Not again, I thought, as I felt for a pulse on Sarah, lying unresponsive on the ground. She and her newborn baby had been through so much already and we were almost ready to discharge her. I started CPR knowing the futility (in our setting) of what we were attempting to do. Sarah had originally … More Resilience
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” Though I hesitate to admit it, some patients are more likeable, and it didn’t take long to know that Jim was … More Operating in the Gray (By: Matt)
Kuka came to the hospital unconscious and barely breathing. She had been struck by a motor vehicle while walking along the side of the road. During my initial exam, I did not find much in terms of trauma except for some blood on her scalp. I watched as her motionless, five-year-old tiny body intermittently tensed … More Power in Weakness (By: Matt)
Martina arrived to the delivery ward in active labor. A quick cervical check and ultrasound demonstrated the baby to be breech with thick meconium. We started to prepare for a C-section when the baby’s heart rate started to drop. We rushed to the operating theater and helped Martina onto the table. I was helping anesthesia … More The Maker of Miracles (By: Matt)
When our house started shaking violently at 3:45 a.m., my first goal was to get my family out before it collapsed. According to my wife, I should have done something else before I ran outside. During the past two weeks, I have been learning a lot: how to navigate hospital relations during a tribal fight, … More Land of the Unexpected (By: Matt)
Matt has had all of the exciting stories lately so I haven’t been writing as many blogs, but I did want to write this brief post so that everyone else in the world can experience what wakes me up each morning. On our first morning here, I was awoken by the sudden sound of what … More When Nature Calls (By: Tammy)
When I heard a loud crack and felt the sudden shift of the car while crossing the simple bush bridge, I thought this must be God’s daily lesson in flexibility. Living in Papua New Guinea, like many places in the world, requires a lot of flexibility. Organization, timeliness, and efficiency are all of secondary importance … More Building Bridges (By: Matt)
At 3:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon Emmanuel hobbled into my office in the outpatient department with the assistance of two other men. Without shoes and smelling of smoke from the fire he slept next to, Emmanuel had traveled three days and passed two other hospitals to reach Kudjip. Emmanuel had been suffering from pain in … More Life and Death in PNG (By Matt)
Starting work at Kudjip Hospital has required a steep learning curve. It is the beginning of my second week working in the hospital and I have already seen things I have only read about in textbooks. This week, I have been working with the surgical team which includes Dr. Sheryl Uyeda (who is in … More My First C-Section (By Matt)
A three day walk through the jungles of Papua New Guinea was now the only way out. After 40 hours of travel to Kudjip Hospital in Papua New Guinea we were sent for 8 days of “cultural orientation” by plane with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) to Dusin, PNG. Dusin is a small, remote … More Hello from the Other Side (By Matt)
