3 am

When Ms. Leishimi called to me at 3 am this morning, I knew something was up. Who would dare wake me at such an ungodly hour in the morning? Like always, I answered her like I was wide awake... A lie. It was a medical emergency she said. A mother near delivery was bleeding out. Not good.

And so I threw on some clothes and gathered my things as all of my mother/baby knowledge from a year ago flooding in my mind. "What if she had placenta previa or an abruption of the uterus? Those are both medical emergencies and must be seen in a stable setting. I prayed a lot in those moments getting ready. Prayed for life as I was so very tired. I prayed for Ms. Leishimi and myself for wisdom as far as what to do. Our knowledge is very small compared to physicians but it's been incredible seeing the Lord give us knowledge and multiplying our efforts. Patients have been made well; not by our little work though. Mercy.

I drove the waker behind the sumo. I prayed again. This time, for enough light to see where I was going and that the dust from the sumo in front of me would blind or choke me, sending me into peril as I drove off a cliff. When we arrived at the home, the two midwife students and Ms. Leishimi and all gathered into the tiny home. We went to work. The mother complained of painful bleeding not associated with any labor. I immediate thought "placental abruption!" (Thanks Mrs. Dedeker) Ms. Leishimi and I tossed around the possibility of this mother suffering from placenta previa or abruption. Both still bad. Both still medical emergencies.

I yelled advice from the outside as the ladies did all the assessments of the patient (men not allowed in the room). I read up mother/baby complications as they continued.

I initially suggested the hospital knowing that if she was suffering from either of these complications, the baby and mother could die during labor. Or the baby before labor (side note: the men and some other mothers are sitting next to me in the yard of this patient as we wait for the ambulance. Every time they say Doctor, I know they're talking about me. Even though I don't know what they're saying, it's nice to be referred to as a doctor :) )

We tried to call Auntie Lois, the midwife teacher at the compound. She also suspected placental abruption and suggested a non stress test and definitely a trip to the hospital. We informed the family. Interestingly, here at our location, the people don't like going to the hospital too often. They believe their local medicine will work or that the situations aren't that serious. Or they don't have money. This family made all these excuses including having another child around 18 months who was a little sick. They weren't sure where to leave him. Moreover, they didn't make a birthing card for the baby. When doing deliveries at the hospital, they really desire at least this card. If not they could be scolded and the staff mad. My thoughts to all this... WHO CARES!?!? This mother and baby could die! Send the kid to his grandmas or a friend. He shall live without his parents from an evening. Money were were providing and the doctors would just have to be mad. I couldn't imagine having two precious lives die in front of me because of silly excuses. And so we continued to wait.

We performed the non stress test for 50 min. It was here that the lack of sleep began to overcome me. There is nothing more tiring then counting fetal heart rates for 50 min. Besides giving birth and a lot of other things.

After the test, The results showed that the baby would not survive regular birth. Hospitalization was pretty much a necessity at this moment.

We tried again to convince them. They once again wanted to use other means of treatments. This time. Local medicines. My thoughts, Ummm does your local medicine stop bleeding and save the baby??! We need more help. May the Lord be merciful to this family and give them reason on high.

I then went for food cause it seemed like we were just Going to wait out this birth and die trying. I went back down the mountain and drove back to campus got food and returned, asking God to spare these lives or give them enough to reason have them go to the hospital.

ANDDDDD ALABANZA TO THE LORD. They agreed to go to the hospital in the time I was away. Ms. Leishimi did a great job convincing them. We had breakfast and waited. For the ambulance. For help.

To be continued...

Kameron Carter