Esther’s NICU Story
Submitted by Bethany Blair
Esther arrived at Karanda Hospital in February, 2023. She was six months pregnant and knew she was high-risk as she had already suffered from three consecutive miscarriages. Her only live birth had been sixteen years earlier at Karanda Hospital where she had given birth to a daughter. Since then, her husband left her in Mozambique for not being able to have more children. With this pregnancy, Esther knew she needed to go back to Karanda and her mother helped her find the 18 USD she would need for the three bus rides to get there.
“At Karanda, the whole person matters, which is why chaplaincy services are offered in addition to room and board for pregnant and lactating mothers during their stay and until they stabilize.”
Esther’s blood pressure was extremely high when she arrived, and her legs were swelling. There was also excess fluid in her abdomen, so she was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit. For a month she was treated and fluid drained until finally, the doctors decided she would need to be induced.
On March 7, Esther gave birth to her second baby girl and named her Makomborero which is Shona for “Blessings.” Blessings was 920 grams. By March 15, she had dropped dangerously low to 870 grams. Karanda Hospital has a limited incubator capacity in the maternity ward but one of the units was available for this newborn and under the careful attention of her mother, she slowly began to gain weight.
Three months later, Blessings is now at 1.6 kgs and is steadily gaining more. Esther deeply regrets not having been able to come to the hospital for support with her other three pregnancies. “If I had come, I would not have lost them. I have learned that I must run to the hospital for help whenever I have any problem.”
Blessings, Esther and Chaplain Otillia
During the long wait with Blessings at the hospital, Chaplain Odilia has been able to check in on Esther and share with her about the way to salvation. Esther had always known about God and went to a church, but as she said, “They did not share about the Bible at that church.” As Chaplain Odilia shared, Esther began to understand what it meant to have a good relationship with God and asked Jesus to save her. Chaplain Odilia has been able to provide her with some Christian literature to read about the Christian life, even though her reading levels are limited.
Under the care of Karanda’s doctors, nurses and chaplains, baby Blessings is improving and will be able to go home once he reaches 2 kg. Esther looks forward to being able to go home and find a church where they teach the Bible and where she can grow in her faith with other believers.
Karanda Hospital is one of the few hospitals in the region that offers low-cost, comprehensive health care and has neo natal and post-natal services to save lives. At Karanda, the whole person matters, which is why chaplaincy services are offered in addition to room and board for pregnant and lactating mothers during their stay and until they stabilize.
It is important to pray for young mothers like Esther as they make decisions for their own health and the health of their families, but also as they look for resources to access these services. Pray also for the young believers like Esther who are just venturing out into their new life with the Lord and that Jesus would meet them and keep them on that journey.
