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| learning how the new ventilator works |
1 1/2 yrs ago, when Miguel Angel was a wee newborn, the Lord set in motion a chain of events that led to this blog entry! This little man needed to be resuscitated several times in as many days, involving hours of hand-ventilating by some visiting RN's who come yearly. The Lord gave him life. Months later, Amber, one of the involved nurses, was on a cruise with her mom when she met 2 travelers with their elderly mom in a wheelchair. She shared a taxi with the 2 ladies at the cruise's end, and found the mom had died while the ship was in Roatan, off the N. coast of Honduras. Finding the daughters were respiratory therapists, she shared her Honduras story about hand-ventilating little Miguel Angel. They parted, having shared the website of Loma de Luz.
Months later, we got an email from a Deb Spilde, the respiratory therapist, looking for Amber Shields, who happens to be John's cousin. They communicated over the months, and put together a grant proposal for a ventilator, in memory of her mom, and in response to the story of saving Miguel Angel's life, which would certainly have been easier with a machine! A grant was finally received for over $30,000, and Amber and her friend Lori went to Vancouver to take a day's training on the use of a beautiful ventilator, with capability of ventilating infants, children AND adults! This past week, they arrived to do training for our staff here at Loma de Luz!
Less than 24 hours later, there were 3 births consecutively. Our second, after an uneventful birthing and a great first 5 minutes, went rapidly downhill and began having major respiratory issues. Amber quickly ran for the ventilator and within 15 minutes, a very white, struggling baby pinked up and has had no further problems! Imagine, a real life scenario to put into practice the previous day's teachings!
Later that day, we got this picture of the healthy newborn. Whew! We are SO grateful to Vitalaire in Canada for this incredible investment in lives in Honduras and to Deb Spilde, RT, as well as to Amber and Lori who invested their own time to go to Canada for the training and then miss a week's work to come make this all possible.
Eryn continues, with other young people, to minister with Lisa in the La Ceiba dump at least weekly. Here's a choice shot! Whether she is rocking a child or suckling a wee puppy, she does it all with Passion- and yes, thats a capital P! Pray for her as she finishes strong her last 9 weeks in Honduras, pray for missionary Lisa, (also hospital administrator), as its she who has helped light the passion in Eryn!
