Saturday, April 19, 2008

To our amazement, Jack was released from the Johannesburg hospital yesterday, Friday, just two days after his shoulder replacement on Wednesday. The doctor and the physical therapist are both very pleased with how his shoulder is healing. Also in the amazing category is the fact that he can already move his arm more easily and with less pain than he could before surgery. Jack will see the doctor next Friday and we may be able to add another amazing bit to this journey by returning to Nairobi next Saturday, the 26th, the original date that the doctor hoped to release Jack, rather than May 1st, the date the doctor expected by the time my ticket was written. This is assuming that I can quickly have my ticket re-written; otherwise Jack’s ticket will be re-set for the 1st to coincide with my ticket. Thanks for being a part of these amazing facts through your prayers!

Many have asked where we are staying, etc. The answer is that we are staying at the Baptist guest house in Johannesburg which offers special medical rooms for those of us from around Africa who need medical care. We also have a car available for our use and we are enjoying the great South African well paved roads WITHOUT potholes, but I am finding all the 4-Way stops, robots (stop lights, often uniquely shaped), and changing lane patterns a little overwhelming after years of relying upon Kenya’s round-abouts and simpler roads. Thankfully, most drivers here are very polite and forgiving, but they do like to travel at high speeds on their multi-lane free-ways – which I hope to avoid! It appears that many people think the speed limit of 120 kilometres/hour (75 miles/hour) is the bottom limit rather than the top legal speed! There are also three IMB nurses assigned here to help our staff who come to Johannesburg for check-ups and treatments – another aspect of the great support we receive as IMB missionaries thanks to your giving to the Lottie Moon Offering and Cooperative Program. Through your prayers you ARE strengthening and encouraging – THANK YOU! Bert Yates

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Other than Jack’s surgery being delayed for some reason for two hours, and our day beginning at 5 this morning, everything went great today. He returned to his room at about three this afternoon with a bottle holding two bone chips, one rather large, which were found floating around as they “capped” the ball of his shoulder. These floating bits had been the original diagnosis before the shoulder replacement was considered and the doctor said both diagnoses had been correct. Jack was feeling no pain when I left the hospital a little after seven tonight. His only complaint when he awoke fully was that he had missed lunch which was to include apple strudel! He had no problem eating supper when it arrived and a friend brought him red grapes, so he was happy! He is in the room with a South African vet who also had surgery today (a chipped elbow from examining a horse), and they both were ready to sleep when I left. Pray that Jack’s shoulder will heal quickly with no complications and that the pain which the doctor assured him would begin later tonight, will subside quickly.

We have heard that Jack’s Mom is happy to be back at home but she does have some new “limits.” The tests ruled out all the expected causes of last Saturday’s problems, leaving the doctors unsure of what caused her to fall and have weakness in her legs.

Thanks for your prayers, Bert

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Thank you for your prayers. Jack made it to Johannesburg, South Africa, without any problems on Sunday and he did have all his reports completed – but he worked until the last minute as we were without electricity from early morning until almost bedtime on Saturday! He saw the surgeon early Monday morning and a “hemi” – a type of shoulder replacement surgery (the ball of his right shoulder will be replaced) – is planned for Wednesday, April 16th in Jo’burg. Between high school sports injuries, driving on Kenyan roads and deteriorating arthritis, his shoulder definitely needs some help. The surgeon said the recent extreme pain was the result of no remaining cartilage in the shoulder. Jack is relieved to finally have a long-term solution offered. The surgeon said that other than selling his golf clubs and the movement of heavy boxes becoming my job, he should be back to normal in a short time. If all goes well, we should return to Kenya on May 1st.

The IMB has given me approval to travel to South Africa tomorrow to join Jack and be there to help after his surgery. We are very, very thankful for the excellent medical care that the IMB provides and your missionary nurses who are assigned to assist us here and in South Africa. The internet system at the Baptist guest house in Jo’burg is “iffy” these days, so we will be able to make contact through internet, but I will be limited in sending bulk messages. I will use this blog to keep you updated on how to pray for Jack in the next few weeks.

For those of you who are only on our personal list and not my "work" list for all of Kenya, you can find the prayer items that I have been sending recently, that I hope to update at least twice a week while we're down south at: http://www.omba4kenya.blogspot.com/ .

Thanks again for praying for us – we do depend upon you! Bert