Hansen's Disease

I am blessed to be taught by a very special lady, Dr. Susan Hilton.  Dr. Susan is amazing.  Yesterday driving home from our daily colony visit one of the volunteers asked her to explain Leprosy.   Her answer tells it all.

The leprosy bacteria was finally identified by Dr. Gerhard Hansen in 1873.  It was first written about four thousand years ago.  Leprosy is the only disease that affects the entire person : Physically, Spiritually, Mentally, Economically, Emotionally and Socially. 

Physically it disfigures horribly.  The hands are slowly – over years – reduced to stubs.  The feet often need to be amputated.  Eyes sink into the socket, the nose and cheeks relocate on the face.  The bacteria first attacks the nerves making fingers, toes and limbs numb.  The result is some terrible household accidents.  I have seen deep knife cuts and terrible burns when they stepped into the fire pit and didn’t feel the flesh burning.

Spiritually the ancient belief is the person has sinned against God and God has cursed the victim.  This person believes he has done something very wrong and cannot see God again.  Sometimes they become angry or despondent and certainly many have withdrawn from any worship.

Mentally they slowly loose memory, reasoning power and control over body functions.  Some show classic signs of mental illness.

Economically they are not allowed to hold a job or integrate in public.  Just last week we saw a new patient in one of the colonies who was a professor at a college here.  When he was diagnosed he was immediately fired and cast out.  He speaks very good English.  What a terrible waste. 

Emotionally they believe they are un-loveable by family or friend.  They will marry with-in the colony because no one would ever go into a colony for marriage.  They have children who are not affected but who must also live a life of shame and poverty.  Suicide in the colonies is very high.

Socially they must leave their family and home to group together with others who also have the same mental and emotional concerns.

These people most often have a smile on their face and always help each other.  This disease doesn’t even give them the blessing of dying.  Leprosy does not kill the patient.  It slowly consumes them over years but death will be from starvation, pneumonia, sepsis or some other complication. 

Leprosy is a terrible disease.