After spending the day in Mota, we decide to visit another medical clinic on the way back to Bahirdar. This small clinic serves patients in a rural area outside of Bahirdar for those who cannot make it into the city.
We see a small, frail girl sitting on a chair, with blood streaming from her. She is so weak she can no longer walk. Her mother and father carried her for several days to reach this clinic. Amognesh is her name, and she has a serious fistula. She had labored for many weeks. Her baby died in her womb, and had to be extracted, in pieces, all without anesthesia.
Amognesh wants to walk again. She wants to live. She is lucky that her parents have brought her to the clinic. Andrew decides that she must come to Bahirdar, and he will operate on her. I offer to give up my space in the van, and then quickly was told that we could not transport her. Someone will come to get her in a few days. Andrew also says that he cannot operate on her until she eats, and has more strength. Because waste spills out constantly, many fistula patients avoid eating.
Rahel holds her hand and tells her that there is a solution. Amognesh’s mother cries out, and then reaches out to Rahel and presses her lips to Rahel’s hand, sucking the back of it. Loving joy pours from her.
We all hope the transport and feeding prep can happen in time.
