By Samatha Ludick
Clinic at the Gate
Villagers Gather Sticks for Splints
We quickly greet those on shore and Magic explains that we don’t have much time. Putting on gloves I examine the driver of the motorbike. He does not appear in such dire straits. I inspect a cut on his head and a fat lip, and clean away the blood. Then I stitch up the wound, give him some painkillers, and get him ready to go in the boat. Then while trying to get him comfortable I learn his neck is very sore, he has blood from his nose and a huge contusion on his stomach. For a moment I consider that I may be in over my head. I try to keep it all together while explaining our next move. The villagers gather some long sticks, some ridiculously large, but we form the plan and make a neck brace. Cuts have been cleaned and we have put two stitches in to close the cuts in his head. Blood pressure is a little high but there is not much that can be done about that here on a dark beach at night.
We carefully carry him to the boat, lay him gently on the floor, and place life jackets around his head and neck in order to keep him as still as possible. It will not be easy with the weather growing worse by the minute. The waves seem to grow larger with each new swell. Moving carefully into the wind I add another prayer for safety.
The Battle Against the Waves
Now it is a battle against the waves. The moon however is brighter than before and by the time we are halfway across the open water the waves have grown much smaller in height. From there we continue to the western shore without incident. The ambulance is waiting and we get him inside for the quick trip to Salima District Hospital.
Thanks so much to the Malawi Project for supplying the medical supplies we needed, and thanks to Magic for getting us there and back safely. Thanks to the ambulance staff for waiting, and thanks to the Lord for giving us a safe trip.
As the sun rises the next morning I phone the hospital to find out about the patient. All is well, that was nothing broken, and the patient is going to recover.