Compassionate care Week 43, 2014

She is not the head of her department, nor is she paid any extra for work done. The patient is no relation of hers, or is there any relationship between them. He is not a member of her church. He is indigent, but urgently needed surgical attention. The sore on his left upper limb was gangrenous, and it was creeping towards the shoulder. An urgent amputation could save him. For days the procedure could not be carried out for lack of funds. Even the dressings needed donations to get done. When the patient relation approached a more senior health worker for help he referred them to the Medical Social Worker. This unsung heroine took matters into her hands and encouraged coworkers to give for the care.

Donors for blood were arranged, and she called up well meaning people to donate money, collecting cash and pledges just for the stranger in need. Not content with that she took loans on account of the money pledged so as to ensure the surgery is done; becoming the guarantor for the unknown poor man. The next day, the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the man who worked at the inn. He said, 'Take care of this hurt man. If you spend more money on him, I will pay it back to you when I come again.' Lk 10:35(ERV)  After the surgery she follows up the pledged money and collects it.

What is her profession? It is immaterial. All health professionals have heroes and villains; “the hood does not make the monk” my mother said so many years ago. If it were the governor’s relation, or the relation of a prominent man, such an act might have been done in hope of monetary reward, recognition, influence or a mixture of such. "Ask her what I can do for her in return for all the trouble she has had in providing for our needs. Maybe she would like me to go to the king or the army commander and put in a good word for her." 2Kgs 4:13(GNB)  Not in this case. "I have all I need here among my own people," she answered. Unlike the Shunem woman she is no moneybag by today’s standards. Some institutions regularly recognise and reward such behavior among their staff; no such program is ongoing in this institution. The deed was not done to be noticed by any man. Take care not to do your good works before men, to be seen by them; or you will have no reward from your Father in heaven Mat 6:1(BBE). She has no hope of public recognition, or merit award on earth for these acts of selflessness. When she counted the money, it was in excess of the pledged amount. A call was put to the giver; she did not hold back the money. Many people and organizations raising funds for sick people build in their running costs into the amount to be raised, doing business out of helping others. Not her.

Is this not what Jesus spoke of when He said “I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me” Mat 25:36(ISV)? I hope I am describing you, even if you are male and not a health worker. In the same way, good actions are obvious, and those that are not cannot remain hidden1Tm 5:25(ISV).

 Ms Okoye is a nurse at NOHE

Who employs you? Week 42, 2014

For quite a long time the question has raged: who should head the institution? There are many sides of the argument; the question of training, history, democracy, experience and so forth. Each has its apparent merits, and advocates of any can be quite passionate (as well as persuasive). Be it a business enterprise, hospital, church or charity organization the struggle for control is real, but tragic. The front is that of professionalism and “the right thing for the system”; but it is a front, a masquerade, a disguise for the passions of the flesh which should die. For neither at any time were we found using … a cloak of covetousness, God is witness 1Thess 2:5 (ASV).  I have seen previous close friendships torn apart by this; and twins (literally) struggle to death over control of resources (and that whilst their father yet lived). Not to mention splits in churches and fellowships.

Such exercises remind me of the controversy of greatness among the apostles. Later, an argument started among the disciples as to which of them might be the greatest Lk 9:46(ISV). The episode was a recurrent one among them, even a heated one which resulted in souring of relations. He asked her, "What do you want?"She told him, "Promise that in your kingdom these two sons of mine will sit on your right and on your left." When the ten heard this, they became furious with the two brothers Mt 20: 21, 24(ISV). Yes, even carefully chosen disciples are not immune from such.

I do not know about you but it is glaringly unlike Jesus to me to struggle over who is the greatest, who is the leader, who is in charge; who has the last word. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave Phil 2:5-7(NLT). He wasn’t struggling for position, but for our salvation. Had he insisted on His rights there is no way we could have been saved. Indeed such struggles have resulted in avoidable loss of lives, in the health and other sectors it manifests. I am convinced Jesus is yet saying to us today, “Seek to serve, not to be served”. You will say to me “Pastor we do. But even Jesus was recognized for all His efforts and crowned adequately. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names Phil 2:9(NLT). This is a situation where our labours are not recognized by society.” It was not society, or those beneficiaries of Jesus’ sacrifice that highly exalted him. It is God. “We aren’t talking about God here but the government and society at large.” Is that so? Who employed you, and who are you serving? God or government? In fact, the Lord Christ is the one you are really serving, and you know that he will reward you Col 3:24(CEV)  That same God has sworn in His word: The one who honors me I'll honor, and the one who despises me is to be treated with contempt 1Sam2:30(ISV).  All such struggles are worldly.

Whose champion? Week 41, 2014

It seems you have taken this matter personal. Cool down before it consumes you!

“Nothing is consuming me but the zeal of the Lord. His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." Jn 2:17(ISV)” 

Zeal of the Lord? This inter professional dispute is what you are elevating to the status of zeal for the Lord’s work. Whose champion are you?

“Look, God is not in support of injustice; and this is clearly injustice. How dare another professional group go beyond their bounds to behave the way they are? How dare they? They deserve the full weight of legal action taken against them.”

Softly, softly my dear. See how you have erred in this zeal. Furthermore, it isn't good to be ignorant, and whoever rushes into things misses the mark Prov 19:2(ISV). There is this generalization you are making about members of this group. If I know anything about professional groups not all in this group are antagonistic towards you...

“Of course I know not all of them agree but they should know their bounds. I know my rights even if you do not know yours. I won’t stand for anyone poking fingers into my eye. You tolerate anyone who makes you his slaves, devours what you have, takes what is yours, orders you around, or slaps your face! 2Cor 11:20(ISV).” 

Can you listen to me for a moment? Those who beat the drumbeats of professional pride for conflict have other hidden motives. Have you considered what damage this has caused your spiritual life? Since this conflict have you been able to hold hands with brethren in that profession to pray in agreement for the health sector?

“Not exactly, sometimes no; we do not quite see eye to eye.”

Have you also been able to mingle with their student population and win unbelievers among them for Jesus?

“They have their own graduates to do that. Why must I be the one?”

Can you see how this knowledge is affecting you, not to say them now, but your very life in the Lord? Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone thinks he really knows something, he has not yet learned it as he ought to know it1Cor 8:1, 2(ISV). Prayer and evangelism are foundational in occupying for Jesus in the health sector, and Satan is dealing with our foundations through this strife.  When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? Ps 11:3(RV)

“I see nothing wrong in defending my profession. It is a noble one even if you do not agree with me. God is glorified when things are properly done.”

My point exactly: whose champion are you? Is it your profession or is it the Lord Jesus? As a good soldier of Christ Jesus you must endure your share of suffering2Tim 2:3(CEV). Jesus never called us to be champions of any profession but His champions in the diverse professional groups He sends us into. Wherever there is envy and strife there is confusion and every evil work (Jas3:16). Satan glories in such.

The miracle baby Week 40 2014

The doctor told the nurse to throw our baby away because he wasn’t going to make it and to avoid extra expense. He was born at 26 weeks and 4 days weighing only 1.25kg. No child like that had survived in Enugu State University Teaching Hospital.

"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” Jer 32:27- 28(NIV)

The journey began when after 7wks of conception that my wife started seeing blood drips. On the 24^th week of pregnancy, she started having premature labour that she had to be rushed to the hospital in the midnight. When later she started having a discharge she went for ultra sound which showed the baby was just 26 weeks and 4 days. On the 17^th day of July 2013, we went to Park lane to see a doctor, she was shouting and screaming in pains and the liquor broke and poured out. The consultant meanwhile advised us to hope on another baby since we are fresh in marriage. My mother in law told me she had given birth to a boy. The birth weight was 1.25kg; I was the most confused human being.

 The nurse said he was still breathing and so did not heed the call to throw him away but rather he was taken to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit. We were asked to buy surfactant for his lungs within 24hrs. The whole of Enugu metropolis was combed but it was not seen. It was gotten at the rate of N110, 000 for a single dose from a pharmacy shop at Abuja beyond that time. He was prayed for 4 days after his birth at the chapel of Pentecost, F.N.H.E. I came to the alter and hands were laid on me and it was declared that he must be brought for dedication there in church, but I was doing all I could so that no one would blame me and say I didn’t play my role but God knew the best. "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matt 18:19-20 (NIV)

The baby was battling with apnoea (he stopped breathing for more than 15 times). Then when he conquered apnoea, haemolysis and anaemia set in, that he had multiple blood transfusions. When he conquered that, the trouble of tolerating food set in. In all of these, he spent 10 weeks in the incubation and 1 week outside incubator so that he will adjust with being carried about. We were discharged after 11 weeks in the ICU. My wife was asked to carry him when he was allowed out of the ICU but it was very difficult for her. “He is too small!” she said.

He was born 1.25kg, then it dropped to 0.9kg then it gradually moved and he was discharged at 1.9kg. After 1 week we went for check up and hen was 1.7kg but after 2 weeks, he moved to 2.5kg but by 6 weeks when he was finally discharged, he was 6kg. Now he has been dedicated in church as declared, and is a celebrity. He is over a year now, and when he moves around pulling things down in the house people say “let him be”. His story has already encouraged another sister with a similar story who has equally received victory.

For nothing is impossible with God Lk 1:37 (NIV). 

 Mr & Mrs Nwachukwu work at Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Enugu