Welcome! We hope you're having a nice day.
Our news:
Yes, we still have earthquake stories.
Yes, we are still having aftershocks.
Yes, the country is still in crisis due to a fuel blockade.
Yes, as always. we appreciate prayers!!!
Yes, we also appreciate the support of our donors who give us the ability to help those in need.
Yes, we are thankful to the Lord for His blessings!
Now, for today, we bring you another earthquake story.
If you were able to read
http://scheermemorialhospital.blogspot.com/2015/11/earthquake-part-15-preemies-part-1.html, you will already be aware of the fact that under stressful situations, pregnant women are susceptible to giving birth prematurely. If you missed it, you may want to check out some of the interesting links in that post on this topic.
Here is story of Munamai, Shakti, and their darling son.
April 25, 2015, had started out as a normal spring Saturday for the young couple.
Shakti had gone to his tailor shop to work.
This is not his tailor shop, but it is similar, like many tailor shops around the country.
Pregnant Munamai stayed at home with the other ladies in the family.
They went about their daily housewifely chores, as housewives do everywhere.
These pictures are not of their house, but it was similar, like many houses in Nepal.
Shakti came home for lunch. Here is a typical Nepali meal.
(Click this
photo credit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dal_bhat for information.)
Back at his shop, Shakti surveyed his work station and started back on the project he had been working on before lunch. Suddenly, to his horror, just before noon, a loud boom sounded
(Listen here:
http://www.planet-science.com/categories/under-11s/our-world/2012/03/can-you-hear-an-earthquake.aspx)
and the earth started quaking and shaking and the buildings started falling down. Like everyone in Nepal, his first reaction was, "This can't be happening." However, it was happening and he ran to his house as fast as he could and with bricks falling on top of him, he rushed inside. He found Munamai on the ground, bleeding from the mouth, and grasping for something to hang onto. Without thinking, he threw himself on top of her and covered her body while the roof caved in on his slender back.
Here is their real house:
As you may have heard, it wasn't just one earthquake and that was it. It keep going and going,
and in fact, as mentioned above, aftershocks are still continuing.
If you want to see the frequency, check out this website:
http://seismonepal.gov.np/index.php?action=earthquakes&show=past&page=5
This link is to Page 5, which is actually the first page. (Go back to the earlier pages to see the most current aftershocks.) You can see how often there were aftershocks above 4 on the Richter Scale. Of course, there were, and still are many, under 4, which are not listed. Here are some of the times for those of you who don't have time to look: 11:56, 12:23, 12:30, 12:41, 12:53, and so on.
OK, back to Shakti and Munamai's story.
During the first brief lull, Shakti pulled himself off of Munamai.
"How are you Honey?"
"I don't know," Munamai said as she held her hands on her tummy where her precious cargo was.
At that moment, as if to say, "I'm OK Mommy and Daddy," the baby kicked for the first time!
Yes! The baby was OK! They hugged as best as they could in their difficult circumstance.
However, they were trapped inside and in grave danger. Some of Shakti's relatives were also trapped inside with them. They tried to dig themselves out, but it was impossible. They would need help.
Shakti shouted, "HELP! WE'RE TRAPPED AND MY WIFE IS PREGNANT! HELP!"
During the continued aftershocks, many of them very strong, all able-bodied villagers and policemen, knowing their own lives were in danger, started digging out trapped people from every building, even as the aftershocks continued tearing down their village and life as they knew it.
This is not their village, but it was one of the many that was completely destroyed.
Getty Images photo credit:
http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/damaged-houses-are-seen-in-a-village-from-an-indian-news-photo/472320112
Click the photo credit link to see more pictures of this heartbreak and many brave people.
After four hours, Shakti, Munamai, and the others in the house were rescued.
This picture is used with their permission.
One of the relatives, obviously not pictured here, was dead.
When Munamai heard the news, she fainted.
The whole village waited for help to come. Their food supplies were buried. They tried to wrap up the injured with cloths the best they could. Two days later some medical personnel arrived along with food and water. You can only imagine how relieved they were. Everyone had been very concerned about Munamai and the baby. If she became dehydrated, it could be devastating.
After knowing his wife was fed and had water, Shakti made his way to the village where her parents and family were. Three of them were dead.
He went back to tell the news to his wife and comfort her as best as he could. Along with the rest of the village, they slept outside and tried to decide what to do.
Then the landslides started.
(photo credit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/25/world/asia/nepal-landslide-evacuation.html)
It was time to leave their beloved home and village where everything they knew and loved was gone.
It wasn't any easy decision, but there was no choice. There was nothing to show where they had started their marriage with all their hopes and dreams except for rubble.
They found a room in Bhaktapur, down the road, and decided upon Scheer Memorial Hospital.
Munamai came for prenatal check-ups. Now hypertensive, she went into labor one month early
and needed an emergency C-section. The brave young couple welcomed a precious baby boy into the world, who ended up spending 16 days in our neonatal intensive care unit.
This is one of the many areas of the hospital that relies on generous donations!
THANKS!
After about a month, the baby was declared well enough to go home, and the family went back to their new home in Bhaktapur, to begin a new life from all they had ever known. They know that we wish them, and all of our patients, all the best.
At this time, we must
thank all of our supporters without whom we could not operate.
We could not offer the necessary medical help that is so desperately needed here.
You will never know how much your kindness helps those in need.
Their gratefulness, and ours too, knows no bounds.
THANKS!
If you'd like to donate, please go to our website:
http://scheermemorialhospital.org/
and click "Make a Donation." You will find the tax deductible instructions there.
THANKS!
Prayers are greatly appreciated too!
Have a nice day.
