Ebola Outbreak: New Victim Named as Nancy Writbol Thanks God for Recovery
A third American missionary has been infected with Ebola, while former victim Nancy Writebol has spoken out about her experience with the disease and given thanks to God for sparing her life.
Dr. Rick Sacra was diagnosed with Ebola while working in West Africa on behalf of SIM; he was serving his second mission in the area and specifically worked in the field, delivering babies. Interestingly, the 51-year-old physician was not working directly with Ebola patients but somehow contracted the disease. SIM is working with the CDC to determine how he became infected.
"Rick would want me to urge you to remember that there are many people in Liberia who are suffering in this epidemic and others who are not receiving standard healthcare because clinics and hospitals have been forced to close," Debbie Sacra, Rick's wife, said in a statement. "West Africa is on the verge of a humanitarian crisis and the world needs to respond compassionately and generously."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Writebol appeared with her husband David and the president of SIM, Bruce Johnson. It was the first time that she had spoken about her experience with Ebola, but not the first time she spoke about how her faith had brought her through one of the worst ordeals of her life.
"I had no clue what was going to happen," Writebol said after learning she had tested positive for Ebola. "I thought, I don't know if I'm going to make it to the United States. I don't know if I will ever see my dear husband again."
The missionary was transferred from Liberia to Atlanta, Georgia, where she received an experimental drug and further treatment from doctors at Emory University Hospital. Before leaving Liberia, one doctor put his hands on Writebol's face and said, "Nancy, we're taking you home."
"I felt the Lord. I said yes, Lord. You are enough," Writebol said. "I want to express … my appreciation to the Lord for His grace, for His mercy, and for His saving of my life. There were many mornings I woke up and thought, 'I'm alive!' And there were many times when I thought, 'I don't think I'm going to make it anymore.'"
Both of the Writebols have served as missionaries for many years and may return abroad to continue serving, if they think that is what God wants.
"We want to see our children and our grandchildren, and we are looking forward to what God has for us in our next mission," the couple said.
"This is not our story, this is God's story," Writebol said. "God is writing this."
