Illustrating teamwork at the hospital

“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12: 26-27

Illustrating teamwork at MMCC…

It takes a team of many people to deliver the care we strive for at MMCC. Recently we had a successful surgical outcome for a patient that had a total hysterectomy. We had been managing her Diabetes and high blood pressure for the past 3 years, when during one of her check ups with us our team identified a bladder mass. Within a short time we also confirmed a mass in the wall of her womb.

At MMCC we have limited services, for example we don’t have a blood bank or CT scanner, or all the specialist doctors. This means for the best interests of the patients, we partner with other hospitals and services, including treatment for cancer. Some patients can access free healthcare at government hospitals.

With these multiple complex needs that this patient was experiencing, our medical team discussed the best approach- to balance her kidney function (impacted by the bladder mass, diabetes and high blood pressure), so that she would be fit for surgical intervention. Our team discussed and agreed to refer her for a biopsy of the bladder under a specialist urologist and also to be able to access cancer treatment at a government hospital.

Two weeks later she returned to us without having surgery or cancer treatment. She had spent time and money without significant benefit. Our team felt very disappointed to hear this.

Despite a lot of logistical challenges with the timing, our MMCC team was able to do surgery and arrange for blood transfusions so she would be in a stronger position both pre and post op. We were able to partner with another OBGYN surgeon who works at another hospital, to support our own OBGYN surgeon. On the day of surgery some of our own staff worked to organise blood donation and collection. She was able to be discharged the following week. All the people and teams involved on the day of surgery alone: surgeons, nurse assistants, nurses, physicians, porter to carry blood, blood donors, nurse advisers, the lab staff, the pharmacy team, 1 financial officer. That was fantastic team work: using different skills for the blessing and good of 1 patient. This is how we show Jesus’ love in action and we praise God for the opportunities He gives us to serve and honor Him.

She was thankful and full of praise for our hospital team and services, although she is not yet a believer, we pray she will come to know Jesus as her Lord and Saviour.

We took this photo right outside our house- it's a stunning water lilly

Our former hospital director…
About a month ago, just 24 hours before they planned to return to Cambodia from their home assignment, our previous hospital director Dr Tim experienced a brain bleed. Praise the Lord for the amazing ways God provided for him and the skilled neurological surgeons and expertise he could access in the US. He is continuing to recover although there are ongoing concerns and vulnerability. Please pray with us for him and for Marjie, his wife.

Brief updates about the hospital appointment system…

We continue to work on the communications with patients. Now about 40-50% of our patients each day have appointments and we are improving our patient flow. Lately we have seen a lot of very sick patients and we have had more admissions into our inpatient care. Please pray for our communications with patients and that we can take all opportunities that God gives us to share the love of Jesus with them.

Thanksgiving and prayers:

• Praise God for the new shoots of faith that we see among patients we see- including a recent young woman from rural Mondolkiri who had surgery at MMCC to remove a 7kg cyst. Pray for her testimony about the saving power of Jesus within her village!

• Please pray for our communications with patients and that we can take all the opportunities that God gives us to share the love of Jesus with them in word and action.

• Please pray for our former director Dr Tim and his wife Marjie, recovering after Tim’s brain bleed.

• We continue to pray for the relationship and peace between Cambodia and Thailand and for all the families impacted by this conflict- children missing school, lack of access to land for harvest, loss of security, home and income.

• Later this month Wendy will travel to visit her aunt, uncle and cousin. Please pray for safe travel and a good time as a family together.