We are having an amazing time here in Tonga, and we are all convinced there is no better place we could be. Thursday was an amazing day, and if all the best experiences we could have in Tonga were to fit into one day, that would be it.
We started the day early, leaving for the hospital about 6am. The role of the nurse is very important here in Tonga, as they take care of the individual and family from before they are born until after they are dead. What this translates into is that yes, they prepare bodies for the funeral. There was a body that needed to be prepared on Thursday, and we got to observe the nurses do this, as well as the dressing of the body in traditional Tongan dress for the funeral. We learned that the tapa cloth is kept next to the body to “keep it warm”, and also the feet are tied with a piece of the tapa cloth so the body will be unable to run away. It was all very interesting, and the nurse was a part of every step.
We then found there was a mother at the hospital in labor. Although only two students were assigned to the wards, the nurses said everyone could help, so she started with 6 of us helping her through her labor, with the additional 3 coming after they finished their community rotation. It was her first baby, and she was alone laboring; it seemed like the family was supposed to wait outside. We did what we could to help her cope with the pain, providing counterpressure on her back, giving her hand massages, wetting her face and stroking her hair. As we cared for her, she came to ask for these measures if we were not doing them, so we felt like we were helping in some way. We also helped as she pushed the baby into the world, holding her legs, helping to keep her chin down, and giving her lots and lots of encouragement. When the baby was born (yes, delivered by the nurse), there were automatically 4 baby nurses to clean the baby off, stimulate him, give the medications, and care for him until mom was finished being stitched up (yes, by the nurse). We got to invite the proud father in, and to show the baby to the family as we took mom and baby to her room. It was an amazing day, to observe and help from end of life to the other.
Yesterday we stopped to see our new little family, as they were still at the hospital. We took a lot of pictures, as we all felt personally connected to this little baby boy and his family. When there was a quiet moment without all the clucking mother hens, the father made an announcement. He and his wife and family were all very grateful for the help and support we had given his wife. His mother had given the baby the name “Francis Drake” (Francis Draku in Tongan), but he and his wife wanted US to give the baby his first name, the name he would go by!! We prodded a bit—“What kind of name would they like?” “Is there any special names to them?” They would give us no information—whatever name we came up with was the name for their baby. As the mother said “It is in your hands.”
Another miracle occurred. It is really hard for a couple to come up with a single name for a baby in many cases. In not too long of a time, all 10 of us had agreed on a name—“Brigham”. It was perfect, for us, as well as this young Mormon couple. We had a prayer with this family, to assure we had picked the right name, and to thank the Lord for this amazing experience. After the prayer, we knew Brigham was absolutely the right name.
Could there be any better experience for all of us? I think not. What a blessing to be here!
2 comments:
that's so crazy!!! wow, that's quite a couple to let you do that for him! that'll be a story for that boy to tell future generations!
Wow, they must've either really liked you guys or they were super grateful! What a good name!
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