MHM – Together, we are changing the face of the world

This page was translated automatically. The German original is binding. Read the German original

Helping others makes you happy!

31 August.

This day is always special, as it’s my sister Tina’s birthday. But in 2020, it was set to become even more special in many ways. We had five births on that day, and none of them went quite as one would hope. Yet one family remains closely connected to us.

In total, we had three caesarean sections and one vacuum extraction; the woman who gave birth ‘normally’ had a premature baby.

The premature baby grew well and was discharged within two weeks. The baby delivered by vacuum extraction also had no problems and was able to go home after a few days.

Photo on the left: The premature baby, who was able to go home after just two weeks
Photo on the right: My baby is alive! A relieved mum after the vacuum extraction

Caesarean sections presented a challenge: one very young mum’s pelvis was too narrow to allow her to give birth naturally. Time and again we see very young pregnant women: aged 13, 14, 15. At that moment, we also felt the desire to work together with various organisations – which look after these young girls – and to provide educational support.

Another woman had had a caesarean section with her first child, yet sadly the baby died due to a lack of oxygen (not at our hospital). Now she was in labour at our hospital and suddenly the baby was in a transverse position(!). This was a warning sign for us and we decided to perform a caesarean section. Mum and baby were healthy, lively and very happy. However, this means that any further children this woman has will also have to be delivered by caesarean section. And this means she can only have two more children. Consequently, the decision to have a caesarean section is always a major, life-changing event for family planning.

The healthy newborn of the very young mother, who was delivered by caesarean section

And then came

Lalao……whose first baby is healthy and lively – a little girl. Her second baby (a little boy) sadly died from hydrocephalus. The baby she was currently carrying also suffered from hydrocephalus, so a caesarean section was necessary in this case too. Lalao was frightened and cried a lot. We supported her and promised to do everything in our power to help her and her baby.

Little Tanjoniaina was born with a head circumference of 45.5 cm. Whenever a medical case arises here that goes beyond our local capabilities, two things always happen:
1) Firstly, we are in contact with a member of the ‘MHM Medical Board of Directors’ in Germany – in this case, Dr Kristina Stuchlik.
2) Secondly, we contacted the neurosurgeon here in Madagascar and made all the necessary arrangements to ensure that little Tanjoniaina would be well looked after and could undergo surgery soon.

We carried out an ultrasound scan to assess blood flow in the brain, measured his head circumference and the distance from ear to ear daily, monitored his weight and forwarded all the data to the doctors in charge.

Photo on the left: Laola with Tanja before the operation
Photo on the right: the newborn Tanjoniaina

The first meeting: a mix of joy, sadness and concern

Photo on the left: Anaesthetist Andry and doctors Dr Ivon and Dr Joselitto after a long day’s work late in the evening
Photo on the right: Our team is giving it their all <3

On 18 October, we realised that the little one’s head circumference had increased by 3 cm within two days. This prompted the neurosurgeon to bring the operation forward. Anaesthesia on such a tiny baby is always a major risk, but the pressure in his head posed an even greater risk to the baby, so the operation had to take place on 21 October.

We didn’t leave Lalao and Tanjoniaina on their own; instead, we had someone from our team with her at the hospital all day to support her and help with the logistics. Do you remember? For every operation, you have to keep buying supplies and sit outside the operating theatre, passing things in. There’s no stock system like we have here in Germany.

On 24 October, little Tanjoniaina was discharged with a stent in his head and two stitches (one on his head and one on his tummy), and came to see us for a check-up the very next day. We used an ultrasound scan to check the position of the stent and the condition of the wounds. Everything was very satisfactory.

His overjoyed mum, Lalao, threw her arms round my neck more than once to thank me. Once again, there were plenty of tears, but this time they were tears of joy.

We are very, very grateful that we are still able to provide good care and facilitate medical procedures for such special cases, which go far beyond our expertise and resources. This is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Tulisa Foundation. For medical cases involving children, we can apply for financial support to make such an operation possible. But the many little things that go along with it are made possible by your generosity. With your donations, we can make things possible for families such as Lalao and Tanjoniaina that they could otherwise not even dream of. A baby who gets to live, thanks to the wonderful collaboration between Tulisa, you – our dear donors – and our team here on the ground.

Photo on the left: Tanjoniaina before the operation
Photo on the right: Tanjoniaina after the life-saving procedure