VVF = Vesico-Vaginal Fistula
Starting Jan. 3rd the surgeon's onboard will be starting with our 2nd round of VVF surgeries. Vesico-Vaginal Fistulas are caused simply by unrelieved obstructed labor. Prolonged pressure of the baby's head against the back of the pubic bones produces ischaemic necrosis (dead tissue) of the intervening soft tissues (ie. genital tract & bladder) In a labor taking long enough to produce this, the baby almost always dies. The head softens and the mother eventually delivers a stillborn infant if she (the Mother) survives that long!
It is estimated over 2 million woman world~wide, mainly in Northern Africa, suffer with this condition. Some reasons include being given in marriage & becoming pregnant at an early age 15, 16, when their bodies have not had a chance to fully mature, as well as little to NO access to proper health care or hospitals.
These woman are truly special woman I'm told. Most are left by their husbands and shunned by their communities due to there stench as the fistulas leave them with a constant run of urine & sometimes bowels. As if their newborn dying and isolation wasn't enough, many curl up trying to make the urine stop and develop severe contractures leaving them with disabilities, shame, fear, hopelessness...
I'm excited to be a part of restoring their hope, changing their story around! Many times after a woman gets repaired she is accepted back into her family & community; dignity is restored, and may even be able to give birth again. Every woman who has surgery on board is given a certificate to have a baby at a hospital free of charge, one time.. as to prevent this from happening again from improper care.
After surgery the woman have a 2 week bed rest period, followed by one more week. Then, Lord willing, discharged! Before returning home, our ward holds a ceremony where each woman recieves a new dress made especially for her to celebrate her new life!!! Please pray for our ward as we interact with these amazing woman. PlEaSe Pray against infections, proper healing both physically, emotionally, spiritually, and wisdom in how to best take care of them! Thanks :)
