Operation day

Aissa’s surgery was scheduled for this morning.

I arrived in her ward early. She had just woken up and was chatting with the nurses while dressed in her children’s gown and the plastic bead necklace she made in arts and crafts. We convinced her to change into something that fit her a little better, and she began to happily show me the pages she had finished in her coloring book.

Then it came time for her to take a sedating agent to calm her before heading to the OR. She wasn't in the mood to take meds and we had to hold her down while she kicked and screamed. She spit most of the medication out, making us wonder if she had swallowed anything at all. However, not 10 minutes later, her head dropped groggily to my shoulder.

The surgical team didn’t come for us quite as soon as we anticipated, so it became a bit of a struggle to corral our little drunken, staggering wildcat as she made her demands for food, water and a trip outside to play. Finally, I hefted all 40 plus pounds of her onto my back and with the help of one of the lovely mamas staying on the ward, firmly tied her there and began to walk the hallways, singing every lullaby I could think of with a few hymns thrown in for good measure.

No sooner had she fallen asleep than the team came to shuttle us over to the OR. She was completely calm and lay docile as a lamb on the table while the anesthesia team began their work. Suddenly the room was alive as everyone ran around, completing their tasks before the arrival of the surgeon.

When all was in place, Dr. Gary, world renowned for his work in NOMA repair (Aissa’s illness is called NOMA) came in and prayed over her before making the first incision. He prayed that God would grant them creativity and success during the operation, and that Aissa would grow up to love Jesus and impact others for him.

What proceeded can only be described as miraculous.

With precision and skill the team peeled back the scalp to harvest the fan shaped temporalis muscle that lies just over the ear, twisting it downward to cover the defect, or hole in Aissa’s face. Next, Dr. Tertius a visiting plastic surgeon who specializes in skin grafts, took a portion of skin from Aissa’s thigh to place it on her face. This particular technique elicited a ‘holy crap’ comment from the visiting photojournalist who was snapping photos for an article being written about Aissa:-)

The team was excited. We were all aware that what we were witnessing was special, and everyone was taking pictures with their personal cameras in order to capture the moment when Aissa’s face was restored.

And then there it was.

This little baby girl from a village in the middle of the bush, who came to us stubbornly clinging to life, had a cheek. For the first time since I have known her, the grotesque hole, exposing teeth and tongue was gone, covered over and blanketed by a protective layer of muscle and beautiful, beautiful skin.

It struck me then, the extravagance of God’s love. Who could have imagined that this little girl, who almost slipped away to die in obscurity would now be the recipient of the attention of a team of professionals, specialists in their fields? That all the excitement, effort, skill and precision would be for her restoration?

Extravagant love, should I have expected anything different?

Then, using someone's camera, I indulged in a little instant gratification and slipped back to the ward to show Jean Aissa’s new face. He stared, then asked me “So, there’s no more wound?” “Timi” I replied, finished. I then shared the joy with the nurses, who were thrilled to get a glimpse of the miracle under the bandages. We prayed together, thanking God for what he had done, and I returned to the OR.

Aissa woke with difficulty, bucking and straining as she attempted to clear her head and get control. But with another dose of pain meds, she quieted and was sleeping soundly when I left her. Thank you all for your prayers, God has honored them, please continue to pray as the next week will be filled with medications, wound care, tube feedings, and pain control. I will keep you updated.