Complete The Task

On Thursday morning, the Leyaata and NEA staff filled the NEA gazebo for joint devotions. Six members of our team are departing on Sunday, and so the staff wanted to thank them. It was a moving time as we heard testimonies about the mentorship impact that Charlie, Dr. Anne, Dr. Jo, Dr. Karen, Jody, and Nicki had in one very intense week. Our team shared the impact that the Leyaata staff had on their lives, and Jodi said, “See you in November!” Sounds to me like the next GHP mission might just have been announced! The depth of friendship and mutual respect that continues to develop amongst our partners brought tears to my eyes.

David stepped up in front of the large group and shared one simple sentence from the Bible found in Colossians 4:17: “Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received from the Lord.” He spoke of how, when the pressure builds, and the load of leadership gets heavy, it is so easy for us to want to retreat. “Don’t check out!” he repeated over and over. In the way only David can do, he inspired every soul under that thatched roof to push on and complete the task that they have been called to.

We hustled off to the hospital with an extra spring in our step, and it was a good thing as the most critical situation was waiting for us. A pregnant woman, not due to deliver for seven weeks, was experiencing serious complications that required an emergency caesarian section. The surgical and anaesthesia team had spent the week preparing the maternity theatre and its processes and equipment, and the midwives had spent the week preparing to resuscitate babies at birth, but now it was time to put all that training into action. And so, for the first time, the Maternity Theatre opened its doors, and a Ghanaian team with their international partners walked through the doors to do everything possible to save the lives of a mom and a baby. 

Dr. Ben, fellowship trained in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, performed a masterful surgery under a highly-skilled anesthesiologist supported by his theatre and maternity teams. Dr. Anne, Dr. Karen, Nicky, Jodi, Ernestina and I cheered them along every step of the way. By God’s grace, this young woman survived and the first baby boy was born in the Leyaata Maternity Theatre — a designated theatre that is always available so that no mom will ever die waiting for an operating room to open up.

When the first cry of this premature baby filled the room, echoing off the glistening white walls, all 16 of us let out a massive cheer as our heart rates settled back down to normal. Our midwives were beside themselves with joy — confident and equipped to resuscitate a baby in trouble. As they counselled the family on how to care for a premature baby, Dr. Anne and I felt like proud parents and couldn’t hold back our tears watching this young, equipped team shine. The future is so bright.

Leyaata’s blood bank program is now up and running, and many of our teammates have made a decision to donate to the cause before going home. Dr. Anne was the first donor, and no sooner had the needle come out of her arm when a young woman with a critically ill hemoglobin level needed blood…and they were a match! Anne’s blood never made it into the blood bank fridge — it went straight into the arm of the young woman. 

It has been a great, full, and challenging day at Leyaata. The task before the Leyaata team is massive. The task before us — their international partners — is becoming more clear to me with each day we spend here. I pray we can continue to rally the people and the resources to complete our part in this task so that the Leyaata Hospital can become a model hospital — not just here in Ghana — but in all of West Africa.