The Gift of Jesus

Last week, a pregnant patient presented to Tenwek with heavy vaginal bleeding. She was found to have an IUFD (intrauterine fetal demise=stillborn) and a placenta previa (placenta covers the cervical opening). Dr. H was on OB call. During the patient's cesarean section, she did not stop bleeding and developed DIC (a condition where after massive bleeding, the body's clotting factors stop functioning). The patient needed blood. After receiving 2 units, the hospital was out of A positive blood. Dr. H and the nurse anesthetist during the c-section happen to have A positive blood. Both decide to donate blood to the patient. Thanks to their amazing selfless act, the patient is alive.

On Christmas Eve, we had the OB interns over for dinner. The intern on call received a page during dinner to evaluate a patient. This patient was also bleeding with an IUFD and a placenta previa. Her hemoglobin was 4.8 (normal is greater than 12.0). She also was in need of a blood transfusion, but the intern told us there was no blood available. The patient is O positive. Bryan is O positive. Without hesitation, at 9pm on Christmas Eve, Bryan went to the hospital to donate blood to the patient. By the grace of God, she also survived. She too will have to heal from the loss of her baby.

On this Christmas night, I give thanks to God for the gift of Jesus Christ who brought light into the world. I pray that we can walk within His light as we give of ourselves to others. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3: 5-6).