Newsletter Updates
» thoughts for christmas
Wednesday, November 30, 2005 - A 40 year old single mother is raising two children on her own because her husband left her for another woman 6 years ago. She has diabetes and high blood pressure. She lost her job and had not been able to see a doctor for over a year. When we first saw her, her BP was 220/110, her blood sugar was over 400, and she was feeling terrible. Her vision was blurry and she had been told that her eyes are deteriorating because of the diabetes. We at the Zarephath Health Center were able to give her the medicines she needed and are working to set up referrals to the specialists that will manage her care. Two weeks later, the picture was already much brighter.
A pharmaceutical rep stopped by one evening and left samples of a rarely used medicine to treat ulcerative colitis. 30 minutes later a patient walked in needing exactly that medication. What a privilege to be there when God sets up these random encounters to marvel at His timely provision. The faith of everyone involved was strengthened.
A woman hobbles around with pain in every step. Severe osteoarthritis suggests her life would be transformed by knee replacements, but she has no insurance and the hospital bill alone would exceed $30,000. Add the cost of surgeons and other expenses, the total cost would come to over $50,000. What if there were an alternative? What if she could take a four hour plane flight, go to a first class hospital facility and have the same US trained surgeons do the procedures at a fraction of the cost? And then what if she could spend the rest of the week in a beautiful Caribbean resort? This dream will become a reality if all things work together so that the Zarephath Health Center is able to expand its influence and set up a system of medical tourism on the lovely island of Antigua in the Eastern Caribbean.
God is at work at the Zarephath Health Center and these wonderful scenarios are possible because of selfless volunteers and donors like you. As we ponder the wonderful gift of God's Son at Christmas, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help us buy the medicines and supplies to keep helping those who have fallen onto hard times.
Have a wonderful Christmas, and may God bless you in the coming year.
Sincerely,
John and Alieta Eck, MD
Christine Sedlacek, MD, Ava Stanley, MD
Board members--Scott Bangert and Patrick Smith
and all the other volunteers