weak and needy

So, I (Jason) have been telling you about Adamou, the now month-old little girl who was born with Crouzon syndrome, a facial deformity that didn't allow her nose to form properly. When she tries to nurse, she can't breathe through her nose, and has to stop after a few seconds. We placed a feeding tube April 7th.



Last week, her father and grandfather came to Phila saying that they wanted us to take out the feeding tube and then go home. They said they couldn't afford to keep staying here. Phila talked them into staying until today, when Dr. Thelander would be back, since he put the tube in.



Today we (not so much me) had another long conversation with them all. Dr. Thelander and Dr. Walker (the pediatrician) talking with the father in French, Phila talking with the father and mother in Bambara, and the father talking with the grandmother in another tribal language--sometimes all at the same time. The Adamou's mother would talk at times, and the father and grandmother wouldn't even really listen. You could see the frustration on her face. Her parents and grandparents moved here from Mali. In their culture the grandparents, especially the grandmother make the decisions about the child and the family.



It was revealed that their biggest concern was not the money, but that Adamou had had two loose stools after she started the feeds throught the tube (which is normal considering she hadn't had much of anything prior). They had actually refused the tube feeds from the nurses yesterday. They felt like having 'diarrhea' was worse than the baby not eating. It showed a bit of the worldview of people who have long lived with want and disease as a part of the family. They know that diarrhea is very bad, especially for children, but being hungry is commonplace. They believe that 'diarrhea' would kill her much faster than hunger would. They don't really believe that the child will loose weight if she doesn't get the tube feeds.



The plan the family finally agreed to is that we will continue to hold the tube feeds, but leave in the tube. The family is hoping to prove that the child won't loose weight while only getting a couple of swallows of breast milk a day.
We believe she will.

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 82:3-4