From the Field

His smile is adorable, but his parents are worried.  He has fallen and cut his head and never cried, he has suffered a laceration of his arm, but he never noticed and kept playing.  As I examined him I tried to see if he could feel pain, by pinching him, but he didn’t move at all.  His dad drew his hand away when I tried it on his dad, but the kid didn’t move a muscle. This is dangerous, he won’t know if he breaks something, won’t know if he is too close to a fire and could burn himself, won’t know when he should stop playing because he is causing pain to himself.  When he is small his parents might be able to protect him, but as he grows they won’t  be around all the time. Pray that his smile continues, that his parents help him understand his situation and that he can understand and play accordingly.
Source: Feeling no pain from Erin Meier – Asia Pacific

With the Hydro back up the reservoir is back too, which allows for swimming and just playing in the water.  I have continued to teach PE this year to our high school kids and have enjoyed the chance to use the reservoir as a place to do PE.  Today we did a little swimming and then played some water polo and inner tube polo and keep away.  Our attempt at water polo certainly gave us more respect for those who really play water polo, but it was fun.  Despite the coolness of the water, the kids enjoyed the change of activities and the chance to laugh and get wet.  Not only did the kids enjoy it, but many PNGians also enjoyed it as they saw and watched us as we played.
Source: Water Polo for PE from Erin Meier – Asia Pacific

For the past month, I have been working on our Labor Ward and part of that is caring for these little babies.  Our nursery is the home to babies who are sick and need IV fluids, antibiotics or oxygen.  Our nursery is also the home to little babies, babies that are less than 2000 grams when born, which is a baby who weighs less than  4.5 lbs. Most of these babies are born early, and then have a long road ahead of them.  Tubes to help feed them and give them oxygen, IV antibiotics, and lots of weighings to make sure they are growing.  Thankfully  most of our babies grow and do well.  Recently our nursery has been pretty full with about 8 babies and their moms in our tiny nursery space.  Thankfully some of the babies have graduated and have gotten to go outside to the ward with their homes and soon should be going home.  It is fun to be able to watch these little ones grow and to see their moms so faithfully care for them.
Source: Nursery Babies from Erin Meier – Asia Pacific