The best experience of my life thus far!

Have you ever been blessed with an experience that will forever be molded into the best day of your life? Birth of a Child? Your wedding maybe? Well, for me my day came in mid-February this year. This experience is, hands down, the best experience I’ve ever had the privilege of being apart of. This was the day that we took Radia home and her family was going to see her for the first time without her tumor. The drive was long but it was so worth the experience. When we arrived, our land rover was surrounded by people coming to see Radia. As she climbed out of the back of the vehicle, she tried to quickly get to her home. She was overwhelmed with those that came to see her. People were crying everywhere. Tears of pure joy. Tears of unbelief that this was the same girl that left their home two weeks prior. We walked up to Radia’s home and were instantly surrounded by even more people. Radia’s great aunt grabbed my arm and pulled me to the center. She gave me a chair and forced me to sit down. She then went into a speech telling everyone in the community how I visited Radia every day. She told them that I went down to paint her finger nails and always make sure that they had everything they needed. Then she talked about Radia’s surgery and what the ship had given her. Then there was a parade of people all coming up to Radia and then coming to me. They would kneel at my feet and bow singing praises to God for giving me to them. Praising God for Mercy Ships. Then they would grab my hand and shout praises even more. The entire time Radia sat very close to me, always close enough to touch me. The entire experience was so overwhelming for her (and me) as she was use to hiding and didn’t really know these people.

So the day was very overwhelming and I couldn’t believe that God had blessed me with such an amazing experience. I’ve attached the pictures to this blog as proof of this life changing event.



Radia leaving the ship for the last time



Radia getting her final check - she's excited to go home!



This was Radia's first trip home - Me and my team drove her home



It was emotional for distant family and neighbors to see the difference in Radia's face.



Meeting neighbors



Radia starts crying as everyone around her is also in tears

Radia looks sad - she really misses her father - who died 1 month before surgery. He won't see her new face.





We just told her we had to go - it breaks the heart to see her disappointment!

 

We kept trying to get a "family picture" and they kept pulling me in the shot

Church Update Spring 2012.m4v

Modi sing for the ward!

Modi Assenou Sings for the Ward

Her voice resonates in the hospital ward on the Africa Mercy. Her song was one of joy and praise. Everyone pauses as they hear her voice ring out - the medical staff looked overjoyed. For Modi Assenou, her prayers have been answer. For the medical staff, there is amazement over Modi’s ability to sing so soon after surgery. For all, Modi’s joy spreads throughout the ward.

Four years ago, Modi started having pain in her neck. Gradually, a lump started to form below her chin. Before long, it was clear that Modi had a big problem. Modi suffered from an enlarged thyroid gland; also know as a goiter. While the goiter did not cause her any pain or breathing problems, the affect it made on her appearance was clear.

Neighbors would mock her and constantly give her a hard time. While life was becoming difficult, Modi was surrounded by a good support system. Her close friends would give encouragement and help her out. They would say to her, “One day, by God’s will, you will be healed.” Not only did this encouragement give her the resolution to face each day, so did her husbands loyalty and support. Every step of the way, he has supported Modi, giving her love and care. He even traveled with her to Mercy Ships to act as her caregiver so that she would not have to face it alone.

After waiting in line for several hours, Modi was finally seen by the doctors at the mass medical screening in Lomé, Togo.  When it was decided that she would receive surgery, Modi was overjoyed with the answer to her prayers. Even though she would be experiencing so many new things, none of this scared her. “No matter what is going on around me, I am so happy now, nothing can take that away!”

After receiving surgery, Modi began to heal very quickly. After the removal of the thyroid, it may take a little time for the patient to start talking again. For Modi, this was not the case. Within a day of her surgery, she could be found singing in the ward. Her song echoed in the hearts of many patients as she sang, “I will thank the Lord; I will thank the Lord forever!”

Modi is happy to sing for the patients and to share her joy with those around her. She walks away with the parting words, “I am so thankful and grateful for the surgeons and everyone else on the Africa Mercy. It is my prayer that the Lord blesses Mercy Ships to be able to do more and more surgeries.”

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Modi Assenou shows us her goiter.

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Doctors and Nurses pray over Modi before they begin surgery

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Modi is very happy with how well she feels after surgery.

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Modi shows off how well she is healing by blowing up a balloon. This can be quite difficult after this type of procedure.

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Modi sees herself in the mirror for the first time.

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Dr. Leo Cheng explains the incision on Modi’s neck.

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Modi waits for her final post operation check up.

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Modi is very happy after her final discharge from the hospital!

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Modi is very thankful for how Mercy Ships changed her life!

Written by: Nicole Pribbernow
Edited by: Nancy Predaina
Photos by: Deb Bell