It was an unplanned series of circumstances that came together which saved Meka's life. Aged nine, both of the young girl's feet were crushed in the earthquake. Now, six months later and back home, Meka is a much happier girl...
Feet 'like ground beef'
MAF pilot Will White writes:
‘This morning, MAF had been scheduled to take a team of doctors to Pignon but, the night before, someone called and cancelled the flight. The doctors showed up about 9am and I told them they would have to wait until after a previously scheduled flight.
‘I left to fly over to the island of La Gonave. When we arrived, Dan Irvine, Area Director of Global Partners, the mission arm of the Wesleyan Church, said he had a nine-year-old girl Meka whose feet had both been crushed in the earthquake. The hospital on the island had done all they could and they needed to find an orthopaedic doctor in Port-au-Prince to carry out surgery. According to Dan, her feet looked like “ground beef” and, if infection set in, it would be fatal. I agreed to wait for Meka to show up at the plane.
‘Knowing of the huge strain on the field hospitals in Port-au-Prince, I was not hopeful of the young girl finding an orthopaedic unit to perform surgery. I started to think about the doctors who were waiting for me back in Port-au-Prince. I was sure they had said they were orthopaedic surgeons.
‘When we arrived, I taxied to my parking place and all of the doctors were standing right next to the plane with their supplies. In no time, the team was examining Meka and making plans to take her directly to Pignon hospital. We removed Meka from the plane to refuel, and they were then able to start an intravenous drip. I flew three doctors, the girl and her mother to Pignon.
Back on her feet
'When we got to Pignon they quickly got her out of the plane and to the hospital. I believe within the hour she was in surgery. They were able to save most of her feet.
'About mid June Bill Campbell, who helped house the girl and work with her, emailed and said Mika and her mother were ready to return to La Gonave. It was a thrill to do the flight and take her back. She is able to walk on her own and was very excited to fly in the plane. Butch Alexander [who requested the original flight] met us at the airstrip when I landed to see her also.
'It was amazing to see how God used several different groups and his perfect timing to bring us all together to help save Meka's life and feet. If I had decided to take the doctors to Pignon first they would have never met her. Or if the doctors would have arrived earlier or later they we would not have been at the right place at the right time.'
Without the support from concerned individuals supporting MAF's work, Meka may not be alive today.