A special baby was discovered in her home village and flown by MAF to hospital in Uganda for life-changing surgery.
At one year old, most babies are taking their first steps, but Nyandit has to be cradled like an infant by her mother Monika Abur, to support the weight of her head.
The swelling started soon after Nyandit was born. Monika was initially told that Nyandit would certainly die from the hydrocephalus, a condition that causes the skull to expand outwards as a build-up of cerebral fluid fills the cavity at the centre of her brain.
But when MAF pilot Tobias brought a team from Every Village to Ajack Majok in the Thiet area of Tonj South, he knew there was a way that the family could access healing.
‘I remembered that we had done some flights for babies like Nyandit – so I said I would get in touch with our office and find out what might be possible,’ he says.
We appreciate MAF and the service you were able to give Nyandit by flying her to Juba from Tonj and from Juba to Uganda for the surgery.
Two weeks later, Nyandit was transferred from the village to the In Deed and Truth Mission Hospital in Tonj where a blood test revealed the baby had a dangerously low red blood cell count.
After an overnight blood transfusion to stabilise her, she was gently lifted into the MAF plane for a medevac flight to the capital Juba. MAF pilots Iisakki and Ide flew at low altitude to keep their tiny passenger’s oxygen count stable.
‘I get a lot of strength from seeing the lives that we are able to change, for instance that little girl. If MAF would not be here she would most likely die,’ Iisakki says.
A new partnership between MAF and Juba-based disability organisation OVCI La Nostra Famiglia is linking critically sick babies with neurological conditions with the specialist brain surgery they need at the CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda.
OVCI social worker Rachel is happy that the mothers and babies can fly with MAF.
‘The flights are really helping a lot! You can see the numbers of children get help is increasing. When we send them by car we can only send 4 or 5 kids at a time. By plane we can send up to 10,’ she says.
The flights are really helping a lot! You can see the numbers of children get help is increasing. When we send them by car we can only send 4 or 5 kids at a time. By plane we can send up to 10.
Monika and Nyandit are joined by eight other mothers and babies as they prepare to board their second MAF flight.
Pilot Dave smiles as he boards his 18 passengers.
‘In all my years as a pilot, I’ve never had so many passengers on my plane!’ he laughs.
Two flights and three hours later, the plane descends into Tororo airstrip. The hospital in Mbale is an hour away by road - but that short minibus transfer is preferable to a two-day overnight journey travelling the whole way from Juba by road.
Nyandit is brought in for the endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) procedure, which was pioneered at the CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda in the last few years.
‘I was happy for Nyandit to have the surgery but also quite worried,’ mum Monika shares. ‘Some people told me when Nyandit went for the operation - that some babies pass away. I was worried about that until I got word that the surgery was finished, and they told me I could come and see my baby. Then I was very happy. My daughter is alive!
‘The surgery took some hours, and afterwards the baby remained with the doctors for one day. In the afternoon time, they called me to tell me that we can be together.’
In the ward Nyandit and Monika are surrounded by other mothers as well as CURE’s caring Christian staff. Monika was grateful for their kindness.
‘I was happy to be in Uganda – but there are always challenges when you are in a new environment and a new culture,’ she says. ‘I stayed because the baby needed treatment – but it was hard at times.’
A week later, Nyandit is back at the Usratuna clinic in Juba to have her stitches removed. The procedure has been successful, and Monika is happy that the small wound is healing well.
‘The treatment, with the doctors at the Usratuna Center in Juba was vey good. There was nothing missing – I am very happy with the care,’ Monika smiles.
During the weeks in Juba, Joseph from Every Village has been quietly providing support.
‘I really enjoyed helping Nyandit and Monika because I really felt for her situation. She is a very kind mama who will do anything to get treatment for her child,’ he says.
‘We appreciate MAF and the service you were able to give Nyandit by flying her to Juba from Tonj and from Juba to Uganda for the surgery.
‘I said to Monika, “By the will of God, with the help of MAF, together with Every Village – we will join our hands together to help this child get treatment.” I am really thankful for all the help you gave her as MAF. We really appreciate the help!’
I get a lot of strength from seeing the lives that we are able to change, for instance little Nyandit if MAF would not be here she would most likely die
After Nyandit’s final appointment confirms the success of the procedure, the family are ready to travel back home to their village.
‘I am well today and the baby is doing fine. She has some malaria but the treatment was successful, the medicine worked and we are ready now to go home. I am excited to go home today because I have been away for two and a half months, and I want to see my other baby who I left at home in Tonj. He is three and a half years old,’ she says.
‘I am happy that Nyandit has had the treatment. When I first came, I thought I was going to lose Nyandit but now I can see that the baby is improving.'
‘Having a baby is sweet for everyone. If I met a lady with a baby with a condition like Nyandit I would encourage her and advise her to try getting some treatment the way I did in Juba and Uganda. I have seen Nyandit go through a lot – and I wouldn’t want other mothers to go through the same thing.’
Pilot Iisakki was thrilled to be flying the same mother and baby back to Tonj.
‘I’m very glad to see that the baby is doing so well and the baby as well. I’m very excited about this flight!’ he says.
Monika has a warm smile for Iisakki. ‘I am happy! He is the same pilot that brought me. I am happy that he is the one flying me home!’
Having a baby is sweet for everyone. If I met a lady with a baby with a condition like Nyandit I would encourage her and advise her to try getting some treatment the way I did in Juba and Uganda.