Hospital was not an option
The baby was dead. Missionary Vicky Martin knew that the young Isnag mother would probably be next.
Flying her out to the hospital was not an option because the rains that pummel the Philippines this time of year were refusing to let up.
The mother was bleeding heavily and had not yet delivered her dead child. The placenta had detached and there was nothing they could do to help the baby.
But they had to try to save the mother. The presence of the Isnag mother's one-and-a-half year old child made the sense of urgency even greater.
Finally Vicky was able to help the mother deliver her little girl. She was very healthy looking and was due to be born in only two weeks, but she was dead.
"As soon as the baby was born the mother went into shock and we lost her blood pressure and pulse," Vicky wrote. "We put her on oxygen and in shock position. I stood up and held her legs straight up trying to get what blood she had left to her vital organs.
"After a while she came to and her blood pressure started improving. We were also giving her rehydration drink when she was alert. It is the only thing we have that is close to giving an IV. After quite some time she stabilized and we were able to let her legs down and stop the oxygen."
The young Isnag woman is still very weak, but is on the road to recovery. Thank God with us that the young mother's life was spared. Please pray for her and her family as they deal with the loss of their little girl.
Flying her out to the hospital was not an option because the rains that pummel the Philippines this time of year were refusing to let up.
The mother was bleeding heavily and had not yet delivered her dead child. The placenta had detached and there was nothing they could do to help the baby.
But they had to try to save the mother. The presence of the Isnag mother's one-and-a-half year old child made the sense of urgency even greater.
Finally Vicky was able to help the mother deliver her little girl. She was very healthy looking and was due to be born in only two weeks, but she was dead.
"As soon as the baby was born the mother went into shock and we lost her blood pressure and pulse," Vicky wrote. "We put her on oxygen and in shock position. I stood up and held her legs straight up trying to get what blood she had left to her vital organs.
"After a while she came to and her blood pressure started improving. We were also giving her rehydration drink when she was alert. It is the only thing we have that is close to giving an IV. After quite some time she stabilized and we were able to let her legs down and stop the oxygen."
The young Isnag woman is still very weak, but is on the road to recovery. Thank God with us that the young mother's life was spared. Please pray for her and her family as they deal with the loss of their little girl.