Medical Care

God’s Perfect Timing

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It seems hard to believe that the stabbing of a little boy during a home robbery would serve as a reminder of God’s perfect timing.

Prosper is a ten-year-old boy who lives along the southern coast of Cameroon. Last New Year, thieves broke into his home and stabbed him in the chest, leaving him to die.

At the local hospital, a chest tube was improperly inserted into Prosper’s chest, causing him to become more ill. He was taken to a large hospital in the city of Douala, where he lay untreated for two weeks, slipping closer to death each day.

Finally, one of the caregivers suggested to Prosper’s mother that the boy be taken to a hospital in Mbingo, where World Medical Missions doctors volunteer. After a seven-hour car ride Prosper arrived at the hospital.

The day before Prosper’s arrival a thoracic surgeon from the United States had arrived at the hospital, one of the few thoracic surgeons available in the country. Despite some severe setbacks, Prosper was healed.

Dr. Christine Manning, an anesthesiologist from Canada, was part of the team that helped Prosper.

“(The surgeon) did what he could and then said we’d pray for him – and we did, just simply asking Jesus to help us know what to do, and to heal Prosper,” Dr. Manning says. “I love this story – the perfect timing, the right surgeon, - and I will not forget being there when we prayed for Prosper, and how wonderfully it worked out.”

Dr. Manning was readying for retirement and wanted to serve in the mission fields teaching anesthesia techniques, with her eye on serving in Cameroon. She contacted World Medical Mission for help with logistics and support.

“At the end of a happy career, it is a great gift to be given an opportunity to teach and to have your passion for medicine and for learning rekindled,” Dr. Manning says. “I needed to review and relearn a lot of the basics of anesthesia, and I also had to learn lots of new things about delivery of anesthesia in a developing country. It was a heart-warming experience.”

During his treatment, Prosper became a favorite of the staff, Dr. Manning included.

“(On his last day) I found Prosper sitting on a bench outside the treatment room,” Dr. Manning says. “So I took him to see the guys in operating room. Of course each one says "PROSPER!" in a big kind friendly voice, and shakes his hand. I was thinking how great it is for this little lad who was attacked by thieves to now have the memory of a lot of men who were so kind and friendly toward him, showing the Lord's kindness to a small traumatized heart!”

 

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