A Miracle in Kudjip

Greetings from PNG. I hope all of you are safe, healthy and looking forward to the miracle of Spring. We are fine and enjoying the warm sunshine in the beautiful mountains of Papua New Guinea.

Some people claim that miracles don’t happen anymore. As a medical professional, I can give you first hand testimony that says otherwise. On multiple occasions, I have personally seen and experienced God’s power over the health of individuals facing impossible odds. I would like to think that my knowledge, skill and experience at these times are what made the difference, but that would be a vain lie, and I know better.

I bring you the tale of one such miracle. Her name is Aine (Annie). I first met Aine sitting on the bench waiting her turn to be seen in the clinic. I knew something was not right when I went to call her to the exam room. She was sitting over a large pool of blood and there were bloody footprints leading up to the bench. Aine was 22 weeks pregnant with a low lying placenta. She had developed a marginal separation of her placenta from the lower segment of the uterus. I estimated she had lost two units of blood. She was admitted to the hospital and the bleeding stopped. Aine received two units of blood and eventually went home on bed rest with a live pregnancy.

I did not see Aine for two weeks, but as often happens in these cases, her water broke and she returned. Her baby was still living and she still had plenty of amniotic fluid. I thought there might be an outside chance and decided to sit on the case and see where it led. She received steroids and was placed on antibiotics and monitored for sepsis. All went well for a week; however, her fluid slowly dwindled until the baby had no room to grow and develop. Because of the lack of fluid the umbilical cord was compressed and the baby died. I decided it was in the patient’s best interest to terminate and started vaginal Cytotec to effect delivery. When I came in to Labor & Delivery the following morning, Aine was in the back and looked pale and lethargic. A quick hemoglobin check was very low at 2.7. A stat ultrasound revealed much free fluid. I started two units of uncrossmatched blood and took her to surgery. The patient had a condition known as placenta percreta and had ruptured her uterus. In surgery, a hysterectomy was needed_. She remained fairly stable during surgery, but did received six units of blood and multiple liters of fluid. That night she did fine, but by morning was having difficulty breathing.

A chest x-ray showed what I already knew; Aine had developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, ARDS. This diagnosis carries a mortality rate of 50%, even with technology and a ventilator. I kept her vertical and gave her strong diuretics and oxygen. By that evening, she was covered with perspiration and her respiratory rate was over 60. Her pulse-ox, even on 100% oxygen with a mask was less than 70. I thought she would not make the night! Sometime in the night, God came and by morning she seemed slightly better. She slowly improved over the next three days until she was finally safe. She did contract malaria from the blood transfusions, but is now nearly ready to go home.

God is so good to those who are faithful. Prayer was the only tool that could save Aine. Her doctor, family, friends and all those on this station prayed long and hard, and God heard and came.

The next time you hear doubters, tell them about Aine and the night God came and performed A Miracle In Kudjip.

So long for now,

Dr. P and Tyronza