For three years, I have been concerned about the health of Gloria and Peter. The pain, suffering and the humiliation they have endured from elephantiasis has been awful!! Peter, age 30, has the worst case of the two, and is in advanced stages of his disease. His infection reaches from his feet to his waist. And Gloria, 14, has suffered for possibly 7-8 years and her infection is centered mainly on her feet.
I began sending money to Gloria through Global Family Rescue in 2009. My students at OTHS purchased peanut butter sandwiches and other 'treats' that I provided and that accumulated money was sent for Gloria's care. She was in dire need of antibiotics and pressure garments that would compress the skin tissue and protect her legs from cuts as she walked through the brush. Because of the distance from any local medical facility, no personal funds and the breakdown of GFR, there has not been much change in either Gloria or Peter's condition. John and I had talked about how we could help both 'children' live a life free of this embarrassing and painful condition. And we were finally able to do this on this trip!! Praise God!!
Milton made arrangements for Gloria and Peter, and a guardian each, to go to a major hospital in Kampala, a five hour drive from Kamwenge! Can you imagine what went through little Gloria's mind as she left her small, quaint village for the big city??? So many NEW experiences, she'll never run out of things to share with her grandmother when she returns home!! She saw things she NEVER could have imagined!! She later told Milton that "this is the best day of my whole life!" Peter had been to this hospital a few years ago and was quite familiar with the routine. He had all his paperwork in order for the doctors. Dianne and I met them at the hospital and accompanied them upstairs only to discover that Gloria needed a referral from another doctor before she could be seen, which meant that Milton had to locate a motel for them and find a doctor to satisfy this request. God works miracles in ALL THINGS and in the following weeks, everything has worked out!! Praise God once again!!!
At this writing, we still haven't heard the results of all the tests that have been performed and whether Peter's condition will improve even with hospitalization, treatments, and medication. I just pray that there will be some relief for him as he is quite uncomfortable and depressed. The doctors feel that Gloria's chance at a full recovery, even though she'll need to take pills the rest of her life, is more optimistic so that is what we're praying for!! I want to buy Gloria her first pair of FEMININE, PINK sandals instead of the large, over-sized black, ugly sandals she has been forced to wear for the last few years. Won't she look pretty?? I may even buy her a dozen pairs of sandals in all the colors of the rainbow!!! She deserves it!
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