The following is the third in the series "Painful Events Lead to Serving Another". Samantha Ludick from Senga Bay, Malawi narrates:
"The pain Ndhala was in was indescribable. I knew I had to get him a stronger painkiller; some type of antibiotic since I only had diclafanical and that was definitely not strong enough. Where to go
and what to do? Silly me, Lucy at Ndi Moyo Palliative Care Centre will have morphine and a strong antibiotic. So off we went to Ndi Moyo where Lucy took us in with open arms. She too was amazed at the extent of the wounds, and Ndhala’s bravery. Lucy supplied us with the morphine and the antibiotic and she agreed to see him every seven days in order to continue the supply of pain killers since we both knew this was going to take months. Every second day I would change the dressings. I arranged with Magic & his family to allow Ndhala and his family to stay with them since that would put him close by for me to watch over him. I supplied the extra food so the Ndhala family would not be a burden.
During this time Magic’s mum’s condition worsened and she died at Salima District Hospital. It was so tragic for she had gotten better, the suddenly in just one overnight turned and quickly passed away. How could I put more on to Magic and his family at a time like this? I phoned Margaret at the Clinic closest to us and explained the situation. She was great and very understanding, and she allowed the Ndhala family to stay in her Palliative Care Centre. It would be up to me to arrange for food but I was able to do that. Too, I could change dressings; it was perfect, and after all it would only be for a few days.
Wife Suffers A Life Threatening Crisis
During the time they were at the Clinic his young wife suffered a miscarriage. I arrived one evening to find her sitting in a pool of blood not wanting to say anything or to ask for anything. It was such a tragic time it is impossible to express the feelings. She felt that I was doing so much that she didn’t want to be an added problem. Can you image how she felt? I just can’t imagine what she was going through; here she was with no money, and no income since her husband had nearly lost his leg, 30 odd miles across the lake from home, and staying with people she hardly knew. I wonder if there is anyone who knows just how she must have been feeling? To me she was not an added problem she was this young woman trying to keep things together no matter what. I admired her strength and her courage and I wondered how many others have been through what she was going through. I got her cleaned up & checked by the midwife. Then we obtained a change of clothes, and a toy for her little son, and a councilor for the family.
We now face the long period of time it will require for the wounds to heal, both for the wife and for Ndhala, and for this struggling family to get on with their lives."