MEET PHILLIP

Phillip is 15 years old. He is Rwandan and his mother transferred Phillip to the care of the Missionaries of the Poor 2 years ago for medical care and schooling. The family was living in a refugee camp when Phillip sustained a severe thoracic compression fracture falling out of a tree at the age of 7. He ended up with spinal cord damage and is a partial paraplegic. They found that he had spinal TB which weakened the bones in his spine. His Mother had no access to medical care for Phillip but was able to enroll Phillip in a UNA program and then eventually he came to Busega Bethlehem Home following a rehab stay at Katalemwa.

Phillip with Noah and Simon at Christmas

Phillip is an aspiring and talented musician and songwriter. He has been singing with his 2 friends for the last few years and is doing well in school. This in addition to being such a kind and gracious young man. He is able to manage all his self care and can walk for 20 min at a time 2-3 x day with heavy leg braces and a walker. I met Phillip a few months after arriving at Busega when he came to me with complaints of back pain.

I managed to find his file and piece together his story. Douglass was also new at this time so we reviewed his medical information together and started a plan of action. We were concerned that he had been recommended for spinal decompression and fusion which had yet to be done. This led to a 5 month process of getting Phillip re-assessed for the status of his spine.

It was a challenge to say the least. We had Phillip sent to 2 different MD's who just said "Do more PT, you are fine and your spine is healed" but they never did any tests or X-Rays. Turns out the orthopedist we requested was not there so they had a regular internist assess instead. I wanted to scream!

Rogers (L) and Phillip (R) at the football championships

Phillip has been struggling with frequent bladder infections due to urinary retention. This is a sign of spinal cord compression and seemed to be getting worse. We pushed hard. Douglass was persistent and calm where I am more reactive. Douglass went along on the appointment without me for this reason. He managed to get the MD to at least do an X-Ray. The MD complied but said his spine was "normal". This is an unfortunate problem with healthcare here in Uganda especially if the care is being done for poor children on a charity basis. They just don't get the attention they need and the caliber of many MD's is poor. Poor Phillip was slipping into a depression regarding his condition. He was tired of going to the MD and was tired of being put on the same antibiotic. He is a young man and was depressed about the progression of weakness in his legs and bladder. We had to convince him to allow us to try one more Doctor...this time it had to be a surgeon or NO ONE!

I managed to see the X-Rays myself and was astounded at how bad Phillips spine was. I was raging mad at the MD's at this point. Brother Sonny was more than willing to help me locate an orthopedic surgeon and this time we made sure he was the head of the spine surgery department at one of the major hospitals here. It would cost, but Phillip's future depended on it.

Phillips X-Rays (posterior is to the L of the film)
You can't even see the T-Spine which is much worse

Thanks to Douglass' persistence, we managed to get an appointment Wed of this week for 5 PM. This time, both Douglass and I came along. I have a BIG mouth and do not mind using it to advocate for the kids. By the grace of God we even got there in time after leaving late and hitting a "jam" as they call it here. Unfortunately, the surgeon was not able to get there until 8 PM. All of us were tired (Medson the driver, Douglass, Phillip and I) I was beginning to lose hope until we finally met with this young capable orthopedist.

He was great. he talked to Phillip directly...it didn't take him but a moment looking at the X-rays to say..."we have a problem here". He took Douglass and I to the viewing room and showed us both areas of issue. There was significant cord compression in the Thoracic spine and a severe posterior spondylolisthesis of L5 on the sacrum in the lumbar spine (his last lumbar vertebrae was falling backwards off his sacrum) not to mention foreign bodies and compression fractures etc etc.

Henry (L) and Phillip (R) performing at the Brothers celebration
(Rogers was sick at the time)

The miracle is that the surgeon feels that a fusion will help Phillip improve. He feels that Phillips bladder function has a good chance to return to normal AND the spasticity of Phillips legs can improve. Phillips needs the surgery soon otherwise he will have complete cord compression. With surgery, he has the ability to lead a normal life from a wheelchair and have a family and children.

This was the best news I had in weeks! Phillip was finally smiling knowing he will get the help he needs. Douglass and I wanted to dance up and down and holler for joy! Again...It took teamwork to make miracles happen. The surgeon said Mulago Hospital will do the surgery for free and that they had some donated implants from the states. He would have to confer with his colleagues as Phillips spine was very involved as to how to handle this case. Also because Phillip is now at risk for post op infection given his resistance to antibiotics from prolonged treatment of cystitis.

Phillip and Henry posing with the brothers and
Douglass the MO (standing behind Henry)

NOW...we have to get the money for the complete spinal MRI's and full spinal X-Rays needed for the surgeon to make a plan of action. This we have to come up with on our own. I have full faith that if God has allowed us to get this far to help Phillip, he will find a way to finance this surgery/test/rehab care that Phillip will need. The Missionaries of the Poor have manifested many miracles since my arrival...I have a feeling there will be another forthcoming!

If I have done NOTHING else since coming here...helping Phillip will be the one thing that makes me feel like God has finally used me for His purpose. I will be able to leave feeling I have completed His work.