Angels in Africa
VALENCIA — When Emma Carter landed in the Republic of Senegal to begin her life as a missionary kid, she was up for the adventure.
"I was so excited to get started after our six months of training in North Carolina," said Emma.
Emma's family embarked on their journey in January 2004 after her father, Paul, was inspired several years earlier by a mission trip to Honduras.
Initially he and his wife, Kate, intended to serve along with their four children on the Mercy Ships ministry in Honduras. But after a subsequent trip to Africa, the family felt led to serve with United World Missions in the coastal country of Senegal.
"We spent the next several months downsizing by giving away or selling most of what we owned," said Paul, who left a comfortable job in sales and a home in Cranberry Township.
Although the Carters had no idea what direction their adventure would take, they found themselves two years later battling their daughter's near-fatal malaria on a journey of faith they will never forget.
The Carters' mission in Africa was to coordinate services for the national, or local non-missionary, pastors."We were there to train the national pastors and to offer them respite and counsel to make them more effective in their villages," said Paul.While there, the Carters helped build a hospital that offers low-cost first aid to Muslims.It was shortly before Christmas that Emma, now 13, and her sister Abigail, now 11, became sick."It was Dec. 20 and everyone was coming down with the 'grip,' which is basically what they call flu in Africa," Paul said. "The girls had fevers and felt achy. Their symptoms were not much different than what many others were experiencing.""We also thought perhaps they were fatigued because school finals had ended," their mother said.Because they were in the middle of the dry season when malaria is rare, the family didn't initially suspect malaria.By Dec. 22, the girls had gone steadily downhill. Their parents sought the advice of a fellow missionary who had seen malaria, but he suggested a virus was likely causing the symptoms.On Christmas, a dehydrated Emma began falling down and losing the ability to stand. Her dehydration became so severe, her father took action."I loaded Emma into the car and we set out for the best hospital, which is located in the capital city of Dakar about 12 miles from where we lived," he said. The trip took three hours due to poor roads and unusually heavy traffic."I felt trapped," Paul said, recounting his uncertainty about whether Emma would even survive the trip."When we got there they put her on fluids and took her blood, which revealed our worst nightmare — malaria."
Although no vaccine exists for malaria, protocol for missionaries is to take preventive drugs during the rainy season when malaria is most prevalent due to mosquitoes, which transmit parasites that cause the infectious disease. But during the dry season, many missionaries give their bodies a break from the chemicals."Emma's platelet count was only 9,000 when the normal rate is 250,000. This meant the malaria was reproducing rapidly and overtaking her blood supply," Paul explained.Knowing Abigail had the same symptoms, she was sent for quickly.A blood transfusion — and soon — would be the only thing that could save Emma.Abigail's count was down to 50,000 when the hospital sent for O negative blood, a rare type in Africa and one that is shared by Paul and his daughters. Although those with O negative blood are universal donors, they can only receive O negative blood.Since Senegal laws prevent blood donors from giving to specific individuals through the blood distribution system, a daylong search for the blood was conducted.After a day, the hospital could only access one liter of blood, and Emma's transfusion required at least five — with Abigail soon to need the same treatment.Prior to their daughters becoming ill, the Carters had befriended a multilingual doctor who was in charge of all the Peace Corps doctors in the area. They were to have dinner with the doctor on Christmas."When Kate called to tell them what had happened, he immediately came to the hospital," Paul explained."We were so blessed to have someone with a medical background and knowledge of the language who could let us know what was happening," said Kate.
There are several stages to malaria, and treating it before it reaches certain levels is crucial. When Emma began to convulse, she reached a critical stage and quickly passed it — necessitating her immediate evacuation from Senegal."As missionaries we had emergency evacuation insurance and our doctor friend helped us make all the arrangements," said Kate.Although several countries had transport teams that could fly into Dakar and then to France, the Carters were fortunate to end up with a Swiss team, which spoke English.During the ordeal, the other Carter children, 4-year-old Jackson and 8-year-old Melissa, remained in Dakar with missionary friends.Kate's brother then flew to Africa to retrieve the kids and flew them back to the U.S.To evacuate Emma and Abigail, a pilot and a team of doctors and nurses flew in from Switzerland. It took 18 hours from the first call until they arrived with five liters of O negative blood, beginning transfusions immediately."The plane was amazing. It was actually a hospital in the air," said Paul.Abigail remained conscious during most of her sickness and remembers the flight."We were whisked out of Dakar and onto this plane. It was kind of scary with all the lights and machines," she said."I was across from Emma and I could see her not moving and hooked up to tubes and machines. I could see my mom, who was sitting and could face us — but the doctors were mostly the only ones around us the whole flight," she explained.Abigail began to rally shortly after the transfusion, but Emma's condition continued to decline. Her lungs began to fail, a complication that was not immediately explainable.One of many lucky coincidences the Carters define as "fingerprints of God" was their hospital destination."While in flight our hospital destination changed several times. The final decision was made based on which hospital had two beds in their pediatric ICU," said Paul.The final destination happened to be a hospital in France that specialized in pediatric lung and brain issues, both key factors in Emma's prognosis.It wasn't discovered until they landed that Emma's downturn was from contracting pneumonia after aspirating vomit in Dakar."We knew that she had thrown up but we weren't there when it happened and the hospital staff in Dakar never mentioned it," Paul explained."Had she not aspirated and developed pneumonia, she would have been able to overcome the malaria with the proper treatment. Miraculously, we were in a hospital that was used to treating children with lung infections," said Kate.Meeting them in France was Charlie Beck, pastor of missionaries at North Way Christian Community Church in Wexford, where the Carters are members."I knew that Emma could be healed, but science was telling us the situation was dire," said Beck. "I wanted to be there to support the family with whatever outcome the situation would have."The Carters, not fluent in French, were hurt by the language barrier."At one point the doctor said what Paul understood to be that Emma had suffered brain damage," said Kate.
They were really discussing how to assess whether or not she actually had suffered any brain damage."The doctors really didn't know if she was going to make it at all — let alone what the results would be."During the ordeal, a French man who knew a friend of the Carters contacted them about translating."It was amazing, this man who didn't know us went to the hospital to translate with the doctors to make sure we understood everything," said Kate."It was just another example of God's planning in this situation. Friends of ours in the states had lived in France for a few years and the connections they made became our connections in our time of need," she added.Emma's condition worsened."There was eye movement when we initially got to the hospital, which was encouraging — but Emma's condition continued to deteriorate and all movement stopped. They had to switch breathing machines at one point because she wasn't getting enough oxygen," said Paul.For five days there was no movement, and the Carters became discouraged."Emma's last words to me in Africa before she went into the coma were, 'Daddy I just want to go home,'" reminisced a somber Paul."I wasn't sure to which home she was referring: Heaven? Senegal? The States? Her words were somewhat haunting to me as she laid in a coma and was seemingly losing ground," said Paul."We knew that God was going to answer our prayers. What we weren't sure of was exactly how. Would Emma die and go to heaven? Would she live and be a quadriplegic or suffer brain damage — or would she rally and be healed?"Regardless of the answer, the Carters knew they could handle it."Our God doesn't give us more than we can handle. How ever he chose to answer, he would equip us and give us the grace to endure," Paul said.An MRI on Jan. 2 revealed brain swelling but no damage, which buoyed the Carters' spirits as friends and family around the world continued to pray for the girls and their family."We could feel the prayers. Despite our situation we had an amazing amount of peace most of the time," said Kate. "I didn't have to go to sleep each night crying and I could focus on Abigail and her recovery because so many people were praying for Emma — and we could feel it.""While in France I was in contact with the prayer network and there were people around the globe supporting the Carters in prayer," Beck said. "There were even underground churches and house churches in China praying for the girls.""Late at night we'd get back to the hostel and go through e-mails from people we knew and some we didn't who had been burdened to pray for our family," said Kate.In addition to Beck, the Carters also were supported by a missions pastor and his wife and by another member of North Way Community Church, who flew out at her own expense to be with the family during their ordeal.On day 8 of the coma, the family began to see some eye movement and then a knee twitch."We were ecstatic! We thought she might be waking and the hospital told us the biggest fear was her waking and being scared and trying to pull out tubes as most coma patients are disoriented initially," said Kate.The Carters had hoped to be there to calm Emma when she awoke, but Emma had different plans."I woke up with all this stuff attached to me in the middle of the night," she recalls. "There was no one around and I was strapped to the bed. I couldn't get the attention of the staff because I couldn't talk. I had tubes in my nose and down my throat."
Emma finally summoned staff by whistling around the intubations tube, she said.When Paul and Kate came to the hospital in the morning they learned of their daughter's awakening."There was an air of jubilation on the floor. The nurses seemed to be walking on air," Kate said.When Paul leaned over to talk to his fragile daughter, his fears of brain damage were eased when her first words were, "Daddy can we get a puppy?""Anything you want," he answered.With tears all around, Paul knew Emma's brain was functioning, because she'd always wanted a dog.Emma continued to steadily astound the doctors with the extent and speed of her recovery."We became somewhat of a walking medical marvel at the hospital," said Emma.While they were joyful about the girls' recovery, there was a bittersweetness to it all."We had become close with people in the hostel and some at the hospital whose children were not getting better," said Kate. "It was hard to see them looking at us knowing we were flying back to the states with healthy kids while their vigils continued."We did have the opportunity to pray with some of the families before we left," she added."The Carter family during the ordeal was able to be an example of prayer and trusting the Lord. They were put into a situation with other people who were going through the sickness of a child," said Beck.Emma didn't realize until she returned to the states the huge net of prayer that had been cast over her and her sister."People keep asking me about the experience and basically all I can remember is going to sleep in Africa and waking up strapped to a hospital bed in France," said Emma."It was probably much harder on my sister Abigail because she was aware of all that was going on," she added.Emma's recovery continues."I tire more easily than I did before and I am going to therapy three days a week to work on getting my strength back," she explained."I am alive today because of prayer. The prayers of my family and friends but also people I will most likely never meet," Emma said.
Dr. Karen Ravin, a senior infectious disease specialist at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, saw Emma upon her arrival in the states."Of the four different types of malaria, the one contracted by Emma and Abigail was the worst one," Ravin explained."This type of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, advances more rapidly and attacks the brain," she added."According to the medical reports, she had all of the complications you can possibly have. She is very lucky," she said."Most of the people who get this type of malaria die or if they get better have some complications," she added. "Emma has come a long way."Just weeks before their saga began, a friend and supporter of their ministry purchased a house for area missionaries to use while home on furlough.The house was purchased by a member of the CrossWay Church of the Assemblies of God in Middlesex Township."Little did they know while they were signing the papers it would be desperately needed two weeks later and by us," said Kate.To prepare for the Carters' arrival, volunteers from CrossWay and North Way — unrelated congregations — rallied with cleaning and painting.The family was reunited on Jan. 17 and celebrated Christmas on Jan. 19 and counted their blessings."We are living in a house that was another part of God's plan," said Kate.The girls are currently enrolled at Portersville Christian School and are easing back into their American lives.Both Abigail and Emma long to know what comes next and are dealing with separation issues about leaving Africa so abruptly."We've both made wonderful friends in Africa and we never got to say good-bye," Emma said."I miss my school there and my friends," said Abigail."I miss Africa," said Emma. "You just can't explain Africa; part of my heart is still there."Beck, who was involved in launching the Carters to their mission, said the family is now experiencing a time of transition."The family has been ripped from people they knew and loved and from their calling. They are evacuees," he said."When missionaries are transitioned like that, they have to make time to regroup and listen for the next direction God decides to take them."Paul Carter agrees."Well, we are waiting to see the next portion of God's plan for our lives," said Paul."We know God has brought us this far and we are excited to see what the future will hold.""This path has not been easy," he added."We believe that whenever God prunes you he provides a pathway to more fruit. There are many things to consider now about where and how we will serve."Having O negative blood is definitely an issue since it is so rare in many remote locations," he added."God has need of people all over the world and in the states. Right now we are resting in his grace and waiting for his direction."
