Christian medical missions are often focused around a patient in need—but sometimes they begin with a question that refuses to fade. For MedSend-supported surgeon Dr. Suja Brane, that question came in the middle of exhaustion, full clinics, and very real limits.
Suja serves in Senegal with the backing of MedSend, which helps make it possible for healthcare professionals like her to stay on the field for the long haul. That support matters most in moments like this one, when calling and capacity collide.
When a Promising Future Collapsed
Malick was 19, active, and approaching his final year of high school when severe pain overtook his life. Within weeks, he could no longer walk. Infected wounds appeared on his wrists, hip, and leg. His family sought help wherever they could, including traditional healers, but his condition only worsened.
When Malick arrived at the Beersheba clinic where Suja works, the diagnosis was alarming: multifocal osteomyelitis, an aggressive bone infection affecting multiple areas of his body. Treating it would require specialized care, multiple surgeries, long-term antibiotics, and resources far beyond what most clinics in the region could easily access.
At the same time, Suja was stretched thin.
“For the sake of my mental health—and my family’s—I needed some boundaries.”
With an already overwhelming patient load, she made the difficult decision not to take on Malick’s case.
“Suja, what are you doing for Malick?”
Not long after setting that boundary, Suja woke one morning with a question she couldn’t ignore.
“Suja, what are you doing for Malick?”
She knew exactly where it came from. And she responded honestly.
“Lord, Malick’s case is way beyond what we can handle. You are asking too much. I don’t have the courage, the time, the expertise. Lord… You know that I’m running away from him.”
God did not argue back. The invitation remained.
Choosing Faithful Presence
Eventually, Suja said yes to God’s nudging.
With support from specialists in the U.S., Senegalese physicians, and private clinics, a demanding plan began to take shape. There would be surgeries. Extended antibiotic treatment. Significant financial cost. In a setting already marked by limited resources, the path forward felt fragile.
“I accepted that we may lose the battle against osteomyelitis, but we were determined NOT to lose the battle for his soul.”
As the team cared for Malick’s physical needs, they also spent time with him—listening, praying, and talking honestly about faith.
Malick shared that he saw his suffering through the story of Job, believing his god was testing his devotion. Suja was struck by the sincerity of his heart and longing for truth.
“Malick wasn’t just hearing about Jesus—he was experiencing the love and compassion of Christ firsthand.”
Encountering Jesus for Himself
Suja first gave Malick the Gospel of John and invited him to read it. Later, after another surgery, she challenged him again.
“Malick, read the book of John. You are sitting here in this hospital bed with nothing to do. Discover who Jesus really is.”
This time, Malick accepted the invitation. He read John, then Acts. He compared Scripture with his religion’s holy book and found himself drawn to the Jesus he encountered in the Bible.
“I’ve Decided to Follow Jesus”
While Suja eventually returned to the U.S. for a home assignment, the clinic team continued to walk closely with Malick. Then one day, a message appeared on her phone.
“Suja, have you heard? I’ve decided to follow Jesus.”
Today, Malick still faces ongoing medical challenges. His physical healing is not finished. But his faith journey is unmistakable.
“No matter what happens with his physical health, Malick has already taken hold of the eternal prize.”
Why This Story Matters
Stories like Malick’s don’t happen by accident. They happen because skilled, faithful professionals are present—day after day—in places where few others remain. MedSend’s role is often quiet, behind the scenes, but essential. By helping healthcare professionals like Suja stay where they are called, MedSend helps make room for moments where care, trust, and truth can take root over time.
Suja’s journey is also shared in Surrendered Heart: How God’s Calling Shapes Relationships, a brand new book by MedSend CEO Rick Allen. Her chapter reflects the same tension this story reveals: the cost of saying yes, and the unexpected grace that follows.
If Suja and Malick’s story encouraged you, consider how you might be part of stories like this—by reading and reflecting through Surrendered Heart, and by giving to MedSend so that more healthcare professionals can remain present in places where lives are being transformed, often one quiet question at a time.
