More About Mark

Thank you to many of you who have asked me to write more about Mark.  And for those of you who don’t know him and have prayed for him.  Let me catch you up (with his permission, too)! : )

Mark returned home from Singapore with a lovely fiberglass cast, complete with a window to do his dressing changes.  His knee looked fantastic, compared to pre Singapore.  He was pain free.  On 2 antibiotics for 5 weeks.  The wound was just an pencil eraser size opening at the distal end of wound.  Surrounded by lovely baby pink skin and clean serous sanguineous scant drainage.  I couldn’t be happier for him.  We met every few days.  My only concerns were the duskiness of his casted leg (yet he had great pulses and little swelling), and some of the potential side effects of flagyl (one of his antibiotics).  And a bone infection and a blood clot………….sometimes knowledge is not a good thing.  Ignorance = bliss!

Mark with the “window” open and holding a picture of the original wound.

 

As time zipped by, it came closer and closer to the highlight of almost all the high school students at the International school and that is: “O.E.”  A two week program where they take all the high school students to a project site in Papua to do service.  The students talk about it all year long.  Mark’s hearts desire was to go on O.E. but the closer O.E. came….the tougher the decision became.

O.E. is known for it’s “rough conditions”.  Not exactly where one wants to send a guy with a cast and a crazy injury at that.  However, it did seem as though decent accommodations were available for Mark and that dirt  + sweat would be at it’s minimum. 

Then I was asked to speak with Mark’s uncle (who is a infectious disease Dr. in Chicago).  Who challenged me on Marks’ medicines (so glad that I did not prescribe those) and gave me much to think about.  From his expertise, 14 days on Flagyl was long enough to irradiate a bone infection (which Mark had never been diagnosed with one) AND the long term potential negative side effects of Flagyl were not worth the possible benefit.  So, Mark and his mom agreed that he would come off the medicines.  Yet, those little pills had provided a sense of security especially for a trip off into the interior.

Watching Mark grapple with his heart desires (to go and be with all his class mates) and stay (and be safe, but bored) was a neat side of nursing that I have never been able to experience before.  To try to provide encouragement, hope, faith, and yet be realistic and provide facts….it was challenging.

Mark flew out this morning, with the rest of the high school.  And so the story is not quite over!  Mark still needs your prayers.  In 2 weeks they will be back and then we get to remove the cast.  Then you can imagine the physical therapy that needs to take place, with no physical therapist.  And yet I believe, that Mark will rise to the challenge.  I also believe that God will continue to hold Mark in the palm of His hand.  Thanks Mark, for allowing me to share your story and for allowing me to be part of yours.