Pilot Michael Duncalfe and his wife Nicki had the delight of meeting up with Peggy Mona, and her daughter Nicki, nearly a year after Michael flew them on a medical evacuation.
In Papua New Guinea it is common to name a child after somebody special. Peggy named her baby daughter after Nicki, following the help and friendship she provided. Their story follows.
The telephone interrupted Michael and Nicki’s Sunday lunch on 5th April 2009. Anglican Health Services were requesting an urgent medical evacuation from Koinambe, Papua New Guinea, for a young woman, Peggy Mona, who had been in labour for 24 hours.
An hour later Michael landed the Cessna 206 in Koinambe:
As soon as the engine was shut down a young woman in very obvious pain was assisted to the aircraft by a community nurse and some ladies.
During the 20 minute flight that followed to Mount Hagen, Peggy found it hard to stay seated due to her painful contractions. A car from the Anglican Church then took her to hospital. She delivered a healthy baby girl later that afternoon.
Two days later Nicki Duncalfe visited Peggy in hospital. She discovered that Peggy’s mother had already returned to Koinambe, leaving her with neither money nor anyone to care for her needs.
Over the following days Nicki ensured that Peggy had enough to eat and a place to stay when she was discharged with her new daughter from hospital. Michael flew them back to Koinambe at the end of the week. As a result, Peggy named her baby Nicki.
Koinambe, situated at 2900 feet above sea level, is approximately a 20 minute flight from Mount Hagen. Michael describes the overland journey between the two locations:
Travel by road would take hours and involve a considerable amount of walking, and then a painfully slow bus ride of several hours over rough, pot-holed roads. Surface travel is not an option for a young woman who’s been in labour for 24 hours.
Globally, 1,500 women die every day due to complications in pregnancy or childbirth. Every day 10,000 babies die within their first month of life. It is not uncommon for MAF aircraft to be called upon to transport women with complications in labour.
Peggy Mona's story was the inspiration for our 2009 Day of Prayer pack, and highlights how, despite the statistics, the saving of a single life is signifcant.