Around 7 pm our Senior Nurse/midwife Margaret was called to the clinic by one of our community health workers (CHW). He told her that there was a woman in labor, the patient is one of our ANC (ante natal clinic) mothers and has been coming faithfully to all her ANC appointments.
After an assesment all was good but labor was progressing slowly. The staff admitted her for observation and prayed for her labor to progress naturally. After 2 hours she had not progressed, the heart rate of the baby was fast so labor was induced and she delivered a baby boy. He was so weak and lifeless Dr. Dennis was called immediately and started to resuscitate while others were praying. The child eventually started crying weakly and God answered our prayer quickly as he was soon crying strongly and he became pink and the heart rate was good.
Upon examination Margaret noticed that both legs turned inwards, the baby had club foot (talipes). This condition (see photo) is common and can be treated but needs medical attention to avoid the child growing up and walking on his ankles. Possibly surgery would also be needed but in Sudan even these simple procedures are not available, so please pray for this family to find the help they need. Pray for the mother and child as they return home, there is a lot of witchcraft in the villages and the child could be subjected to rituals to remove the evil spirit causing this deformity. It is highly unlikely the family will want to spend the money and time to help this child. We are praying for his protection, this is the hardest part of letting the patients go. We have literally handed her over to the ONE and only living God that can intervene and bring hope to a seemingly hopeless situation.
