Miracle at Kler Ko Clinic

As told by Rebecca Dee to Lila Tidwell

Rebecca Dee is a pastoral wife originally from Burma. She has a nursing degree and worked at the Rangoon Adventist Hospital until the government took over and she had Sabbath work problems. Currently she is in charge of the maternal-child health program at Kier Ko clinic where she and her husband, Schwae Leong, serve. Lila Tidwell is Associate Direc­tor, ADRA Thailand.

In November 9,1992, a couple from Kho Lu village brought their two-year-old daughter with high fever and convulsions to the clinic.

Blood tests showed that she had malaria. Immediately we gave her medicines by intrave­nous drip and cooled her fevered body with water. The convulsions soon stopped, but the child re­mained unconscious all that night and the next day.

The following night the child started convulsing again and again. This time even the medi­cines did not help much. Now I started worrying. All our work­ers took turns watching the child throughout the night.

In the morning the convulsions were less, but the child was still unconscious and looked very pale. We watched her all day to see if she would improve, but her condition remained the same. While watching the child, we prayed that God would make her better if it was His will.

On the third night the child was still unconscious and the par­ents were very worried. I was worried too. I asked the couple if they would like to take their daughter to the hospital at Mae Tan. They asked, "Can't you do anything more for the child?" I told them this was all I could do. I explained to the parents that she might need a blood transfusion since she was very pale.

To myself I thought, "This child's condition is so serious. What if I take her to the hospital and she dies on the way? Or even if we do get to the hospital before she dies, what will the doctor say to us for bringing the child so late?" I had a hard time deciding what to do; I asked God to help me decide what was right in His sight.

Then the child's father said, "Never mind, we will just keep the child under your care. The hospital in the town will give the same treatment you are giving her here anyway."

I thought to myself, "I have done everything I can in this case and I will leave it in God's hands and He will do what is best ac­cording to His will."

The mother looked at her child and cried. Her husband, an animist, said to her, "Don't cry; you are still young and you will still have many more children. It depends on her fate." He contin­ued, "If she has good fate, she will live. The medical staff have done everything for her, so we should be satisfied."

I told the parents, "Since we are Christians, we believe in God. God can do anything and there is nothing impossible for Him. I am sure if we leave all our troubles and difficulties with Him and ask Him to make your child well and trust Him completely, He will hear us."

I prayed for the child. Then the father said to his wife, "Now, you don't worry. God will care for the child." I reassured them that we were leaving the child's life in God's hands.

The child's grandfather came and looked at the child. He was so upset that she was still uncon­scious. He said to his son (the child's father), "You must go home and offer a chicken as a spirit sacrifice." He told his son to feed the spirits, and to build a new house. "Then only will your child get well."

The son answered him, "Spir­its have nothing to do with the malaria parasites. The spirits can­not kill the malaria. Only the malaria drugs can kill the malaria parasites." His father went home angry saying that his son was dis­obedient.

Finally, on the fourth day, the child started moving her hands and legs. She blinked her eyes but still did not respond when we talked to her. Gradually, she im­proved. It was not long before she started asking for food!

We discharged her from the clinic on the fifth day. We gave her some liquid iron for her ane­mia and advised the parents to feed her good food. The parents were very happy and the husband said, "See, the Lord is helping my child get better."

I believe that God answered our prayer and performed a great miracle for those who did not yet know Him. I am glad that we have the opportunity here at the Kier Ko clinic to let the people know about our wonderful God and how He can help them in their times of greatest trouble.

Rebecca Dee is a pastoral wife originally from Burma. She has a nursing degree and worked at the Rangoon Adventist Hospital until the government took over and she had Sabbath work problems. Currently she is in charge of the maternal-child health program at Kier Ko clinic where she and her husband, Schwae Leong, serve. Lila Tidwell is Associate Direc­tor, ADRA Thailand.