunts, cousins and other relatives. We asked if we could see Enelsa, and they motioned toward the inside of the one-roomed house.

Enelsa was reclining on the bed, and she broke into a huge grin when we entered. For me it was the first time to be invited inside an indigenous house, usually we sit outside. The room was about eight by fifteen feet and housed two beds, various hammocks slung from the rafters, with a large TV and a fridge (very uncommon among the indigenous.) We sat down to share terere with Enelsa, and before we knew it about eight other relatives and children had also accommodated themselves in various parts of the room to join us, while others looked in from the window. I sometimes try to imagine how much suffering a person like Enelsa must go through with her painful and debilitating condition. The choices of pain medications are pretty slim, and she doesn´t even have a wheel chair - the family carries her outside in a plastic lawn chair. We promised another visit in the near future, and she gave us a big smile in reply.

 

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Your Turn. Tell us what you thought about this article:

Responses

I found it so very moving to see all those familiar last names and read what the grandchildren are doing. Amazing. Totally different cultures and time scale. New frontiers for a new generation. My spirit leapt.

Cynthia Mawson
Bugbrooke Northampton, England