It was the middle of the Zimbabwe wilderness, during the heat of the day, when a weary and desperate trio stumbled toward their destination. Two parents supported their adult son, trying to help him stand upright on a severely burned leg. Earlier that day, during an epileptic seizure, he had fallen into the family’s cook fire, his leg suffering third-degree burns.
Their trip had taken hours. Walking was excruciating for the young man, so they moved slowly, resting often and praying for the strength to press on. But here they were at last. They had finally made it to the Jeannie Burns Buckner Maternity and Pediatric Hospital in Chisizya, in the vast region of Binga. This was the hospital they had heard about through word of mouth.
The line of patients snaked around the building. As they waited under the blazing sun, the parents prayed that everything they had heard about this hospital was true. Their son, Rupenyu (name changed to protect his privacy), needed a miracle.
Little did the family know that the visionary and principal donor behind the hospital was there helping facilitate a three-day medical outreach as part of her ongoing efforts to improve healthcare for the 140,000 people in the region. It started during COVID when Jeannie partnered with the First Lady of Zimbabwe, MATTER and Love for Africa, to doggedly accomplished what several other NGO’s before her had tried but failed to do: build a working hospital in one of the most remote areas of Zimbabwe.
But she didn’t stop there. Once the 14,00 square foot, 50 bed facility was completed in 2022, Jeannie led campaigns to build a mothers’ waiting house as well as nurses and doctors quarters. Today this sprawling campus, complete with three bore holes for community use, stands as a beacon of hope in this overlooked and neglected region of Zimbabwe.
Since its opening in 2022, the Jeannie Burns Buckner Maternity and Pediatric Hospital has treated over 10,000 patients and safely delivered 603 babies.
On this day, when Rupenyu arrived with his parents, Jeannie was busy helping MATTER’s Dr. Mike Jeans, the hospital’s primary physician, as well as Dr. Sibo, the medical director for the entire Binga region. Also participating in the medical outreach was a dentist, a physiotherapist, a sonagram technician, along with various other nurses and administrative staff from the Binga Main Hospital located several hours away. For three days, from early in the morning to late into the evening, this dedicated group worked tirelessly caring for the sick and injured. In all, nearly 300 people were treated by the two physicians, with about an equal number seen by the dentist.
The outreach kicked off with the delivery of several dozen birthing kits. In May, Jeannie had facilitated the packing of 250 kits at MATTER to help expectant mothers in Zimbabwe who are responsible to bring their own supplies for labor and delivery. Sadly, many mothers can’t afford the cost of supplies, which puts their babies and themselves at risk for complications. Providing the hospital with these kits allows mothers one less thing to worry about as they prepare for delivery.
The birthing kits, as well as the equipment and other supplies in the hospital, were made possible by MATTER 360, which repurposes donated medical equipment and supplies for hospitals around the world to help people and improve environmental sustainability by reducing medical waste.
Of course, Rupenyu’s parents knew nothing about Jeannie or MATTER. They were just desperate to keep their son alive. It had now been half a day since falling into the fire and time was running out.
When Dr. Mike examined Rupenyu’s leg, it became clear what needed to be done to keep the young man alive. Dr. Mike would have to perform a surgery he had never done before under less-than-optimal conditions. If anything went wrong, Rupenyu would not make it through the night.
Miraculously, MATTER friends from Minnesota, Michael and Bonnie Holloway, had donated a satellite phone to the hospital for just such an emergency. Hooking up to Starlink, Dr. Mike, in the middle of the Zimbabwe wilderness, was able to call a colleague in South Africa who talked him through the surgery. It was a success.
Once the surgery was completed, an ambulance was hired to transport Rupenyu to a larger central hospital several hours away. According to Dr. Mike, “He reached the central hospital with his leg still viable. He is undergoing skin grafts and is on his way to recovery.”
Rupenyu got his miracle. He is alive today thanks to Jeannie, Dr. Mike, the Holloways and all who made the medical outreach possible. They say it takes a village to raise a child. It sometimes also takes a village to keep that child alive.
Following the success of this first medical outreach in Chisizya, Jeannie is already planning for the next one in June 2025. This time, she’s inviting others to join her to experience for themselves the miracles that take place at the hospital every day.
This will be part of an exciting Insight Trip from June 14-23, 2025. In addition to the medical outreach, trip goers will visit other MATTER projects, as well as go on safari and tour the majestic Victoria Falls. Click HERE to learn more about this amazing trip.
Watch highlights from the medical outreach and see Jeannie and Dr. Mike in action!
