Prayers for Annie

Annie Wood is a 4 year old missionary with her family. This is how God is using her right now.

"I talked to Missy Wood this evening and they are safe and as comfortableand they can be at the Shriners Hospital in Galveston, Texas. Thishospital is one of the world's best burn treatment hospitals for kids.The whole abbreviated story is as follows. Missy and Greg had a medicalmission team visit their village and they were actually taking care oftheir needs and coordinating their activities and were not even homewhenthis accident happened. In their houses they dig a fire pit and use bigpans to cook food, like a metal wash basin they used back in the earlydays to clean clothes with a wash board. The Wood's friends werecookingchicken with a salsa type sauce in this big pan and Annie stumbled andfell backwards into the pan. The broth and liquids were scalding hotandshe had fallen back on it and could not get out. She was wearing a dressso her bare legs were exposed to the scalding liquids. Their friendspulled her out of it and thought she had just burned her back. MissyandGreg drove her to the nearest town's hospital about 45-60 minutes away.When they took her dress off they discovered that from her waist down toher knees all had 2nd degree burns and had been badly blistered. Missytold me that when she got of the car at the hospital she thought Anniehad pottied on her leg but realized that the liquid was coming from herblistered legs and bum. Her female area has been burned but nothing onthe inside has been damaged. Praise the Lord. They were at thishospital and the emergency room doctors did not know how to care for herso Missy was freaking a little. 20 minutes passed and a plastic surgeonshowed up and started administering her antibiotics and dressing theburns.They were then airlifted from the hospital, (which was 2 hours away fromtheir village) via a helicopter to an airport and flown on a privateplane to Galveston, Texas. God's ultimate provision came through aministry that the IMB(International Mission Board which is whom theyserve through) found that specializes in helping burn victims get totheUS for treatment. This organization sent a paramedic and a burnspecialist to help Annie and these two individuals were on thehelicopterand plane ride back to Texas until they turned her over to the doctorsatthe hospital there. God Blessed Greg and Missy with these professionalsand all the air travel at NO COST to them, this is how that organizationministers to the world.(I will email the name of the organization laterif you feel called to donate to them or write a letter of Thanks fortheir provision) The Shriners hospital also does not charge for theirservices and Missy said they have treated them like Royalty and givenAnnie the gentle care she needs in her situation.Annie, 4 yrs. old, has 2nd degree burns from her waist to her knees.One hand has 2nd degree burns and her back from her neck to her waisthas1st degree burns and she has 2 or three little areas that are 3rd degreeburns. Praise the Lord that nothing on her face or chest above herbreasts was burned at all."

The following is an update from the Woods on Annie.

"Hi everyone,

You cannot imagine how touched we are by the number of emails from people all over the world who are praying for us. We are feeling your prayers.

Let us say first, our mission organization, International Mission Board, SBC, has done so much for us and we are so appreciative of the support we have received through logistics, communications and mental support. Yesterday was incredible as we saw God truly working in our lives. Our supervisor discovered a foundation that helps burn victims get to Shriners Burn Hospital here in Galveston, Texas for free. What would have been a transportation cost of tens of thousands of dollars cost us and our organization nothing. We had a 30 minute helicopter ride to the closest Mexican airport and then were transferred immediately to a private jet that flew us directly to Galveston. We were accompanied by a pediatrician and an EMT the entire time who were extremely professional and gave Annie incredible care. God is good!!

Another answer to prayer was the doctors here assessed her situation and feel that her body was 20% burnt which is lower then what we were told in Mexico. The burns are second degree except for two small areas which may have suffered more serious burns and may need some skin grafting. The doctors are going to wait and see on the grafting but no extensive plastic surgery will be needed- another praise!!

The doctors have asked us to be here in Galveston for 2 weeks and we will see where things stand then. Shriners Burn Hospital is an amazing place and we have been treated so well. They do not bill patients here and the care Annie is receiving is world class. They had hotel rooms setup for us for two nights and are working on longer term housing. Through this tough situation, God is showing himself through the prayers lifted up and we thank all of you for that.

The prognosis is good and the doctors feel with good care, Annie will have very little if any scarring. We have set up a blog at http://www.pray4annie.com where you can see photos and can keep up to date with her news. We will try to post new information frequently. We are asking that you post comments to the blog site rather then email or call as we have had a hard time keeping up with all the emails and phone calls. We appreciate them all and want to have time to personally share with each of you but it is not possible and obviously we need to focus our time on Annie and our boys.

Thank you for all you do and keep on praying,

Greg, Missy, Jerod, Alex and Annie Wood"

CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE WOODS! THEY ARE ONE OF US!!!