Our dental team arrived in the town of Tominan, Mali after working the previous week in the city of San. We knew the need continued to be great and we had four days to treat as many patients as we could before returning home.

Villagers soon gathered and we learned one lady walked 15 miles to seek treatment for a painful tooth. Soon a patient was called and it was apparent that the man had a severe abscess and that it was draining from the inside to the outside of his cheek. Dr. Bill Melby from Molalla, Oregon and assistants Becky Dickinson and Kathi Karnosh immediately began treating the infection. The man was Kalifa Kone’ from the village of Kiribara and we learned he had been suffering for two years with abscessed teeth.

Dr. Melby realized how serious his condition was and knew that without help, Kalifa might not have long to live. Much of the infection was drained, but it was important for Kalifa to return morning and night for additional treatment.

On our last day Becky Dickinson, an oral surgery assistant from Huntersville, North Carolina instructed Kalifa’s wife on how to care for the effected area and explained to her the importance of taking the prescribed antibiotics. Kathi Karnosh gave toothbrushes to his wife for their seven children and through an interpreter explained the importance of oral hygiene.

At a goodbye ceremony,The pastor of the local church assured us that Kalifa’s health would be monitored and that the congregation would pray for his recovery. Most gratifying of all however, was the heartfelt thanks and smile from Kalifa and his wife as we shook hands and waved goodbye.

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