Thursday, September 15, 2005

Update on Abner



After seven years of crawling on the ground as a result of polio, Abner is on his way to walking upright! (See blog on 8/23 for background on Abner.) He is in a hospital four hours away, but I was able to visit him recently. He is very happy, making friends with the other children on the ward. The ward is a big room with lots of beds lining the walls. There are cribs, too, with babies who have had various orthopedic surgeries. I enjoyed giving him small gifts, laughing with him, and praying with him. Both of his hips are contracted as a result of the polio. He has been on traction to gently pull the muscles of his legs straight.

On the 13th, he had a surgery to straighten one of his legs and a cast put on to maintain the position. In two weeks, the same operation will be repeated on the other leg. It is estimated that he will still need another seven weeks in the hospital. Please pray that he will not be lonely, for protection for his mother who travels back and forth from the village, and for complete healing so that he will one day walk again!

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