Tetteh

Hope for Life has 16 branches around Accra whose purpose is to make it easier for the members who live near each other to come together, know each other, support each other, encourage each other, visit each other, etc. Each of the branches meets at least once per month, some of them meet more frequently. Fanny (the administrator), George (the HFL president) and I try to get to as many of the meetings as we can. 

Mamprobi Hope for Branch meeting

When I arrived last year, one of the branches, Mamprobi, faced some challenges when they went for their meeting on the local church compound where they’d been holding it since I was here in the 1990s. The security person was new, as was the parish priest, so they weren’t familiar with the group. We worked all of that out and finally, in March, they were able to resume their meetings. Their first meeting didn’t have a huge turnout, but it was good - - people talked honestly about what is going on in their lives, what they thought of Hope for Life, and how things could be better. 

Joseph's room

Joseph, 77 years old, was present at that first meeting. I remembered him, but never knew him very well. He had leprosy in the past and is an amputee. Leprosy can easily be cured, so he is no longer contagious and hasn’t been for decades. He complained of eye problems and other aches and pains throughout his body. In addition to the below-knee amputation, he does have other effects from the leprosy, yet he lives alone, takes care of himself and gets around - - often with a prosthetic leg, sometimes without the prosthetic and using only crutches if he has a sore on his limb or if the prosthetic isn’t fitting well that day. 

Accra’s leprosarium is close to where I live. They have an SVD missionary priest from Ireland, Fr. Campbell, who has been involved with the place since the 1970s. We go there on Sundays for Mass with whoever is in our house and wants to go, so we had become familiar with the priest and some of the staff, as well as with some of the residents. We are often the only outsiders coming for Mass, so the people know us and it feels like community. I promised Joseph I would check there for any recommendations for doctors. 

The team at the leprosarium asked me to get some of Joseph’s background details, and when I shared those, they invited us for a couple of visits so he could meet those in charge and see the place, to determine whether he would like it or not. 

waiting out the rain during one of our visits to the leprosarium

 

The priest and the administrator invited him to come live there and receive the medical care and attention that he needs. In fact, it’s a great opportunity for Joseph - - Fr. Campbell has friends in high places and receives a lot of support, making it possible for the residents to get excellent (and free) medical care, free prosthetics, other mobility devices and wheelchairs, regular meals, water, electricity, etc. – even some pocket money. 

Hawa, Joseph's "sister", and Friedl - a former SMA lay missionary back for a visit

 

But, Joseph had several concerns: would his son agree? would he be free to come and go? or would it be like a prison for him? could he get visitors? etc. etc. If he chose to come live there, he would be leaving where he had been living for years, leaving his familiar environment and people and be in a new, unknown place, with new people – so, in spite of the benefits, his concerns were understandable. Joseph wanted time to talk with his “sister” in the neighborhood where he lives – she’s a sweetheart who looks after him – and talk with his son prior to making a decision. 

in front of entrance to compound with Joseph's room

 

Joseph's new room

 

It took a while, but finally, a month and a half after that first branch meeting, a couple back and forths to the leprosarium and meeting with his “sister”, reinforcing most importantly that his health would be taken care of for him, Joseph decided to go stay at the leprosarium. Immediately, the day after he got there, he joined others who were going to get their eyes checked. Two days after that, he had a complete physical and they began addressing his pain and other issues. 

during one of our visits - discussing family matters with Fanny

 

I now see him at least once per week. During one of my visits, he told me that I should call him Tetteh – that’s how he is known, rather than Joseph. We pick him up on the days that his HFL branch holds its meeting. He often discusses with Fanny some family land concerns he has, as, being the eldest, he is seen as the head of his brothers and sisters, and Fanny is a wealth of information. 

call me Tetteh

 

At the end of June, the leprosarium’s administrator called me to say that Tetteh had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. They asked me to go talk with the doctor about the options, which turned out to be either having a couple of further tests to see how contained it might be – or just letting it go since Tetteh is 77, has high blood pressure and does not like to take the medication to treat it. Joseph and the leprosarium decided upon the tests, and the results came in a couple of weeks ago. It appears that all is fine – nothing needs to happen at this time. 

A week ago, his son, Noah, was back from an extended time at sea and came to visit as soon as he got on land. He told his father that he wanted to meet me, as well. Noah’s emotions and gratefulness poured out of him to an extent that I rarely see here. I felt it… 

L-R: Noah, Tetteh, Joseph (nephew)

 

All of this is to say that the most important part of our role here is not about raising and giving money, even though that is necessary and often takes up an unfortunately huge amount of our time and energy. What matters more, though, is making these connections and giving time and attention to people. Tetteh is happy where he is, getting the care he needs, and his son is brought to tears seeing it…all we did was listen to Tetteh and give some of our time and love.