Weljohn

Weljohn with his parents and daughter.

Weljohn Billiman is a man who for 14 years has been confined to the cement floor of his thatch-roofed hut, unable to see the world outside his window.

During an orthopedic team mission to Pohnpei in September 2002, Weljohn came to the attention of team coordinator Lauren Petford, RN, in a providential way.

The day before, Lauren had borrowed the services of  the local Civil Action Team (CAT)--a civil service team manned in rotation by the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy--to unload a container full of donated medical supplies and equipment. The team of 18 CAT members and local apprentices had spent four long, hot hours unloading beds, wheelchairs, side tables, walkers, crutches, linen, IV poles, stretchers and mattresses into an empty wing of the hospital.

But perhaps the best part was yet to come, for the next day, Lauren received a call from Sgt. Dwight Henderson, CAT officer in charge asking if they could take one of the 48 donated hospital beds and gave it to a local man who had been paralyzed for 14 years?

Lauren went with Sgt. Brian Washington to deliver the bed, a wheelchair, and extra linens to the home of 42-year-old Weljohn Billiman.  Both he and the family who had cared so diligently for him all these years were totally overwhelmed with the gifts and were last seen smiling from ear to ear. The scene was so emotional that it brought tears to the eyes of the big, burly, veteran sergeant.

A hospital bed and wheelchair will mean comfort and mobility for Weljohn,
who has spent the past fourteen years on the floor in his parents small
home. Above, nurse Lauren makes notes for the family regarding his care. 

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