Henry's unfading hope

YWAM’s advance primary health care team is currently in PNG’s Western Province where they are busy preparing for the outreaches to this region later this year. In the midst of their efforts to network and assess communities, they’ve had the opportunity to do some amazing work already. Here is one of Medical Coordinator and IPHC Trainer, Hannah Peart’s stories:
 My day at the TB ward: Hannah Peart
Meet Henry. He is 34 years old, married with 2 teenager daughters and was living a happy healthy life until 2007. It was in 2007 when he was first diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) and started treatment. However, he was not able to finish his treatment so by late 2007 he was back in hospital to receive another dose of treatment. He stayed on this treatment for a number of months but his condition did not improve. He was losing weight, still coughing and generally looked sicker. 
 It was discovered that he has MDR (Multi-Drug Resistance) and was quite possibility the first confirmed case of MDR in the Western Province
Since then he is on a new treatment plan, which has had its ups and downs. If medication runs out, it often means he gets worst and has to do extra days to catch up. He has spent the last 412 days in hospital so considers himself the father of the war and knows everybody! I asked him if he has down days and how he feels about being in hospital for so long. His response was that his wife is beautiful, his daughters amazing, his God is big, and with only 3 more months in hospital. he wants to see it through so he can be well.
It was a really special time to sit with this man and his wife and swap stories. The outlook for Henry could go either way, depending on whether he can keep getting his medication and whether he can put on all the weight he’s lost. One thing is for sure; he wants to live and is believing that he will survive!