Five weeks ago today, the Dignity:Liberia team (Kathi, Charlie, Anne-Marie, Kathy Beth, Andrew, and Miatta) went to the Phebe Rehab Center in Suakoko. There were five fistula survivors there and an additional seven at the Phebe Hospital. The seven young ladies in the hospital had recently had fistula repair surgery; all seven reported that they are dry! I was particularly excited to learn that Jumah, who had had her 4th fistula repair surgery is now healed. (For more on Jumah, go to A Talk With Mercy Benson and Jumah Fahnbulleh.) While this news was exciting, I felt an undercurrent of sadness, because fistula repair funding is tight, and many young ladies still need surgery. In Liberia, that number is still at 1,200.
Sometimes the results of labor are not what we expect. Certainly, the women we visited in Suakoko did not have the labor they had expected. Being left with a painful, shameful injury that often requires multiple surgeries, emphasizes too well the need for maternity waiting homes in rural Liberia.
One day prior to our visit with the fistula survivors, I stood in House of Hope and Dignity for the first time. The last time I was at the property in Todee Junction, the home was a huge hole in the ground with concrete and rebar columns sticking up. Like you, I’ve seen the progress made through the photographs of others, but I had not seen it in person. When I entered rooms that will soon provide temporary housing to expectant mothers, it suddenly became real.
I was overwhelmed by the realization of how far the maternity waiting home has come in such a short time! Much of it has been done with hand tools. As I watched men measuring and sawing, I was amazed that such simple tools can produce such amazing results! While we were at the maternity waiting home site, we watched as the workers began applying putty to the building in preparation for painting. Since leaving, we received pictures showing completion of this work. The results of the labor bring a smile to my face!
You have been a part of this labor. If you scroll through the Facebook posts from our April 2023 trip, you will see pictures of construction material (lumber, paint, putty) that were purchased. Your gift, no matter the amount, allows our work to continue. We thank you for your support. If you can give a bit more, we would appreciate that as well, because your gift will help ensure that the results of labor are what we expect
Sometimes the results of labor are not what we expect. Certainly, the women we visited in Suakoko did not have the labor they had expected. Being left with a painful, shameful injury that often requires multiple surgeries, emphasizes too well the need for maternity waiting homes in rural Liberia.
One day prior to our visit with the fistula survivors, I stood in House of Hope and Dignity for the first time. The last time I was at the property in Todee Junction, the home was a huge hole in the ground with concrete and rebar columns sticking up. Like you, I’ve seen the progress made through the photographs of others, but I had not seen it in person. When I entered rooms that will soon provide temporary housing to expectant mothers, it suddenly became real.
I was overwhelmed by the realization of how far the maternity waiting home has come in such a short time! Much of it has been done with hand tools. As I watched men measuring and sawing, I was amazed that such simple tools can produce such amazing results! While we were at the maternity waiting home site, we watched as the workers began applying putty to the building in preparation for painting. Since leaving, we received pictures showing completion of this work. The results of the labor bring a smile to my face!
You have been a part of this labor. If you scroll through the Facebook posts from our April 2023 trip, you will see pictures of construction material (lumber, paint, putty) that were purchased. Your gift, no matter the amount, allows our work to continue. We thank you for your support. If you can give a bit more, we would appreciate that as well, because your gift will help ensure that the results of labor are what we expect
 | Kathy Beth Stavinoha Kathy Beth graduated from high school in Monrovia, Liberia in 1977. She retired from St. Edward’s University after 21+ years of service. She lives in Brenham, TX with her husband and cat. |
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