Dear Colleagues,
This news letter will be brief as I have been out of commission for the past few months. As some of you may know, I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma which was discovered on my routine colonoscopy, Dec. 3, 2013. I had a laparoscopic right colectomy Dec. 20 and on Dec. 30 heard the good news that the tumor was completely removed and 37 lymph nodes were negative for metastasis. I would not need chemotherapy and would seem to be cured. Little did I know that two days later I would be suffering from peritonitis and septicemia? I suffered the complication of a breakdown of the anastomosis and the resulting infections, was transferred by ambulance to Spectrum Health, Blodgett campus, in Grand Rapids, MI, and underwent another emergency surgery to clean me out. After a further complication of aspiration pneumonitis, I ended up in ICU. But from there with Mari’s help and constant attention I have made steady but slow progress in my recovery, and on the 17th of February our surgeon has given her approval for our return to warm Florida. Our plans are to depart tomorrow by non-stop flight to Fort Myers. We think the recovery road is smoother and with less obstacles than our frozen Holland. God is good!
Now here are the needs and news of Kijabe. Mary Everett sent me the schedule of covering pathologists for 2014 as pasted below. Please pray for these people as they serve, and send them an encouraging note when they are in Kijabe.
I am sure Mary will be working on the 2015 schedule, and if you would be able to help out and serve a month or more in 2015, make her day by calling her up and let her know of your availability and month preference. She would be ecstatic!
Through the courtesy of Jim Taubitz I have inserted the latest Bethany Kids Hospital photos.
Pretend that you are approaching the new building from just east of the Dentistry and ENT clinics. This is what I believe you would see as you enter the main lobby. Further pictures of the project display the size of the building.
So even though they are behind schedule, there has been exciting progress. Now we really need volunteers to assure the continuity of laboratory service. This is the “news” for now. I hope to be more involved in the next few months as we look forward to our opportunities to serve our Lord in Kijabe.
By His grace (and I have a deeper understanding of this phrase now),
Lee