Dear Open Doors Team,
My name is Iris Ramming and I chanced upon your report about Susan through a friend. I happen to know her personally as I work as occupational therapist at the hospital where she was admitted. She received treatment from me for a year and I am very happy to hear that she is receiving letters of encouragement, blessing and support through Open Doors. Since I knew her closely, I would like to tell you her story from a medical point of view, so that you can join me in rejoicing over the miracle that occurred.
God Works Miracles – and Susan‘s Story is More than a Miracle
In October 2010 Susan was admitted to hospital suffering from malnutrition and with terrible pains in her legs. She had experienced an awful three months locked up in a dark room because she had received baptism. She could hardly move and the slightest touch caused her to shout and cry with pain. It took a few weeks to diagnose that her bone-marrow had become inflamed. After a series of painful procedures an operation took place in Kampala in February 2011. The operation caused some bone damage since Susan also suffers from osteoporosis. She returned to Kagando in greater pain than before and no one believed she would ever be able to stand upright, let alone walk with crutches.
My colleague, Carmen, and I often wondered what we could possibly do since she could only bend her legs five degrees under much pain and tears. Often we just prayed with her, read in the Bible together, played and drew pictures, just things to strengthen her soul. Then in April 2011, a further operation was carried out since her thigh bones had been twisted by the previous wrong treatment in Kampala. We had every hope that the pain would cease and that she would be able to learn to walk again.
The operation failed, and Susan returned with the same level of pain. All the foreign specialists refused to carry out any more operations since her bones were simply too weak and the risks were too high that more damage would be done. She remained in hospital purely to receive her therapy sessions. From a medical point of view nothing more could be done for her. What a sobering thought!
But over the last months God has worked a miracle. Susan can now stand with crutches and walk without pain, although her knees cannot bend properly. She manages to do daily tasks like washing and dressing on her own. I am most impressed by her strong will and joyful determination. Although her situation seemed so hopeless she was always smiling and ready to bear much pain. I grew to really love her. She is really special, I am sure she will serve as a great testimony to many people.
On Saturday (December 10, 2011) I went with a colleague to visit her at her home. She is doing well. She is full of joy and is eager to get on with her life. She can do daily activities like washing, dressing and going to the toilet completely independently but always needs to use crutches as she cannot move her legs. The condition of her left leg has unfortunately got worse. It has become stiff and even the smallest movement causes much pain. Please pray for healing so that she can move her legs again. Please also pray that she can attend a boarding school in Bwera in January 2012.
Thank you for your blessed ministry.
With warmest greetings,
Iris
Women to Women Ministry
Mobilize the women's group in your church and invite us to speak more about The Women to Women Ministry. Contact us on how you can be part of reaching out to the women of the persecuted church!
Inform
We want to inform the women in the free world about the plight of their persecuted sisters.
Inspire
We want to inspire and strengthen our listeners and readers by the stories of endurance, obedience and faith of the persecuted women. We want to share their struggles, their failures and their pain, as well as their victories. So women in the free world will be challenged to pray and intercede, to give and to speak up for the women of the persecuted Church.
Interpret
We need to interpret the biblical principles of persecution. Principles that help the persecuted to persevere that also work for the hurting women in the free world. We are members of the same body. When one member hurts, the whole body should feel the pain. We have a responsibility towards each other. The God who strengthens the persecuted is our God.
Involve
Women in the free world can get involved to make a difference in the lives of the persecuted women . They can pray, give, go, write, protest, etc.