Nine Hour Rescue Mission
A Young Boy is Saved from Life Threatening Infection
Kambal was just ten years old, but he was already doing his part to help with the family chores. He lives in the country with his four sisters and one brother. Like many others here, his family makes an agrarian living as farmers, growing food and raising livestock.
Kambal was outside tending to the young animals when he inadvertently stepped in a thorny patch. He felt a single thorn pierce the skin on his left leg. But he didn’t think much of it, and kept moving. After all, it was only one little thorn.
But some time later, the leg began to grow painful. At first he brushed it off. But the pain got worse. And before he knew it, he was sick with a fever.
Upon seeing his pain and fever develop, Kambal’s parents took him to the nearest health clinic in Jumezia. They arrived only to discover the clinic wasn’t open that day. So early the next morning they took Kambal farther away to the Ardi Cannan clinic. By now his leg had swollen to an alarming proportion. The clinicians drained some of the fluid, gave Kambal an injection, and kept him for monitoring, hoping this would clear up the infection and reduce his swelling.
Unfortunately, it didn’t. His pain only grew worse and the swelling continued to increase. The clinicians understood that infections can suddenly turn septic and become fatal if not treated in time. They advised Kambal’s parents to waste no time getting him to Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains, where they hoped he could find the help he needed.
Mother of Mercy is a missionary hospital founded by humanitarian Dr. Tom Catena, and a partner facility of Sudan Relief Fund. Our supporters help fund all the medicine used at this vital facility, as well as support equipment needs and expansion projects. There is no other hospital like it for hundreds of miles in the region, where patients can find treatment that’s not available to them anywhere else.
But Kambal’s worried parents had no way to transport him that far away. It was a nine hour drive by vehicle, which they didn’t have. With no other option, they hired a motorbike and rode the distance with their son on a three-wheeler across challenging roads to reach Gidel, a small community in the remote Nuba Mountains. Kambal’s condition was becoming life threatening, and this was their last hope.
The staff at Mother of Mercy wasted no time rushing the young boy into surgery, where they operated on his infected leg to save it. Kambal came through the lengthy operation and was put on an aggressive protocol of drugs. His condition was strictly monitored and managed over the next few critical days.
Soon he turned a corner and it became apparent that his leg was going to heal. He would not lose it or succumb to a deadly infection.
Kambal’s mother couldn’t put in words her relief from the stress and hopelessness she had felt when her son was so ill. She thanked the staff at Mother of Mercy profusely for all they had done to save her son’s life and preserve Kambal’s leg.
It was still a long road to recovery for Kambal. But after a month and a half at the hospital, he was able to stand and use his leg once again. When he was able to take a small walk around the room, the staff cheered, and ten year-old Kambal smiled.
These stories of lives saved are made possible by generous donors like you who support Sudan Relief Fund medical projects such as Mother of Mercy Hospital, and other lifesaving initiatives like food relief, clean water, care for orphans, and more. Thank you for saving lives like young Kambal’s and many others whose lives are transformed by the help and hope you provide.
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