She walks...

This past week I’ve had the blessing of getting to know a dear little lady named Mama Theta. Before she arrived I had already heard so much about her, as she has been a patient at LHCC before. Actually, she was one of the first 10 patients of LHCC (the health care center opened in 2003, i think). So she naturally holds a dear place in the heart of the staff members (most of whom have been working there since the HCU opened). She has endeared herself as the unofficial mother of LHCC, kind of adopting the health care center’s staff members as her children.

Theta has several children, but they are grown and on with their own lives. The son that cares for her the most is around 18, and is working hard to finish up high school. However, he comes to visit her when he can.

The doctor has asked Natalie (she’s a physical therapist, or in South African a physio) to help Theta to get up and start walking so that she can care for herself when she has to go home. I had the blessing of getting to help in their physical therapy session yesterday. Nat had already been in once to get her out of bed, but she was too tired. This time though, she was ready to go!! With Nat supporting her on one side and me on the other, we began to take tiny, slow steps together. I could tell from her determined face, that we wouldn’t be stopping until she was ready. I didn’t expect us to go far, but as we walked she kept saying, “I’m not tired.” Interpretation: ”We’re not stopping!!” We walked all the way down the ward, into the reception area, and to the door to go outside! She probably would’ve gone outside if it hadn’t been raining! She just kept going and going, like the Energizer Bunny. Every time Natalie asked her if she was ready to turn around, she’d say…”Are you lazy?” Interpretation: “Can’t keep up??” It was so funny- obviously sarcasm is a universal language. We probably walked with her for 30 minutes…it was the highlight of my day.

Today, I found out that Theta’s youngest son, 16 years old, had been shot and killed over the weekend. Her family came to tell her on Tuesday. Today as we walked, she mentioned this and how she cried when they came to tell her. She wasn't even able to go to the funeral. I can’t even imagine what that must be like for her to deal with. Unfortunately, it’s probably a much more common occurrence than we’d like to think...

I just now returned from walking with Mama Theta again (I’m becoming a PT assistant, how exciting!!) After we finished she said that every day she will get better at walking, and when she goes home she will be able to go where she pleases. Then, she says that we must come to her every day!! Pray that God would continue to strengthen and prepare her body to go home, and also that God would prepare the way for her to be taken care of when she gets there.

Mama Theta is a strong and determined women, I can tell this by the way she walks (the focused look that comes over her face) and the way she talks of God, going home, and her family. She probably knows more about Gods strength and character than I ever will know.

If God sent me to South Africa just to walk with Theta, then that’s a good enough reason for me.