Power in the Blood

One of the most important therapies that we have to offer patients here at l'Hopital Baptiste Biblique in Togo is blood transfusions.  The most common reason that infants and children are admitted is because of malaria with severe anemia.  Yesterday a 4 year old boy came with a Hematocrit of 4%--normal should be more than 36%.  He came to the hospital at 4 pm and by 530 pm the blood was being transfused!!! Praise God and thank you for the awesome lab and nursing staff.

The ability to offer blood transfusion should not be taken for granted in the majority world.  It requires a steady stream of donors, a good lab to test for the purity of the blood,and great nursing to administer the blood.  This  week I learned that HBB recruits 30 healthy high school students to come each week to donate blood.  Often this stock is depleted within one week for scheduled and emergency use.  Families are encouraged to donate for scheduled routine surgeries also. 

6 year old boy with sickle cell anemia, largespleen and hematocrit 13%

 Christians sing "There is power, power, power in the blood; there is power in the blood of the Lamb"
and "Nothing but the blood of Jesus."  We rest in the salvation granted because of Jesus' sacrifice of blood and His resurrection.  My experience medically confirms what I know spiritually--there is POWER IN THE BLOOD!