The tumor weighed 46 pounds... she could barely walk when her family brought her to the hospital.

I received this message today along with photos from Dr. Allan Melicor. 

Project SAVE has sent a 40' container to the Philippines almost every year since we began shipping in 2004. (Our latest crew of volunteers is pictured above, right.) The supplies we send are being used in many hospitals now and have transformed at least two that Dave & I were privileged to visit.  

Allan is an amazing Christian surgeon and in addition to working at the hospitals in Malaybalay and Cagayan de Oro (both on the island of Mindanao), he is the Asian director for Medical Ministries International.  When he travels on these medical missions, he has told us that the majority of his supplies come from our Project SAVE shipments. Notice the paper gowns....Project SAVE's donations given to us from PHS.  These paper gowns actually helped their hospital gain an upgraded accreditation! The inspectors had never seen them on the island.  What we take so for granted in America is so valuable to these dear people. 
 
This is a precious story of their labor of love to provide both excellent medical care and spiritual enrichment to the poor in the Philippines. The anesthesiologist Allison and the surgical nurse Judy are wonderful women from Canada who travel frequently with Allan and his MMI team.  I hope you can appreciate the intensity this team experienced treating, praying and caring for this lady.
 
Thank you for your part in helping Dr. Melicor's missions and many others by sharing in our efforts at Project SAVE. 
 
Janice


 

From Dr. Melicor: Dear Friends and Loved Ones,

Our last surgical mission with Ministry Medical International in partnership with North Palawan Provincial Hospital, one of the patients we saw was a 58-year-old woman with 6 children noticed that her lower abdomen had increased in size for the past two years. No consultation was made because of financial constraints, and because they live in a village that is not readily accessible, until she heard of the MMI team. And so the family brought her to us.

She could barely walk when she came to the hospital. Her lower extremities were swollen with thickened skin due to edema from the increased abdominal pressure from her huge ovarian tumor. The tumor weighed 46 pounds. She weighed 45 kg after the surgery.

By God's grace, the tumor was successfully removed. Blood loss was quite significant. Post-operatively, she became hypotensive and hypothermic, and her heart became dysrhythmic. And since there was no blood bank services where we were, some of the team members donated blood as well as the patient's relatives and friends. With the blood transfusions and the expert attendance of the critical care team (which was the anesthesia team), and with much prayers, the patient stabilised overnight.

Providentially, one of the anesthesia team members packed in her suitcase anti-arrhytmic and other related critical care drugs just as she was about done with her packing for the trip. The drugs proved to be so useful indeed!

The anesthesia team, which by now had become the critical care team stayed the whole night to monitor and resuscitate the patient. The operating room was converted into a surgical ICU (the hospital had no ICU). By early morning, the patient's blood pressure and other vital signs improved, she became more conscious and responsive that she was wheeled out to the recovery room. After a day she was transferred to a regular patient room and by then she was already taking liquids.

Patient went home well after a week's stay in the hospital. Certainly, the Lord Jesus was made famous in her village. We praise the Lord for the marvellous things He did in our midst, and are humbled and grateful for the privilege and opportunity He gave us to work in His Name.

To God be the Glory,
Allan and Blessie with Paul