Have you ever noticed when a bunch of moms get together somehow we always end up sharing our birth stories? A birth story is so magical – the ups, downs, and then those times somewhere in between. With the first birthing centers being set up, the incredible stories from Nepal are beginning to be heard.
A birth story and photos from the Programs Director, Surya Bhatta of our incredible partner on the ground One Heart World-Wide:
“Radika Bhanadari, 24 years old, was expecting her first baby on May 9th, 2015. Her family’s home had collapsed on April 25th during the first earthquake. She and her family were living outside under a tarp waiting nervously for their baby to arrive. When the 7.3 aftershock hit on Tuesday afternoon, she and her family ran for their lives to the local health post that had collapsed during the first earthquake. Radika was in terrible labor pain and feared for her’s and her unborn baby’s life. When she arrived at the nearest health post staff from One Heart World-Wide, Direct Relief, and Choice Humanitarian were just setting up the first birthing tent, which had been donated by the Tifie Foundation. The tent was not fully constructed and had no birthing supplies when Radika arrived minutes after the earth violently shook, leaving all of us in a state of fear.
Within minutes, the local skilled birthing attendant and our CEO, Arlene Samen, a maternal child health nurse practitioner, laid down a mattress to examine her in our birthing tent that had just been set up. It was determined that she and another pregnant woman needed to be taken to Kathmandu to the maternity hospital as we still did not have the necessary equipment to provide a safe delivery.
On May 13, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy at the maternity hospital. Her husband called our Program Director, Mr. Surya Bhatta the following morning to express their gratitude and joy to the One Heart World-Wide team for bringing his wife to the hospital where she could deliver safely. In the darkness there is light, in the midst of tragedy people come together as a family to provide refuge in each other’s arms. One Heart World-Wide is grateful to all the organizations that came together in a time of crisis to provide a safe shelter for women to deliver.”
Let’s help One Heart World-Wide bring more shelter to these soon-to-be mommas who hope for a safe and clean place to bring their babies into the world. 100% of your donation goes straight to the supplies that will help make that happen.
Ready to help change some stories?
Team tifie
