'Miracle,' modern medicine enable Pastor to continue mission work
Story, photos by Travis Moshier Endeavor News

Cole Memorial Hospital orthopedic surgeon Bradley Gianotti goes over x-rays of Pastor Muyimbwa Fred's right arm. The arm was badly broken two years ago in a motorcycle accident in his home country of Uganda. It was left untreated when he ran out of money for his medical care. Today, he is in Coudersport awaiting surgery, thanks to what he called "a miracle."

It took two years and over 7,000 miles, but a Ugandan pastor is just a recovery and some physical therapy away from the miracle he, his family and his five churches have been praying for.

Pastor Muyimbwa Fred had surgery Friday at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital to repair a broken arm he had been living with since he was struck by a vehicle while driving his motor bike in Gulu, Uganda. The surgery, his hospitalization and his transportation were all donated.

"I was on my bike on the way to visit a church member," explained Fred, 42, who founded five United Methodist churches after receiving his calling. He was unconscious for three hours, and when he woke up, he "felt a lot of pain and cold."

Muyimbwa Fred, a Ugandan pastor, is in the United States getting surgery on his right arm, which was badly broken in a motorcycle accident in his home country. When he ran out of money, doctors in his home country wouldn't treat this break. Cole Memorial Hospital's orthopedic surgeon Bradley Giannotti learned of the situation and Pastor Fred was brought to Coudersport for surgery to repair the arm.

He had to ask someone where he was and what he was doing there.

He was in a hospital, having been taken there by the police. The health system in Uganda is different than in the U.S., he explained. The hospitals don't treat patients unless they have money, and he was simply left in a room for hours until he awoke and shouted a friend's phone number.

The friend brought in money, and he was treated for three broken bones in his leg, six broken ribs and internal bleeding. He spent two weeks in the hospital before going home on medication. The money ran out before his arm could be fixed.

Bob Schooley, a United Methodist minister, came to know Fred during one of his visits to Gulu, a city of about five million residents spread among many small villages, on a mission trip. Schooley's wife, a physical therapist, showed Cole Memorial orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bradley Giannotti pictures of Fred and his injury during the summer.

Pastor Muyimbwa Fred points out his children to Cole Memorial Hospital's orthopedic surgeon Bradley Giannotti. The photo of the four youths was being projected on a big screen. Pastor Fred is in the country getting surgery on his right arm.

Giannotti, who performed the surgery, explained that his right humerous, the bone in the upper arm, had broken and the two broken ends had never grown back together. The result is a gap between the two pieces, giving him a "second elbow" and taking away almost all of his right arm's mobility.

Giannotti wanted to perform the surgery in the United States.

Fred said he found out through Schooley. "It was a real miracle," he said.

There was just one hurdle left for Fred. Before he could leave Uganda, he needed to be approved for a Visa.

The Ugandan government does not always grant Visas. Fred explained that it is very difficult to travel outside of his country and especially to the United States.

Fred also told of a similar situation where a hospital wanted to help a man, but the government wouldn't allow the man to leave.

"It's just by chance," Fred said. "It's not automatic."

Fred happened to get that chance, with the help of letters from the hospital explaining that the cost of the surgery was covered.

Fred arrived on Dec. 31, with a busy schedule speaking at churches and schools and even getting in a little sight seeing.

On Jan. 3, following his presurgery testing, he sat in the conference room listening to Giannotti explain his surgery for the first time.

The surgery is not simple, Giannotti said. Bone will be taken from Fred's hip and placed in the arm to help rejuvenate the old bone and a permanent titanium plate will then hold the pieces together.

The entire operation may take around two hours with one or two night's stay at the hospital. The initial rehab will be done in the United States and then Fred will be able to travel home and continue his therapy from home, Giannotti explained.

Fred will return to his home, wife and three children with hopes of resuming the life he had before the accident.

Fred's motorbike, an expensive and necessary mode of transportation, was destroyed in the accident. He explained that he used the motorbike for his church work, gathering money and clothes. He would then buy supplies like soap, sugar and blankets, and distribute them to people affected by the war. He also gave people rides for additional income.

Uganda is under attack by rebel armies. The violence and killings used to be very bad, Fred explained, but a cease fire is in effect while the government is negotiating with the rebels.

Rebels kidnap children as young as 6 years old and teach them to kill, Fred said. "One child was forced to kill his mother or he would be killed."

The income had dropped off sharply following his injury. He could no longer carry out his missionary work in bad neighborhoods because he was unable to defend himself.

When he returns to Uganda and is healed, Fred said he plans to continue his missionary work. In the future he wants to build an orphanage to help children who have lost their parents to the war.

"I can't help them all, but I can help a good many," the pastor said.

The children aren't the only ones Fred is helping get better lives. Fred said that among his other plans he wants to get seeds and help teach families to grow their own crops and become more self-sufficient.

He also brought bead necklaces that were made by women in Gulu (their only source of income). The necklaces are on sale at the hospital and Fred said he hopes to be able to send more in the future to be sold at the hospital.

The hospital has also set up the "Fred Fund." Patricia Levavaseur said that the hospital workers hope to be able to send cash back with Fred to help with his missions.

Donations to the Fred Fund may be mailed to Fund Development Department, Charles Cole Memorial Hospital, 1001 E. Second St., Coudersport, PA 16915.

Cole Memorial is donating the use of the hospital, Giannotti is donating the surgery, Sythes is donating the hardware and Cardinal Health is donating the medications.