I had finished my workout, taken a shower, and just settled down to my evening treat of vegetables and a bowl of popcorn for dinner and a comedy episode when the phone rang. One of our girls from the 2008 job training program was in very serious condition in the hospital. I grudgingly put my dinner aside and headed to the hospital.
The local hospital is always an experience. First of all, there are so many rows of buildings and floors, finding the ward you need is the first challenge. En route you see so many people hobbling in on the arms of loved ones, being wheeled on a cot, or other visitors like you trying to find their patient.
This time I was looking for the operation theatre of the maternity ward. I was told the wrong building and the wrong floor first but eventually ended up in the right place. She was in a room where another woman's cesarean was happening so we had to wait outside in the muggy cement room without a chair or sign of welcome until after the baby boy emerged. The doctor sent my colleague to see if it was possible to get a test done that night or if they should wait until morning. When she returned to say they could go immediately the doctor had decided she needed to stabilize more first. They had us wheel her to a different ward where she had to share a bed. She did have a bed though... many patients are sleeping on a blanket on the cement floor.
Gradually more and more of the story emerged. Her husband had kicked her the day before. She had bled some but the next day at work began to bleed profusely. She said she was not aware of being pregnant but tests revealed she was actually four months along.
They had her husband donate blood for her, and had my colleague by some medicine and supplies (it's very much a self service place which I guess makes sense with that many people. At the same time, I wonder what happens to those who don't have someone to bring them medicine, food, wheel them to tests...). One doctor decided they didn't need the blood right away and it should be taken to the blood bank. Half an hour later they sent me back to the blood bank to bring it back. Back through the winding, confusing corridors! At the blood bank, the gloveless lab technician flicked blood with his bare finger before collecting the bag for me to carry back to the patient.
Then I needed to get more supplies as my colleague had taken them to her house so they wouldn't be stolen. When I returned, I started to sit on the edge of the bed which she now had to herself. As I did, I noticed blood everywhere. I jumped up quickly and found out it was blood that spilled when they were setting up the transfusion. Yeah, I don't want to sit in that really. Universal Precautions anybody?
Behind a curtain, babies were being born. The first one I didn't get to close too not wanting to be a nuisance, but on the second one I decided to take advantage of the fact that they probably wouldn't send the white lady away and edged closer. The mom seemed limp and was hardly making noise. The doctor seemed to be pulling with all her might to get the baby out. As they carried her over by us, the baby still was a greenish colour, sludgy and making no sound. They suctioned her out using equipment which looks like what you've maybe seen at a medical museum, and finally the soft cry came, eventually turning to a much welcome scream!
There was a family member staying with my friend so I decided to head home at midnight in spite of all the exciting happenings, including two more babies on the way. She was now more awake than she had been before, so, in my halting Bangla I told her about the woman with the years of bleeding who in faith touched Jesus and was healed. Not only is the physical healing needed; her broken violent family needs the touch of God. Please pray for her, her two children, and her husband, that somehow from this God will be glorified.
