Darci Simpson shares this heartbreaking story from Nsoko, Swaziland:
WARNING: This blog is honest and may be
filled with some gory details – it could be uncomfortable, but it is
REAL.
filled with some gory details – it could be uncomfortable, but it is
REAL.
The first week of my ministry here in Nsoko, Swaziland is to do
home visits with a beautiful young girl named Maswane. Maswane is in
her last stages of life, suffering from AIDS and she is only 19 years
old. Her innocence was taken from her at age 15 – when her uncle and
possibly her brother raped her. She contracted the HIV virus and now 4
years later, she is dying. 2 months ago, Maswane could no longer walk
and now she lies on a mattress that was donated to her – all day and
all night. She can no longer turn and she constantly lays on her back,
unable to move almost any body part.
home visits with a beautiful young girl named Maswane. Maswane is in
her last stages of life, suffering from AIDS and she is only 19 years
old. Her innocence was taken from her at age 15 – when her uncle and
possibly her brother raped her. She contracted the HIV virus and now 4
years later, she is dying. 2 months ago, Maswane could no longer walk
and now she lies on a mattress that was donated to her – all day and
all night. She can no longer turn and she constantly lays on her back,
unable to move almost any body part.
Today was my second day with Maswane and it was as heart wrenching
as the first time, but not quite as shocking. The first time I saw
her, Pastor Gift wanted us to pray for her and I sobbed as I saw her
body underneath the blanket. Pastor Gift explained to us that he was
in no way trying to expose Maswane, but he wanted us to see the reality
of what is happening in Swaziland. He pulled back the blanket and
several of us could not hold back the tears as we looked at her ravaged
body. I have never seen a person with leprosy, but I imagine that the
condition of her skin is what people with leprosy look like. Her skin
is literally falling off of her body and she smells like she is dying.
Her room smells like rotting flesh and seeing it is the most
unbelievable thing my eyes have ever seen. Today, Anna Barnes & I
(who are doing the home visits with Maswane this month) were asked to
help change her diaper. Because Maswane cannot get up or move at all,
she has to wear diapers and she has to tell the ladies who are watching
her – she needs to have her diaper changed. Anna & I literally had
to hold her legs up, while she was in excruciating pain, and try to
change her diaper without putting her in any more pain. We also found
out today that because she has not been to the hospital (and really at
this point, there is no reason for her to go), they are completely out
of pain medicine for her. I could not believe that she has NO pain
medication – not even Tylenol. All I could think about is that this
would never happen in America. I just want to get her to a place where
they can remove all of the rotting flesh off of her body, cover her in
lotion (the skin all over her body, except her face, is so dry that it
is cracking and bleeding), and pump her full of pain medicine and
fluids to keep her at ease as her body gives out. I have only known of
1 person in my whole 25 years of life to die of AIDS and I was so
young, that I do not know really any of the details of what happened
with him. This is everywhere here – 47% of the people just in Nsoko
(which is probably ¼ of the size of Groves, Texas) have been officially
diagnosed with HIV … this does not account for the people who have
not been diagnosed.
as the first time, but not quite as shocking. The first time I saw
her, Pastor Gift wanted us to pray for her and I sobbed as I saw her
body underneath the blanket. Pastor Gift explained to us that he was
in no way trying to expose Maswane, but he wanted us to see the reality
of what is happening in Swaziland. He pulled back the blanket and
several of us could not hold back the tears as we looked at her ravaged
body. I have never seen a person with leprosy, but I imagine that the
condition of her skin is what people with leprosy look like. Her skin
is literally falling off of her body and she smells like she is dying.
Her room smells like rotting flesh and seeing it is the most
unbelievable thing my eyes have ever seen. Today, Anna Barnes & I
(who are doing the home visits with Maswane this month) were asked to
help change her diaper. Because Maswane cannot get up or move at all,
she has to wear diapers and she has to tell the ladies who are watching
her – she needs to have her diaper changed. Anna & I literally had
to hold her legs up, while she was in excruciating pain, and try to
change her diaper without putting her in any more pain. We also found
out today that because she has not been to the hospital (and really at
this point, there is no reason for her to go), they are completely out
of pain medicine for her. I could not believe that she has NO pain
medication – not even Tylenol. All I could think about is that this
would never happen in America. I just want to get her to a place where
they can remove all of the rotting flesh off of her body, cover her in
lotion (the skin all over her body, except her face, is so dry that it
is cracking and bleeding), and pump her full of pain medicine and
fluids to keep her at ease as her body gives out. I have only known of
1 person in my whole 25 years of life to die of AIDS and I was so
young, that I do not know really any of the details of what happened
with him. This is everywhere here – 47% of the people just in Nsoko
(which is probably ¼ of the size of Groves, Texas) have been officially
diagnosed with HIV … this does not account for the people who have
not been diagnosed.
I am overwhelmed by the condition of Maswane’s body and I want to
do whatever I can do to help her and to make her get better … but
there is nothing I can do except pray. Knowing that she is out of pain
medicine is a nightmare, because sitting through even 10 minutes,
watching her cry and her body shake in pain, was more reality than I
want to see ever again. We were able to leave her some ibuprofen and
hopefully will be able to get some other minor pain killers to her and
just PRAY that God will ease the pain – and regardless of how she
physically feels, that He would show her that He is with her and that
His love would be present. I am learning that I need to now trust God
in the things that I have always seen with practical answers. He is
the God of the impractical and I need to trust that even though, she is
dying (which Pastor Gift told me tonight could take up to another
year), that God can ease her pain and that HE LOVES HER AND HE IS WITH
HER!! That even though this disease is HORRIFYING – God is good and He
is always good!
do whatever I can do to help her and to make her get better … but
there is nothing I can do except pray. Knowing that she is out of pain
medicine is a nightmare, because sitting through even 10 minutes,
watching her cry and her body shake in pain, was more reality than I
want to see ever again. We were able to leave her some ibuprofen and
hopefully will be able to get some other minor pain killers to her and
just PRAY that God will ease the pain – and regardless of how she
physically feels, that He would show her that He is with her and that
His love would be present. I am learning that I need to now trust God
in the things that I have always seen with practical answers. He is
the God of the impractical and I need to trust that even though, she is
dying (which Pastor Gift told me tonight could take up to another
year), that God can ease her pain and that HE LOVES HER AND HE IS WITH
HER!! That even though this disease is HORRIFYING – God is good and He
is always good!
“In this world, you WILL have trouble: but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
“An average view of the Christian life is that it means
deliverance from trouble. It is deliverance in trouble, which is very
different. If you are a child of God, there certainly will be troubles
to meet, but Jesus says do not be surprised when they come. God does
not give us overcoming life; He gives us life as we overcome. The
strain is in the strength.” (My Utmost For His Highest – August 2)
deliverance from trouble. It is deliverance in trouble, which is very
different. If you are a child of God, there certainly will be troubles
to meet, but Jesus says do not be surprised when they come. God does
not give us overcoming life; He gives us life as we overcome. The
strain is in the strength.” (My Utmost For His Highest – August 2)
