Horrible Month Update 8/30/26
Horrible Month
It's been a hard month for all of us here at P9. In Ghana John has been dealing with his annual licensing fees and verification requirements (P9 is licensed in Ghana) and with his own worsening health problems. The fees alone are a challenge for a small organization like P9 so that much of our funding this month has had to go into that, drastically cutting down on our ability to do anything else. But of course, licensing is absolutely essential, so it's not something that can be ignored.
Also, John's continuing health problems have been especially bad this month. John has suffered from serious anal bleeding for as long as we've known him. He has had several operations for it but none of them have permanently solved the problem. He's managed to keep the bleeding under control to some extent with medication but that is always a limited solution at best. When he is short of funds he can't afford his medications. If he gets off his very restricted diet the bleeding can flare up without warning and literally knock him flat on his back.
Twice this month John has passed out suddenly on the street. Each time he collapsed in public and woke up in the hospital. Without any way to let us know when he is unconscious we can only wait until he turns up again to learn what's happened to him. And with limited funds this month because of the licensing fees and other problems we have not always been able to help. John has already sold his phone, his last resort when his back is totally against the wall for money.
Here in the US, we have been having or challenges as well. The President of P9 here in the US underwent surgery earlier in the month for a continuing medical problem and because of complications he was forced to spend several unplanned days in the hospital. Afterward the recovery has taken longer than expected. Most of the month here has been taken up with preparations for surgery and then recovery from it afterward. Right now physical therapy to regain his strength has required medical treatment three days a week, a process that will continue well into next month as well.
Because of all of these and other problems it has been a hard month for P9 to carry out much of its goals of helping others. We have been mostly in survival mode. We have been struggling simply to keep P9 alive.
Hopefully next month will be better.
