Great Year

It was a normal year in many way--365 days--12 months. It began with the same hopes and dreams as most other years. It was also entered into with wide-eyed anticipation. 2010 is the 10 years anniversary of IFC and landmark for our supporters and staff.

IFC began in 2000 with a short sited plan of simply helping refugees in a crisis time in their lives. We did not know how long we would be involved in aid work. Now 10 years later we are not only involved--we are committed for the foreseeable future.

This year was a year of development with the construction of a single staff living quarters, a second Children's Home, a third (four apartments) unit in the Leper Rehabilitation Center, an Eye and Dental Clinic and temporary HIV housing unit. These facilities will all serve the poor and provide services to those who are in challenging or hopeless situations ion their lives. The amazing leadership of Peter and Esther Scarborough and their staff are the reason we have seen these advances. There has been a lot of prayer involved in the process.

There are also many people who believe in what IFC is about. This year is a tribute to everyone who has given funds, prayed, went on a team or donated in-kind gifts. More than 10,000 people came to our clinic and hospital asking for help this year--no one was turned away. If we could help them we did everything in our power to serve them.

Yes--this was a great year. How can you go wrong serving the orphaned and the helpless. It is an honor to be a part of their lives and a part of the answer to their prayers for help.

Merry Christmas

The year 2010 is nearly completed. It had it's challenges and blessings. I reflect on the amazing goodness of God and the great friends we have. I am also reminded of the importance of making your life count.

So--Merry Christmas to all of you and a blessed New Year.

Frozen

It is a deep chill here in Alaska. Just before Christmas this cold snap has come to the northern regions. The vehicles can fail to start and the homes are a concern if the heat source fails. It takes a special person to live in the north. It looks like the chill will stay around for a while.

If you live here for more than 20 winters you are called a Sourdough. We might be called other names by people who think this is just crazy. The crazy thing is people just continue going forward--they go to the store and will keep shopping before Christmas.

Well--have a warm and wonderful Christmas.

Give Me Some Lip

This Monday Tison got up just like any other day—other than he could not have breakfast. He got dressed and bundled up in the car. It was around minus 25 degrees F. so we had to wait for the car to warm up. We arrived at the surgery center and he knew the routine. He got his wrist band and was escorted to the pre-op room. The nurses were hardly noticed as they did their paperwork and took all his vital signs. We did find out he is gaining weight at a good pace. He hardly looked up with all the poking and questions. The surgeon came in and was greeted with a big, “hello”. There were several things the doctor was looking at but he would not allow Tison to be under anesthesia for more than 90 minutes. The main concern was a graft on the lower lip.

Tison came out of the surgery very well. He was to overnight in the hospital. He woke from the surgery and wanted to eat. He was hungry after not eating in the morning. He then started to watch the movies—they have a large selection in the pediatrics unit. He thought he could stay up longer than me. I told him he was going to have trouble staying awake longer than me because I had just returned from Indonesia and was still jet lagged. Well—at 1:30 a.m. he went to sleep. I stayed up all night and was still awake when he woke up at 8:30 a. m.

The staff at the hospital were just awesome. He had a very restful night and is recovering from this surgery very well. He will have the stitches removed from the lip next week. It is one step at a time.

I Saw the Mountains

After over 20 hours in flight--I caught my first view of the mountains of Alaska. The beaches of the remote islands of Indonesia have a wonder and beauty--there is a stunning, jaw dropping awe to the peaks of these snow cover mountains. I was viewing them from the comfortable seat of a jetliner. Regardless of whether you are looking up to the massive rock towering over you or looking down from the heavens--they are just amazing.

The warm weather is replaced by the cool reunion I had stepping as I stepped off the airplane. I have only memories that warmth as I think of the staff the heroes who work everyday to serve the poor. I saw their tears when two very ill patients died. They just came in way too late to be helped. One old woman, who had advanced breast cancer, was brought to the hospital by a local doctor who said--she will die soon but I wanted her to be here where she will be loved and shown dignity in the last days of her life. I also witnessed the joy on the face of a leper who loved playing the card game UNO. He got a lot of pleasure in giving his visitors a draw four card. He was a good sport even when he lost. The second Children's home is moving along and will be ready for occupancy soon.

I have got to get some sleep--my body time is somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. It is good to be home.

A Voice in the Jungles

The downpour of refreshing rain is falling here in Manado Indonesia. I have been on the remote Island of Halmahera in East Indonesia for three weeks with two teams. We are back in the big city with malls and crazy drivers. We are on a slow trip home--departing in six days.

The time at the Hohidiai base was awesome--I will have more to write later. I have a few minutes before the team comes back from lunch and then we are on the run again. A total of eleven amazing people joined me on this adventure--each one brought gifts and lots of energy. I have been blessed to travel with some of the best people on the planet.

I just wanted all of you who keep up with our efforts to know I am still alive and will soon be home in Alaska. I go from above 90 degrees to minus 20 in Fairbanks.

Keep praying for Jien, the eight year old child with T.B., she is holding with little weight gain. This is the voice in the jungle coming back to the snow and cold.

Soon to Leave

Three teams will be going to the Hohidiai Clinic in Indonesia this next month. The first team has a variety of interests--medical, children's work, English language training, video editing training and counseling. This will be a very rewarding time for our workers at the base. This first team is very skilled and prepared to give a lot of their skills and expertise.

The second team will be leading a staff retreat for our leadership. There will be about 30 leaders who will attend the retreat. The retreat will be a three day event. The theme is working together and understanding the differences we have. We want this to be a time of encouragement and refreshing.

The third team will be led by Jim Aldrich. They will be working in the medical, mechanical and micro-enterprise programs. Our fleet of vehicles will be upgraded. The processing of coffee for sale will be another step closer. A roaster has been purchased and we need two more pieces of equipment to have all we need to process the coffee from our 200 coffee trees.

Please remember these teams--there are a total of 15 people represented in these three teams. They have a lot to give and will come home with more than they imagined.

Friends

I just returned from a trip to Springfield, Illinois. I was reflecting on the time that I got to speak to several groups. I also stayed at three homes in the 10 days I was there. I can only come up with the word friends. I met a lot of people and made a number of friends.

I especially liked the opportunity to speak to a group of men and to a group of teens. They were interested and open to what I had to share. The work in Indonesia was presented and more partners are helping us in these efforts.

I see us making friends of all the people who join us in our work in Indonesia. We appreciate the many people who believe in our work and have stood with us. We have partners who have been supporting these efforts for nearly 10 years. It is just amazing to me that they have been so faithful in their support.

L.A. and Illinois

What does L.A. and Illinois have in common? Tomorrow--IFC will be represented in L.A. and in Illinois. Esther Scarborough is in L.A. and will be speaking at the fundraiser for Grossman Burn Foundation. I am in Illinois where I will be speaking at several events.

Esther will have the privileged to speak to a group regarding the burn care in the North Maluku region. She is passionate and will share the dilemma we have with so many people being injured as a result of accidental burns. We need a better program to provide care for them--preventative as well as after accident care.

I will be speaking to a men's group tomorrow night and Saturday. Sunday I will be speaking at several meetings and a youth event. I have had an amazing time and I look forward to more chances to share about Indonesia.

I will be back home on October 12 and then to Indonesia on the 20th. I can't wait to take the two team to Indonesia.

Making Friends

Tison has been in Alaska for ten months. He is speaking English very well and has made a couple good friends. His friend, Isaac, spent the night--they played and watched movies. This is a new concept for Tison--to have a friend spend the night. What a life--watching movies, eating popcorn and drinking soda. He is having fun and building friendships. Tison is a good friend and is kind to the other children he knows.

He has several surgeries ahead of him. His visa extension application is in process. After consulting his plastic surgeon--we believe he needs to stay until June 2011. He is improving and also growing taller. He does miss his family but understands he is here to be fixed and then he can go home.

Ester In America

Esther Scarborough, the medical director for IFC in Indonesia, will be in Los Angeles to speak at a fundraiser. Esther has already been to Singapore and Hong Kong. She is an inspiring speaker and advocate for the poor. Esther was invited by Rebecca Grossman of the Grossman Burn Foundation (GBF) to speak at her fundraiser on October 8.

IFC has many partners and friends in L.A. This will be like a homecoming for Esther. She knows so many people and will find other doors to open while she is there. She is interested in the proposal of a burn unit at our base. This is a dream and the partnership with GBF could result in the ability to care for burn injuries at our base in Indonesia. This would be great news for those in the remote North Maluku and North Sulawesi region of Indonesia who are injured due to a burn accident.

Well--Esther arrives tomorrow. Is L.A. ready for Esther?

Mia--cerebral malaria

Mia is a young mother who has been a staff member in the medical work for many years. She is very petite and has a beautiful smile. She is a wonderful mother to her young daughter. She recently had a serious reaction to what the is believed to be cerebral malaria. Peter wrote, " She was unconscious for 40 minutes and is now semi-conscious. Mia is a faithful team member, she is small in stature but has a big heart--one of her specialties is caring for terminal cancer patients. We are also trying to contact her husband who works an hour and a half away from here."

She is well known by many American and Australian short-term team members. Mia has received the medicine she needed. It was brought in as an emergency response to her illness. She is now doing better--she is conscious, sitting up and talking. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Success

We are cautiously optimistic about the results of the last surgery. Tison's doctor took a look at the graft on his shin which was done a week ago. Dr. W. was very happy with the results of the surgery. The graft was holding--this is so important because of the potential infections if the graft doesn't take.

Tison will have to have another couple weeks of limited activities. It will be very hard on him because he is so active. We have had him outside in his wheelchair but he wants to get on his feet and enjoy the sunshine. It is hard for him because he is 10 years old and very active. We will have to watch him carefully over the next two to three weeks. He can still damage the new graft--we have come this far and do not want to see this graft fail.

Recovery

Tison had a successful surgery on Monday. The shin on the right leg had was badly damaged in the burn--it needed a large skin graft. This was a very serious injury because it could have resulted in an infection in the leg bone. He could have lost his leg due to the infection.

Skin for the graft was taken from his upper thigh. The first day and night was painful and unsettling for Tison. He is a brave little boy but it wasn't until 2 a.m. that the right combination of medications allowed him to fall asleep. He liked the X-Box in his room. It really helped to distract him and keep his mind off why he is the hospital.

We must be very careful because the skin will require 72 hours to begin the attach to his shin. Tomorrow we go to see his doctor--we will know just how he he is progressing. He is a strong and brave little boy. He impresses us every step of the way.

Number Five

Tomorrow is an important day for Tison. He will be going to the hospital at 7 a.m. and check in for his fifth surgery. He has had a lot done already but there is a lot to do. Tomorrow his Doctor will be putting a skin graft on his right ankle. The inside of this foot is being pulled up. The contractures allow him to walk only on the outside of his foot. The left foot had the same surgery ealier. The issue is the tendons can be frozen due to lack of use. Even after the surgery, it may take a while for the tendons to loosen.

Tison believes he will be a great soccer player once all the repairs are completed. He is so funny at times but he knows he will be much better. The best therapy for him is to remain active. After the graft heals then it is a matter of time when the foot is loose enough that the foot can set flat on the ground. This is the goal to give him a more normal posture and allow him to walk and run.

He is in bed now--he knows he has surgery in the morning and has no fear or anxiety. He is strong and confident.

Jet Lag

It is 4 a.m. here at home. I am awake and am still on some other time zone. This is the plight of those who travel Internationally. I have flown a lot and still have the adjustment every time.

I have found that flying westward is easier than going eastward. I often fly to Singapore and then into Indonesia. I am usually ready to go on day one and have no sleep problems. Singapore is 17 hours ahead of the west coast of the U.S. If I sleep at least six hours on the flight to Singapore I am ready to go.

The return is a mystery to me--we land in the U.S. about the same time we leave Singapore. Yes--17 hours ahead of the U.S. the flights are about 17 hours from the Singapore to the U.S.

I am now awake and wondering how long it will take for me to get back to the U.S. time.

Yulce is Home

It has been four years and who knows how many surgeries. I estimate she has had 25 surgeries to repair her burn injuries and her curved back. She is a new person and a 17 year old young woman.

I flew to L.A. to meet all the hosts and to see Dr. Peter Grossman and his wife. They all have been so amazing as they have done so much to change Yulce's life. Yulce was very much an American teenager. She was not ready to go back to Indonesia. She spoke English and had little Indonesian language she used on a regular basis.

We did not expect her to be here for four years. We thought one year would cover everything. The biggest issue for the three extra years was the problems with her back. We had to find an orthopedic surgeon who would correct the back problems. Dr. Peter Grossman made a contact and found an Orthopedic surgeon who was willing to help her. The result was good but the years added to our original goal.

She was a great traveler. She was on time and had no complaints. She did tell me she was nervous to go home. The day we flew to her island after traveling for four days she told me she was afraid. Her home would be new and the life in remote Indonesia was very different from the middle class in California.

Esther Scarborough took her to see her family. Yulce was slow to hug her parents and kept looking around at the dirt floor and the small house. Esther spoke to her about how much her family loved her and how she must learn to adjust to her culture. It will take time. The best thing Yulce has going for her is that she is a sweet girl. I think she will learn to be thankful to everyone who helped her and to appreciate her own culture.

Would we as a foundation put out the effort to help her if we had to do it all over again--YES. She was in a horrible situation--just look at her first photos. We knew there would be cultural issues to deal with but they are secondary to the foremost issue--she could not live with the crippling burn injuries. We all did the right thing and now it is time for a wonderful young woman to come home. She was rescued for a purpose.

Going Home

Yulce is finally going home. She has been in the U.S. since 2004. She went back to her family in Indonesia for one year following her first year of treatment. Dr. Peter Grossman has been amazing as he led her surgeries and recovery. Tina Johnson has been her guardian and has been a mother and friend to Yulce. She came with severe burn injuries and now she is going home as a confident and beautiful young woman..

She will go home after a long time in California. The adjustment is going to be difficult as she returns home. She is an American teenager and now she goes home to a remote village in Indonesia. Her parents are farmers and they work very hard to survive. Yulce is missed by her parents and brother and sister. This will be a wonderful reunion. Pray for Yulce as she arrives home and sees her friends and family for the first time in nearly four years.

The Next Step

Today was a big step for Tison. He had his fourth surgery. It was possibly the most important surgery for him. The surgeon worked on the ear that has been closed since the burn accident. His right ear was closed and we did not know if the inside of the ear was burned or untouched by the burn. It was a relief to hear that the ear canal was open. We are so happy to know his hearing was not affected and his ear can be made to look normal.

Tison had a heavy scar on his chest that is very uncomfortable for him--he wanted it fixed. Now it has a new skin graft over the scar. It is step by step. He is in the hospital tonight and will begin the healing process.

He was really anticipating this surgery because the surgeon was going to address the injuries that are the most uncomfortable for him. He was in the best spirits at 6:45 a.m. when he arrived fro the pre-op. He was up in his room at the hospital tonight watching movies. This was a great day.

Approved

Tison has been approved to remain in the U.S. for another six months. The application for a visa extension is a big job and must be done correctly. It was great to get the approval of his application for the next six months visa.

Tison needed to remain here in Alaska for more surgeries. He has been doing well and was able to complete three surgeries. The next surgery will be next week. His surgeon has been careful and we feel he has been wonderful. Tison has noticed his improvements and is happy about the progress.

It looks like he will be here at least until December 2010 and we will evaluate his condition again. We want him to leave here with as much of his injuries repaired.

Cooking Eggs

Tison is only speaking English now with an occasional Indonesian word thrown in when he doesn't know the word. He told us he wanted to cook some eggs. So he began giving us the list of things he needs just like a good cook. First, eggs and then a bowl. He took a fork and mixed the two eggs in the bowl. Then he said I need some bawang puti. That is garlic and he let us know it was not onions. No--not onions. He carefully sliced the garlic and put the slices in the eggs. He put the coconut oil in the frying pan and poured the eggs into the pan. It wasn't long and he was enjoying his eggs.

He is so much fun. This summer has been really full for him. He spent a lot of time at the lake with friends. He told us about the fox and beaver he saw at the lake. He will be in line for his next surgery this month--one more step closer to repairing his injuries.

Feeding the Bears

Normally--we would be told to NOT feed the bears. But Tison got to see and help feed two black bears owed by Ron and Sharon Richards. Samson the male and Delilah the smaller female have been a part of Ron and Sharon's family since they were very small. They live in a five acre fenced forested area and are not treated as pets. These huge bears are respected as wild animals but are cared for and nurtured by the Richards.

Tison got the chance to see these bears last night. He was amazed and even got to watch Ron feed them. Tison asked a lot of questions and helped prepare the food they would have for their meal. He loved the experience and kept talking about the bears all the way home.

Approved

Tison has had three surgeries in the last six months. He had a cold on the day his second surgery was scheduled, so it was set back three weeks due to the congestion. His left foot is really looking good. The graft around his ankle has allowed the foot to start to lay in the normal flat position. He had remarkable changes in his burned right hand and scaring on his face.

It was clear that he was in need of more surgeries and would need more time here in the U.S. We made the application to extend his visa. He was awarded another six months stay in the U.S. Our hope is he will get the surgeries he needs in the next six months. His right foot needs the same surgery he had on the left foot. His ears need reconstruction and he has heavy scars that really bother him.

Tison has done well and is speaking predominately English. He has a couple friends he likes to play with. This summer he has been to Hawaii and jet skiing on Harding Lake. It is amazing to him that it is light so late into the night.

BGAN

The amazing technology of this day allows us to communicate with our leaders in Indonesia. We have a satellite phone for emergencies and outgoing calls. We also have a system called BGAN to send emails. It connects to a satellite and then sends the message. We are charged a flat rate and beyond the allowed minutes we are charged for each additional minute.

I am writing about this because right now the BGAN is out of operation. It is being repaired but could take some time to be installed at the base.

We are actually looking for a better system. Hopefully we can upgrade the communications. These are the challenges to being so remote. We are at the end of the earth.

Open Doors

I am always looking for partners. I have met some amazing people over the last nine and a half years. I have been to the Australian outback to the frozen villages of Alaska. You can never judge a place by its size or location.

I just go where the doors open. If they open in Pennsylvania--I will find a way to get there. I remember Gustavo and his family so well in Reading, Pennsylvania. What an awesome family. Then there is Greg the rancher in Australia. He and his entire family are amazing people. They work hard and are strong in their faith. There are so many out of the way places with people I now call my friends.

Tomorrow I will be going to Valdez, Alaska. Valdez is one of the most beautiful places in Alaska. The mountains surround the city but the friends I have in that city are very meaningful to me.

Then the next door that opened will be in places like--Palmer, Soldotna, Anchorage, Delta, Springfield and North Pole, Boise, Nampa and Twin Falls. I hope to find more open doors.

Communication Down

The Kusuri Clinic and Medical Base is very remote. The Island of Halmahera is one of the approximate 17,000 islands in the nation of Indonesia. It is a very historic place also know as the Spice Islands. The Dutch, Portuguese and Japanese controlled these islands over the years. The islands are amazing and the rich volcanic soil and the tropical climate make is a rare growing environment. It is so beautiful and yet it is remote. The Kusuri base does not have phone connection. We have a satellite connection in order to maintain email communication.

It works well but on occasion we have either a problem with the access to the satellite. I maintain regular contact with Peter Scarborough with regular updates and communication about the work. I got a note from Peter that he lost the satellite connection. He went methodically over each of the components and it would not connect. He had to travel 20 miles to the nearest city to send an email. There is one business which has computer access. Their on-line service is on and off--mostly off. Peter was able send me a note and inform me about the loss of satellite access.

We are working on getting the needed equipment and problem solve the possible problem. It just reminded me how easily the lines of communication can be disrupted can how important it is to maintain contact.

Healing His Face

Tison has his skin graft to his chin and face. The skin is healing and looking much better. He had a very uncomfortable gauze covering sown over the new skin graft. it was on about a week he was embarrassed about it and it was uncomfortable. He was very happy when the gauze was removed.

It was a beautiful day and I had a chance to get a nice photo of his chin and lip. We took a long walk and just enjoyed the sunny day. It is snowing as I write--what a crazy place to live.

"Break-up"

Break-up is a word used here in Alaska to signify the end of winter and the beginning of our summer. Summer is close when the snow and ice begin to melt. The sun is higher in the sky and everyone has a smile. The river ice "breaks-up" and the deep green waters appear again.

It is a time out get out the bikes and jet ski's. Tison got in full swing with his first ride on the bike at the Johnson's. He is just having a great time. His left foot is still in a protective cover but it did not stop or discourage him. I know he will have many more rides on the bike--who could blame him. We have more minutes of daylight each day (until June 21) and we make the best of it.

Finally Home

It was three weeks on the road. I was in Portland, Oregon for a week. Phoenix, Arizona for another week and Boise fort he final week. It seemed like a lot longer but I am now back in Fairbanks. I left with snow on the ground and came back with it clear of snow.

I spoke at a number of meeting and got to connect with some of our partners. We have amazing people who are standing with us.

However good the trip--it is great to be home.

A Great Smile

Tison had an appointment with his surgeon today. He is doing well following his second surgery. The graft on his left ankle is healing nicely. The big toe on the same foot setting well. It was a positive report and the next step in his progress was set.

Tison has a radiant smile and it will only get better. He will have plastic surgery to his face in about two weeks. That smile will get better and brighter.

His English language skill are really improving. He is very smart and is eager to learn. His behavior has been excellent--he is learning to say thank you and please.

My Name Sake

When I first saw him in February I was not sure he would even live another day. He was very frail and sick. He was a throw away child--just like the other children we have in our care. He was born at our hospital and was unwanted. I was told by Peter Scarborough that they had named him. His name was Carl. I took a long look at him and wondered if little Carl would even live.

I got a report that his caretaker, Ribka, was doing a great job in his care and he was improving. He might make it. I was very happy to hear this child was improving--not because we shared names but because he was not expected to survive. He was a fighter and has a will to live.

Today, I got the photo of little Carl--he is with Ribka, his caretaker. He really looks great. I am so proud of Ribka for her faithful care to this little life. She saved his life.

Scarborough's Going Home

Peter and Esther Scarborough, the directors of the Hohidiai base, have been in Australia for personal time and to meet with friends and partners. Their sons, Leigh and Andrew, both were married in January. These were exciting times and what an honor for them to be there to see their sons start a new chapter in their lives.

Esther had her hands full with the little ones she brought to Australia with them--along with Miriam and Amy, their birth children, they brought Victor, Teresa, Jasmine, Della, Listari, and Merna. I might have even missed one or two. Esther has never backed away from a challenge. Peter tells about going to the zoo with this bunch. I can imagine the fun he had trying to keep track of this crew.

I know they are ready to be back home. They are just amazing people and have been the vision and heart of the work at the Hohidiai Medical Base. The base is a very busy place and will only get busier when the Scarborough clan arrives at the base.

A Leg Up

Tison has his left leg elevated following his second surgery. This is a real restriction to his active lifestyle. He went from snowboarding and sledding to having to put his leg on a pillow--does not seem fair.

The skin graft came from the upper left leg. The surgeon put him under sedation on Monday to remove the wrapping and to inspect the graft. He came out of the surgery room very pleased at the condition of the graft. The graft is still very sensitive and needs more time to heal.

The good news is the big toe on the left foot is in the normal position. In time, his foot could set flat. It will take time for the ligaments to loosen. He should be able to run like the other children once all this heals.

A wheelchair was given to help Tison get around at home. It has served its purpose and more. He can keep his leg up and move around the house. This is fun and he could be in the chair as much as three weeks. We will see how it goes.

Number Two Done

He was asking for water following his second surgery. Tison did very well in the three hours he was in the operating room. The pin that was inserted in the thumb of his right hand during the first surgery was removed. The surgeon cleaned up some scar tissue that will vastly improve the range of motion on his legs and realigned the big toe on the left foot. A graft of skin was removed from his upper leg and used to repair the toe.

This is a big step and will dramatically improve his walking and running. The tendons on his left foot were very stiff because he has gone three years without stretching these tendons. The release of the big toe could help release the tendons as they are used for the first time in years.

Tison did a great job and was aware of everything. He came into pre-op and knew each step of the process. I was also impressed with how much English he is using. Number two surgery is done and now we will come back in four days to have the wrapping changed.

Red-ee

Tison was sick last month when he was scheduled for his second surgery. He will have this surgery on Thursday. He is ready (red-ee) for this next step. He likes the word ready--but he pronounces it red-ee. This was one of the first words he learned. We would ask him, "Are you ready?" He would say, "Red-ee". Now, he better be ready for this surgery.

This is an important process for him. He will have his left foot freed from the contractures. The end result is to have the foot lay flat in a normal position. It will mean a lot of new function for him once he is recovered. He has been walking on the side of his foot, since the time of the injury. I can only imagine, how Tison will feel when he realizes the improvement he will have following his recovery from this surgery. I am sure he is more than red-ee for that.

Next Surgery

March 4 will be a big day for Tison. He will have his second surgery since arriving in Alaska. He was sick when his second surgery was originally scheduled. It was rescheduled and the countdown begins. This is a very important surgery because the surgeon will work on removing the contractures on the left ankle. This will hopefully allow his foot resume the normal flat position. He has been walking on the side of his foot since the burn accident.

It will take a while for him to recover from this surgery. He has been active and doing so well in the snow. He likes to be moving, so the time waiting to heal could be tough. I feel he will do OK but we need to pray for him.

Down Hill

It seems like Tison loves going down hill. He has adapted to the winter in Alaska very well. Who would have thought a child who knows only sandy beaches and tropical weather, would feel so at home in the snow. His host family has made it possible for him to enjoy sledding, snow machining, and snowboarding.

I have watched Tison play soccer for hours in Indonesia, even with his disabilities. Soccer is really a popular sport in Indonesia. He told me, "He liked snowboarding more than soccer". Liz Wood wrote--he might be the first Indonesian snowboarder. The value of all this is he remains active and he is open to enjoying the environment of his new home. Going down hill is really making it, over a hill, in a way.

He Left for Home

He came as a translator and to help Tison adjust to his new home in Alaska. Hendra was here for over two months. He is an amazing young man with a hunger to learn and a gift of serving. He did everything he was asked and did it with a humble gentleness. His study of the English language started when a young American came to Indonesia and taught an introductory English class. Hendra had a passion to learn and pursued his degree in English. He did not know he would some day come to the U.S. as an interpreter.

Hendra left on Friday for Jakarta. He had lots of experiences here in the cold north. He had never been colder than 75 F. while growing up in Indonesia and he experienced minus 40 F. while he was here. He got to see several moose and hundreds of caribou. He loved the frozen waterfalls near Valdez and could believe people in this bitter cold would be in bathing suits at a popular hot springs. He taught a class on Indonesian to several of us. He is a very gifted teacher--we were challenging students.

He has left for home--we will really miss him. I think he really found a home here. He has a five year U.S. multiple entry visa. I hope he will come again--we need a good Indonesian language teacher up here.

No Surgery Today

We all walked into the surgery center at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital early in the morning on February 4. Tison had picked up a cold over night. That was not a good sign for the scheduled surgery. The nurse came into the pre-op room and took his vitals and expressed a little concern but said the decision to have the surgery was up to the Anaesthesiologist. We waited for a while and then the Anaesthesiologist came in and in a short time he made the call to cancel the surgery.

The surgeon came by later and told us he thought the next surgery will be in about three weeks. This is a part of the process and we will take it in stride. You cannot predict when a child will get sick or have an injury. We cannot look in the rear view mirror and asking the "if" or "we should have" questions. We just face each day and each situation with hope and prayer. He will have a couple days off school, trying to get well.

Hendra, the interpreter, will leave next week for Indonesia. He has been awesome and has already stayed much longer than we first thought. He has made it much easier for everyone. We will miss him, but it is time for all of us to go to the next level.

Nine Little Fish

Tison has been very active since he came to Fairbanks. The Johnson's, his host family, have made many opportunities for him to enjoy the fun activities of Alaska. In Indonesia, Tison's father is a fisherman, in the remote region of North Maluku. Tison talks about his father and the fish he catches, now he is also catching fish. It is very different when you can drive on the lake and drill a hole in the two feet thick ice and put your hook and line down the hole.

He went out this weekend and was so happy they caught nine small trout. He is having a good time while he awaits his surgery on Thursday. The Johnson's have been very careful to keep him active in the intervals between surgeries. Tison will have many memories of his time here--he will remember the day they caught nine fish. I am sure these little fish will grow in his mind and become nine big fish, if he is a true fisherman. He will also have the memory of so many people who have been kind to him and made his time in Alaska enjoyable.

Next Step

The next surgery for Tison is very close. The first surgery is healing well and the surgeon is confident he is ready for the next step. February 4 is the date set for the surgery.

His translator, Hendra, was able to stay about a month longer than he was planning. He has enough time on his visa and he has been very gracious to give another month to assist in Tison's transition.

The next surgery will realign his great toe on his left foot and improve the range of motion for his legs. We are so pleased that Hendra is able to be here for the surgery. Tison has done well with the first surgery and we are hopeful that the next surgery will also go the same. He will have many steps to this recovery and this is the next one.

Thumbs Up

Thumbs up is the best way to describe Tison's first surgery. Literally, Tison's injured thumb is now up. It was bent backwards in a very awkward and useless angle. The thumb on his right hand was pointing backwards. It was painful just to look at it. It was completely non-functioning. The first surgery turned the thumb into its normal position. The surgeon placed a pin in the end of the thumb to hold it in the correct angle until it heals. Tison is actually starting to move it--he likes to show the progress it is making.

The next surgery will be decided very soon. I am thankful the pain management went well and Tison is seeing the progress in the function of his hand. He knows the pain of an untreated burn. He also can see that great care is being taken to keep that pain at a minimum. The skin graft around his wrist is also looking good. I would say it is a real thumbs up in all aspects.

Recovering

Tison came out of surgery thirsty and groggy. If you have every been in surgery, you know the feeling but likely do not remember much. He did very well following the surgery on his right wrist and thumb. He was taken to his room and had his right hand elevated. A good first night sleep followed and he was released the next morning.

After arriving home he asked for French fries, chicken nuggets, and ketchup. The three main food groups for this guy. If you add rice and chicken soup you have the five main groups. He eats well and I think he has gained some weight.

Following his burn accident, Tison has endure pain at a level that I cannot imagine. Understandably, he was concerned about the pain he would have from the surgery. I think the pain management was positive for him. The nursing staff was sensitive to his pain issues. This was an important step for him. He can now go into the next surgeries with an idea of what he will face and assurance that his pain will be minimal. The recovery is another issue as he will need to do some possibly painful physical therapy.

First Surgery is Done

Tison came out of the two hour surgery, completing a major hurdle in the year of care in the U.S. The hospital staff did a wonderful job of preparing him and making him comfortable with the unknown ahead of him. He has never had surgery before. He was aware of why he was here and the day of his reconstruction had finally come.

Liz Wood, the nurse who has a major role in his care, wrote her evaluation of the surgery, "Some work on his thumb and skin grafting to his right wrist to release that tight band was done. He (the surgeon) had to take skin from his thigh to release the band. The tip of his thumb is still bent but the joint closest to his hand is now back in place. It is held in place with a pin. We will have to see if it will hold. For the toe, he just injected the scar to see if he can soften it up before actual surgery on it. All, in all, a good first step. Still a long way to go."

Tison his receiving great care and lots of support by the Johnson's, his American family. Hendra, his translator, was at his side all day but will leave on Sunday. He has been a valuable help and has made the adjustment for Tison much easier. Tison is strong and is now one step closer to the goal.

First Surgery

Tison has had a wonderful Christmas and has seen a lot of new things. I have written about his adjustments and the many people who have been a part of his first month here in Fairbanks. He is a lot of fun and is really making strides in his English language. I am surprised at how fast he is picking up phrases and key words.

The real reason he has come here is to get his burn injuries treated. Liz sent us a note with the awesome news that he has the date of January 11th (Monday) set for his first surgery. The surgeon will let us know tomorrow what he will attempt first. Tison has a lot of work to do and will take several surgeries. It will be one step at a time.

The month he has been here has been important for him to become comfortable with all of us. He even says the cold (minus 5-25 F.) is not cold. He laughs and says in Indonesian--this is not cold, it is hot. He has found a place in our hearts now he will have a new mountain to face.

He was having fun one day with colored clay and he made some glasses. He is creative and fun.