Maria Florida Nogo Kelen, 39, was in the emergency room for a cesarean section at Nagekeo district hospital, East Nusa Tenggara province on 15/8 when a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck, causing violent shaking.
The cesarean section took place two months earlier than expected due to a complicated pregnancy, posing risks to both mother and child. Doctors stated Maria could suffer life-threatening seizures if delivery was delayed.
As the hospital lost power during the earthquake, doctors used flashlights to perform the surgery, despite the building shaking violently. Overcoming the tremors and her deteriorating health, Maria's fourth child was born successfully.
"During the surgery, I was not afraid. For my children, I had to be strong", said Maria, who lives in Nagekeo district, near the epicenter.
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Maria Florida Nogo Kelen at the hospital in Nagekeo district, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia on 17/8. *Photo: Reuters* |
"There was no other choice. We are human, we also feel fear. The surgery was very difficult because the baby was so small. I could only pray to God for help. We didn't even have a ventilator", said obstetrician Yona Sara Pardede.
The baby girl was born while aftershocks were still occurring, weighing only 1,3 kg. She was then placed in an incubator inside an outdoor tent. Despite the intense heat, the baby's condition remained stable. She was named Gempita, from the Indonesian word "Gempa", meaning "earthquake".
Maria, who suffered postpartum hemorrhage, felt grateful to be alive. "I am incredibly grateful to the doctors. Even if the ceiling had collapsed, they would not have abandoned me and my baby", she said.
The earthquake has so far killed 68 people and injured over 200 in East Nusa Tenggara. Hundreds of hospitals and homes were damaged, forcing medical staff to treat the injured in outdoor tents.
This is Indonesia's deadliest earthquake since the 2022 tremor that killed hundreds in West Java.
Officials stated on 17/8 that rescue teams are working to find those believed trapped under rubble, while also deploying aircraft to deliver aid to East Nusa Tenggara.
Huyen Le (According to Reuters)
