This week, the helicopter got its first test as an ambulance service for women in labor. We got word that the missionaries were requesting an emergency flight for a pregnant woman in the village. By the time she was brought to the missionaries and we got the message, she had been in labor for three days and her water had broken 22 hours before. As I prepared the helicopter, my mind went to some thoughts I had about how we might start using the local ambulance to transport the patient from the heli to the hospital. We weren’t sure how the ambulances worked here and how reliable they would be so we made some quick plans with a contingent in case it didn’t work. Katherine contacted the hospital for an ambulance and was told that it would be on its way and would wait for the arrival of the helicopter. The flight was uneventful. The small woman, who was in labor with her eighth child, seemed to be a very strong lady. The round-trip flight took less than 45 minutes. The ambulance was waiting for us at the airport terminal as requested. The patient was quickly brought to the hospital where she later gave birth successfully. Katherine and I payed a visit the next day to find her up and around as if nothing had happened at all. Her baby was in NICU due to swallowing some meconium. We thanked God for a safe delivery and for great service from the local ambulance. But what has really been exciting, is that throughout this experience, a top supervising nurse on staff at the public hospital (a place which has occasionally treated the villagers quite neglectfully) became very involved in the care of this lady. She was the one who arranged the prompt ambulance service, personally received the patient at the hospital, and made sure the bill was covered by government services. She gave us her direct phone number and told us that if we ever have need of these services again to make sure to call her personally. She wants to help the less fortunate of her country. We are so excited to have this advocate.
Two days before this flight I was called to the same village on an emergency medivac to bring out a 17 year old girl also having birthing complications. Just as they could hear the helicopter approaching, she pushed the baby out. All went well. I like to think I had a part in that birth too.