A days work is never done in town!

Report From Rose
Coming home from a day's work we found a homeless woman at our doorstep. She smelled of alcohol and hadn't washed in some time. She had fallen and injured her hand and face. She had difficulty walking with the use of two canes. Anya and Lena are two young ladies working in Central Asia looking after the poor and homeless. They had been working with us. This lady refused to let us take her to the hospital as she didn't have a passport so they wouldn't accept there. She had been living with a step daughter who no longer wanted anything to do with her. What to do? Anya was able to obtain some clean warm clothing from the Mercy Organization, which is in fact where the doorstep was. It's as if God directed her to a place where she would get help. She finally consented to go to the hospital. While there she was examined by a doctor who determined that she had a broken leg, broken in two places -- underneath her knee and at the ankle. She said she hurt herself two months ago. The doctor consented to keep her -- remember that she didn't have a passport and she was homeless. The poor are not looked on favourably. Anya said that it was also a miracle that a doctor was working at night in the hospital because that doesn't happen. We then had to go back and get two team members to assist with carrying her up to the third floor (leg problems, back problems and xray on the third floor) as there wasn't an elevator. When we returned, the lady had been bathed using supplies Lena had bought. Lena then offered the soap and sponges she had bought to the nurse. The nurse was very surprised and said that she had never heard of this being done before -- where supplies were freely given. We're leaving our mark!! The lady was finally settled in and the nurse indicated they would look after her until Monday. This meant that they would feed her and give her supplies she needed. In Central Asia, medical care is free to the indigent. Families of all patients, however, are responsible to bring in food, sheets, supplies and medications.
We visited her today. A doctor wanted to speak with us immediately upon our arrival. He was insistent that she be removed and taken to a mental health hospital as she was delirious. She was also not able to control her bladder and bowel function. Remember, her leg is broken in two places and can't get to the washroom. She had been drinking, and she was also in pain when we found her. Alcohol is cheap and she may have been using the alcohol to control her pain. Perhaps she was in alcohol withdrawal. We finally convinced him to keep her for another two days. We requested that he complete the surgery on her leg before she was moved anywhere. We even offered to pay for the surgery but he said that he couldn't accept our money because in reality her medical care should be free. We completed our visit with the lady. Her name too is Anya. She was very lucid. We provided her with new sheets and clothing that Lena had bought. We also brought her food and juice. Lena suggested that we prove to the doctor that she isn't delirious by having one of the women from the local church spend the day with her tomorrow. This woman will be able to assist her to the bathroom, as well as determine how clear her mind actually is. We will then speak with the doctor the following day about her care.
Rose