Daily I have been making pastoral visits to the Leprosy and Tuberculosis patients.  They age from 3 to 90 years old and have various conditions.  Some have such a slight case of Leprosy that you would say they look fine while others have it so badly that they will be scarred or maimed for the rest of their lives.  As for TB, some patients are here for 2 months while others have to stay for 8 months. Still others never go home, but die here. So, I want to tell you about a patient that really touched my heart.

Nelson came to Rehab with Pulmonary Tuberculosis that infected his leg.  So, he had open sores and was unable to walk. Since he was only 10 years old, he was not real happy to be in a wheelchair, but he made the best of it.  Everyday he would wheel himself out to the soccer fields at the Rehab.
As I was walking by, I would see him sitting all alone in his wheelchair watching the practices and games. With a big smile on his face, he would greet me, so of course I went over to him to say “Hello” and chat a bit.

Well, Nelson was confined to his wheelchair for about a month, when one day he asked me a question. “Sis, Ann do you think you could buy me a soccer-ball? I replied, “Why, Nelson, do you like to play?” A great big smile came over his face as he nodded his head. So, I inquired, “When you were well, were you good at it? Could you kick the ball?” Again he smiled and nodded. I then retorted, “Well, when you get better, we will see about that.” He agreed that would be fine.

So, another month passed and he was busy drawing pictures and going to watch the soccer games.  He could really draw well. One day he called me over to his wheelchair while he was waiting in front of the dispensary for his morning medicine.  When they called his name, he got out of his wheelchair and walked up to the door.  He turned around to look at me and see my expression. “Nelson, you are walking!” I shouted as I laughed happily. Again, that big, beautiful smile came over his face as he nodded.

Well, weeks turned into another month and I was about to leave for the States. I stopped by Nelson’s house at the TB Annex to see how he was feeling.  His father told me that Nelson was being discharged in a few days.  I immediately knew what I needed to do. So, I went to my place and called for a motorbike taxi to pick me up. Then I went into Ganta and returned to Rehab with a package.  I instructed the driver where to go and we stopped in front of Nelson’s place. His father was there and I asked him to call his son. Well, you can imagine the sheer joy on his face when I got off the motorbike and handed him a brand new soccer-ball. One happy boy was he! That was a moment that neither he nor I will ever forget.  I thank God for his healing and for the privilege of knowing such a fine boy.

May God bless you and your family abundantly.
Ann Seliskar, MSW SMA Lay Missionary