A Month of Thanks – Day 18: Dedication

Today we share the story we are thankful for on many levels. The story is from a nurse midwife in the mountains of Perú and the incredible impact of dedication.

“On the April 29, 2019, at approximately 5:00 pm, I was called by a local health center to inform me that a teenage patient was in active labor, with 9 cm dilation. I immediately went to the clinic to help. When I arrived, I was met by a a very anxious 17-year old pregnant patient without any prenatal controls. The patient was in active labor, and a single fetus of more or less 36 weeks was visible. The challenging part – the baby did not want to come out.

A team attended the delivery, including myself and another midwife in her internship year. The delivery was rapid, with very little amniotic fluid; and, at birth, the baby is flaccid, cyanotic, and dyspneic. In other words, the baby was dying.

Thank God, the clinic had a self-inflating resuscitation bag. With the help of my colleague, we proceeded to resuscitate. After a minute with the self-inflating resuscitation bag, the baby began breathing alone, her heart rate improved and cyanosis decreased. But, after 30 seconds – she stopped breathing again. I immediately verified that she had also stopped breathing, and restarting my NRP training. I used the self-inflating bag again, with positive results: in 30 seconds, the baby was breathing alone again. We stabilized the baby and arranged for transport to the largest regional hospital where she could be admitted in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Three weeks after the event, I met the teenage the mother in the small local health post. She had her baby in her arms and she was awaiting to be seen for a check-up. She thanked me for the attention I gave to her and her baby. She thanked me for saving her baby’s life. Without a doubt, the training I received from Health Bridges and Dr. Robert Gehringer prepared me to act in such a competent way. Thanks to HBI, I was able to save this child’s life. I am forever thankful to Dr. Gehringer and HBI.”

We are incredibly thankful for the dedication of Dr. Bob Gehringer. He is a true life saver.