The Day My Mother Had Difficulties In Delivering Her Baby
Last year, my mother got pregnant with her sixth child. My younger siblings and I lived with her in a small town in South Sudan. Daddy was in the capital. She got terribly sick and was unable to cook, wash, fetch water, or even clean. No one took good care of her. As the oldest girl in my family, caring for her would typically have been my responsibility. But to worsen the situation, I was in school and not able to help her.
Her condition worsened, and she was taken to the hospital where her blood was tested. She was told that she lacked blood and that she couldn’t give birth without more blood in her body. Daddy was called and asked if he could come and donate some of his blood to his wife. He responded negatively and said, “Operate on her and remove the baby because I only need the baby. She is old and I have nothing to do with her, so just let her die and save my child. I do not have enough blood to donate to her.”
Everyone at the hospital was confused. People were asking each other questions like, “Is this man stupid? How can he say this? How should we now help this woman? Either we buy blood, or someone should volunteer theirs to save her life.”
My mother fell unconscious for six hours. No one visited her because everyone was scared and fearful to see her dying. Our very poor uncle came to my school and asked for permission for my brothers and me to leave. We were allowed out of school for a week. After reaching home, we changed our uniforms and went directly to the hospital. Upon reaching there, we started crying for our mother who was half dead. I decided to go to the doctor who was treating her. I told him, “We are not ready to lose our dear, caring, and sweet mother. You better transfuse her with my blood since daddy will not help. Just save her life!”
The doctor tested my blood for every disease. When I was younger, I had typhoid and malaria but tested negative for everything else. The doctor accepted my blood.
After receiving my blood, mum was recovering and getting better. Soon it was time for us to go back to school. We got back just in time for our first term examinations.
In December, my mother gave birth to a baby girl and named her Mercy because she believes in God, and in God everything is possible. She said, “God has mercy on me to continue providing, guiding and taking care of my children. So, thank you, God.”
Two weeks after mum gave birth, we decided to prepare a thanksgiving party for God and everyone who helped her during her sorrowful time. On December 28, 2018, the party kicked off and it was happily celebrated.
I appreciate you, my MBB donors. Without you, I would not be in school today, so thank you so much. May God bless the work of your hand.
Staff Update: Written in 2019 as a Mercy Beyond Borders (MBB) high school Scholar, she is now (2025) a high school graduate with plans to attend university.
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