Simoneaux Medical Assistance Fund

Tremayne and Vicki Simoneaux United Pentecostal Church International missionaries currently reside in Blantyre, Malawi. They travel extensively throughout Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. On a recent trip to Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe their 13 year old son, Timothy “Timo”, became quite ill. While in Zimbabwe he was carried to a Trauma Center. It was determined Timothy had an inner ear infection.

After battling the inner ear infection for several days, Vicki and Tremayne were awakened to Timothy convulsing. Of course, they immediately rushed Timo to a hospital in Blantyre where he was diagnosed with Meningitis. Timothy’s condition deteriorated rather rapidly. He was medically air evacuated to Johannesburg, South Africa. While Vicki was able to travel with Timothy, Tremayne had to travel via commercial carrier to Johannesburg. Timothy was in ICU in both Malawi and Johannesburg. He remained unconscious from the time his parents found him in their home convulsing until several days of being in Johannesburg. He was placed on life support by the fine medical team who transported him to South Africa.

According to the medical staff Timothy’s illness was a near fatal one. We thank God for His miraculous touch. The medical staff, the Foreign Missions Division, and parents of Timothy feel it necessary for Timothy to return to Houston, Texas for further testing and rehabilitation.

UPCI missionaries are afforded the benefit of Aetna Global Insurance. However, as great as the insurance is it will not cover the medical expenses entirely. Additionally, they have incurred travel expenses to South Africa and will incur even more to Houston. Bro. Simoneaux will need to travel back to the country of Malawi before Timothy is expected to be released. Very possibly Bro. Simoneaux will have several roundtrips between Houston and Africa. During Timothy’s Johannesburg hospital stay a replacement missionary had to be sent to Malawi for a scheduled conference. There are other such meetings scheduled that will necessitate a neighboring missionary to assist if Bro. Simoneaux cannot be present. These missionaries do not have funds in their budget to cover the additional travel costs.

Following is an estimated break out of costs directly related to the illness:

Medical Costs $10,000.00
Medical Costs in Malawi $1,500.00
Commercial air to Johannesburg $800.00
R/T Commercial Air to Houston
Doctor Required Business Class $21,000.00
Lodging Johannesburg $85.00 nightly
Ground expenses in Johannesburg
R/trips to Malawi (work related) $1,250.00 per trip
Ground expenses in Houston
Travel, food, medical center parking, & etc.

While speaking to Carl Morgan, FMD CPA, it was quickly determined this medical emergency could easily be in excess of $50,000.00. Medical costs were based on treatments being finished prior to year end. Of course all deductibles and copayments are based on a calendar year. In the likely event that care continues into a new calendar year the medical costs will be greater. This budget was prepared operating on the 2008 calendar only.

Donations should be directed to Foreign Missions Division, Attn: Carl Morgan, 8855 Dunn Road, Hazelwood, Missouri 63042. Please mark the check “Simoneaux Medical Assistance”. Additionally, credit card payments can be securely made on-line. You may go to http://www.foreignmissions.com/ for information regarding the Simoneaux Medical Assistance Fund. A link is provided to make an online donation.All donations are tax deductible. A receipt will be issued in January for tax purposes.

Please know Tremayne and Vicki Simoneaux have been humbly blessed by the outpouring of love shown them. They will be grateful for any monetary gift given on their behalf. Please continue to pray for this missionary family. The Tremayne Simoneaux family is in need of our thoughts, prayers, love and continued financial support.

(Blogger's note: I do not know html code and can not get the above break out to stay in proper arrangement.)