The missionary family of a young child who was severely injured last week says she is doing much better following surgery.

Abigail Peden severely injured her arm and elbow last week, needing to get from Papua New Guinea where her parents serve as missionaries to New Zealand for urgent surgery. On top of being somewhat isolated where they serve in PNG, New Zealand has strict isolation and quarantine requirements for people entering the island nation due to its COVID response. Abigail and her mother were finally granted emergency entrance to the country and she underwent surgery earlier this week.

"Abigail is doing so much better!" her family writes in a Facebook post on Friday. Pain management had been at the top of the prayer list for the young child, and things are improving in that regard. "Her pain is mostly able to be managed with her meds," the update says.

The injury caused complications with the use of her fingers on the injured hand, but her parents say that use of her fingers is slowly improving. "Although they are very weak, she is gaining more control of them and can even get a slight wiggle out of her numb, tingly pinky. This is encouraging to her but she is still very concerned about them."

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Her parents say that the injury combined with the stress of waiting for days in pain and then flying to another country for care has taken a toll on the child.

"She had a very rough day yesterday mentally and had a big break down which was incredibly hard to witness. Thankfully a doctor was present and recognized that she is not only suffering physically but is carrying a heavy weight of trauma, anxiety, missing her Dad and siblings and only a few hours of sleep each night for over a week."

Doctors have now given her sleep aides to help her get more rest during the recovery period. Her parents say that he sleep aides, combined with no interruptions for observation while she's sleeping is already making a difference. 

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The family remains separated with just mom (Katie) and Abigail in New Zeland, while dad and the siblings have been denied entry due to COVID-19 lockdowns. "With the help and support of Todd McClay (our local MP) we challenged our denied application for emergency MIQ (Managed Isolation and Quarantine) allocation and were denied again. We are starting a new MIQ application and if it is not accepted, we will be forced to remain separated until either the border opens or Abigail is well enough to travel back to PNG. Please be praying for this!" the family requests.

Abigail and Katie will now be staying in hospital until next Tuesday and then will be transferred to an MIQ facility.

"Amidst all the uncertainty, we trust that God is faithful and sovereign over every circumstance we face. We are encouraged that even our hardest days are working for our good and His glory! Romans 8:28."