I’d like to share a story that had happened here in my country. A story of how poverty can cause a life…

This is a story of Elda, a mother who died after giving birth to her youngest child. She left behind 3 little children and a confuse husband who’s at lost on how he would manage with life without his loving wife.
Elda lived with her family in a small fishing village six hours drive away from Virac, the capital city, of the island of Catanduanes. Both came from a poor family but Elda and her husband, Nante, lived happily with their two kids. In early January of 2006, she joyfully told her husband that she was pregnant with their 3rd child. Nante anticipating the arrival of a new member of their family doubled his effort worked harder in preparation for the delivery of Elda. She didn’t experience difficulties during the pregnancy except she noticed that her stomach is bigger than the two previous pregnancies.

On September 2006, Elda was brought to Pandan, the nearest town, General Hospital to deliver her 3rd child. She was supposed to deliver through a “faith healer” but she had difficulty delivering the baby. The faith healer decided that it would be better if she will give birth in the hospital. When they arrive in the hospital they were not attended immediately even seeing the condition of Elda. They were told that there was no doctor available. Elda by then was complaining loudly of the pain that she was experiencing. The hospital crew mocked her, even laugh at what she was going through. Nante no longer able to stand seeing his wife suffering approached, in angry burst, the hospital information and demanded to see the doctor. This time he got their attention. They called the head midwife. Thankfully, seeing Elda’s condition the midwife immediately instructed the hospital crew to bring Elda to the delivery room. In the absence of the doctor the midwife tried to deliver the baby but it was very difficult because Elda was already very weak by that time. Under normal circumstances the doctor would probably decide to conduct the delivery through caesarian operation unfortunately, the doctor scheduled visit was still the next day. The nearest hospital that could have a doctor to conduct the operation was 8 hours drive away. Elda cannot travel that long anymore. So the midwife did all her best to deliver the baby. After numerous push and pull she gave birth to a baby girl. Elda however, was still in so much pain even after the baby was already out. The next day, the doctor, told of what transpired the day before and the pain that won’t stop inside her stomach, found nothing abnormal with the situation prescribed a pain reliever and advised them to go home. So they went home hoping that the pain would go away in a few days.

The medicine prescribed by the doctor helped eased the pain but it did not made Elda better. Two weeks passed but, the pain was getting worst. Nante decided to bring Elda to Virac. Unfortunately, the doctors told them that they do not have the necessary apparatus to determine what was really wrong with Elda. So Nante was forced to bring his wife to Naga. In Naga, it was diagnosed that Elda’s uterus was severely injured while delivering her baby. With all the pressure of the pushing on her stomach during delivery her uterus were wounded. Elda have to undergo an operation but, they would need big amount. Nante for the first time cried. Where would he get the money needed for his wife operation. Elda knowing that they do not have money decided to go home. Perhaps hoping that she’ll get well eventually. Nante won’t have it but Elda insisted. So they went home. One, two months came Elda did not get better. Her condition was getting worst. Three months had passed after she gave birth Elda’s body became so thin. She was also getting weaker and weaker. On December 2006, a friend seeing Elda’s thin body and how weak she was called up her cousin’s friend, an OB-GYN, in Manila and asked for help. Thankfully, her friend took pity on Elda. She was flown from Virac on December 27, 2006 and was checked in at a hospital in Manila. She was immediately scheduled for operation.

Sadly, the operation came too late. The damaged was not just in her uterus it already spread inside her stomach. Another operation were performed. She was given 24 hours. If she survive maybe she’d have a chance of surviving. She did survive the 2nd operation. A few days after her condition was getting better. She was eating already and her color was improving. Everybody, specially Nante were hoping that it was a good indication. But apparently the extent of the damage was more than what Elda’s body could endure. A month after the first operation she had another seizure. She had undergone a 3rdr operation but she didn’t made it. She died. The day before she held Nante’s hand thanked him for being a great husband and father. Asked him to fix her hair, to put powder on her face and then she smiled asking him how she looked. He realized the next day that, that was the last time he would see her smile.

Nante was very angry. He was angry at the hospital people for not immediately attending to his wife but what could they have done anyway. There was really no doctor at the time. Well, at least they could have shown compassion. He wants to blame the midwife but she had tried her best. If the midwife didn’t do what she did then both Elda and the baby could have died that moment. He was angry at himself because he could not provide the money Elda needed. If only they had money Elda might still be alive.

The fact is Elda could still be alive today if only there was an available doctor during the time of her delivery. Common problems of lots of small villages in the provinces are the lack of medicines, apparatus, nurses and doctors. If only there was a fit doctor available on that day Elda was brought to that hospital she would not die.

This is a true story. I am sharing this with anybody who would read this because when the husband came to me to tell me about his wife i didn’t have the financial capacity to help them. Perhaps telling other people of what happen to Elda would at least ease the sadness and the guilt i’m feeling.

Thank you for taking the time to read…

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