Prayers for 2 young men and their families

Life in Africa can be very difficult for those who live here.  Even the young and vigorous are not immune, as evidenced by the following case histories.

Joshua N. is an 18 year old, previously healthy male, who had just recently finished 4^th form school, when he began to feel ill with 3-4 days of headaches and fever with malaise.  He presented to the local hospital for evaluation on Wednesday of last week, but unfortunately, had just missed seeing the doctor on duty for that day.  He was admitted to the local hospital and was told that he would need to wait till the next day to be seen and evaluated.  Over the course of that evening he began to feel worse, and called his mother, asking that she please come and get him and take him somewhere else to be seen.  His family arrived the following day (Thursday) and noted that he was becoming confused and agitated, and had yet to be seen by any physician, or started on any treatment.  They took him out of that facility and transported him several hours by car to Tenwek Hospital where he was seen in casualty (the equivalent of a U.S. emergency department).  By this time, he had become quite agitated and combative, was no longer talking or communicating, and was not following any commands.  He had a lumbar puncture done and was confirmed to have findings compatible with acute meningitis.  He was started on treatment for suspected bacterial meningitis and admitted to the hospital for further care.  By the next morning, he was obtunded and noted to be experiencing seizures.  Because he was deteriorating, he was also started on coverage for TB meningitis and transferred into the intensive care unit.  Shortly thereafter, he began having problems with his breathing, and was intubated and placed on a ventilator for suspected aspiration pneumonia.  Later that evening, he was having problems with persistent fevers as high as 106 degrees, and was also having problems with low blood pressure.  In the early morning hours of Sunday, he experienced a cardiac arrest, but was successfully resuscitated and was noted to be in septic shock (an overwhelming infection with associated collapse of circulation and very low BP’s).  On Monday morning rounds, he was found to have no identifiable brainstem function and was pronounced brain dead.  Throughout this ordeal, his family has been steadfastly at his bedside and earnestly beseeching God to spare his life.  They are not yet convinced that their prayers will not be answered, and are holding out hope that God will grant them a miracle.  Their church family is gathering for one last prayer vigil tonight before an attempt is made to withdraw his ventilator support.  Please pray with them… and ask God for one more “miracle at Tenwek”.

Naurori K. is a 16yo previously healthy male who was admitted on the same day as Joshua N.  Naurori had also been quite healthy and vigorous with no past medical history until he became ill with an itchy vesicular rash on his chest and face.  Over 3-4 days time, he also began having fever, headaches, confusion and drowsiness.  He was brought into Tenwek hospital by his family, and was initially admitted to the pediatric service with suspected Varicella Zoster Virus infection (chicken pox).  By the next morning, he was more obtunded, and had a CT scan of the head, followed by lumbar puncture.  He was then transferred to our medical team with a diagnosis of suspected Varicella Zoster viral meningoencephalitis (viral infection of the brain and fluid surrounding the brain).  In the west, this condition has about a 10% expected mortality and is treated with IV antiviral medication (Acyclovir).  In Africa, IV acyclovir is not readily available, and is quite expensive and unaffordable for most families (including this family).  As a result, Naurori was treated with oral Acyclovir, in lieu of doing nothing other than supportive care (which was our other option).  He also started having problems breathing and oxygenating and needed to be intubated and placed on a ventilator to help support his breathing.  He also has been steadily deteriorating despite our prayers and best efforts.  He is no longer responsive, but still has some evidence of brain function at this time.  He and his family are also desperate, and are in need of your prayers.

Indeed life is harsh and tenuous in this place, yet the Kenyan people are resilient and strong in their faith.   Joshua’s mother has continued to praise God and does not question His goodness or sovereignty, yet through her tears, cries out…”my God, my God, how am I to live?... I will continue to trust you, but please, take me and spare my son”.  Yet, we know that God Himself understands her suffering…that He also knows what it is to lose a Son…

I can’t help but wonder if these 2 young men would have had different outcomes had they had the good fortune of being born in the US…perhaps…but one can never know.  All I know for sure is that God is loving and merciful, and that I too, will continue to trust Him and to praise Him…even when I don’t understand His plans for us.