Scott Injures His Knee

Scott recently tore the meniscus on his knee while playing soccer with some local children in his yard. He had done this to his other knee years ago when we lived with the Katukina people on the Gregório River. That time it slowly improved so that he could use it, but did eventually have to have arthroscopic surgery to remove the piece of cartilage that was behind his kneecap.

Yesterday the orthopedist told him that he could operate on it here to see if it really is a torn meniscus, or he could go to Manaus to have an MRI done to confirm the damage, and then surgery as needed. Another option was for him to go to the government hospital here in town and be given general anesthesia. The doctor would then try to straighten the knee (that is bent at roughly a ninety degree angle at present) and work the piece of cartilage out without surgery. This would give him limited use of the leg until January, when he’ll be going to Manaus to attend our annual field conference followed by a Scripture translation conference. Manaus does have an MRI and a good orthopedic clinic.

So tomorrow Scott will go to the hospital to see if the doctor can remove the cartilage and straighten out the knee witout surgery. If not, Scott will have to plan on going on to Manaus fairly soon to avoid atrophying of his leg muscles.

This leaves us quite short-handed as our co-workers are on furlough. I’ll try to keep the meetings going, but the medical end of the work is going to suffer. So please pray for Scott’s recovery, for extra strength for Gloria and me as we try to keep our work going while desperately short-handed, and for another couple of His choice to join our team. Thank you for praying, your prayers DO help.