"This baby is blue!" the medical assistant screams to the nurse, Lisa Canoy. Lisa is in panic mode, acknowledging that this baby needs oxygen quickly. As there is no 9-1-1 emergency service in the area, Lisa scrambles to arrange for a jeepney to take the mother and baby to the nearest doctor. However, Lisa noticed something very strange. The baby's mother did not seem to be rattled or worried about the baby's condition. Thus Lisa talked with the mother, with the help of a translator, and realized that the baby has already been diagnosed with congestive heart failure at an early age. The doctor has previously told the mother that the baby would sporadically turn blue because the heart is much weaker than normal. The heart responds by stretching to hold more blood or becoming thicker to increase the blood flow. However, the heart muscles gradually weaken, restricting blood flow throughout the body. They baby was given a very short life expectancy.
The mother did not have nearly enough money to pay for the heart surgery that was necessary for the baby. The sad reality is that the mother has already accepted the fate of the baby; she was just there to get vitamins and check-ups for her two other children. She was smiling when waiting in line, because she was just grateful that her family was able to receive free medical attention.
Lisa told us this story at the meeting for this year's mission trip. In the U.S., especially as we are debating on the flaws or benefits of the Affordable Care Act, it is important to keep in mind how fortunate we are receive the emergency medical attention we have access too, regardless of the current flaws to our medical system.
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