Many of you, from the people who visited us in Soroti, know Catherine Agero. She has been in Amecet and later in Amun for a number of years. She came when she was very weak and sick, but we saw her grow up into a beautiful teenager. Amecet helped her going to secondary school (boarding) and later, when this didn't work out so well, we helped her to go through a tailoring course, she graduated last year and she got a sewing machine. But in the mean time she got into a relationship and pregnant. Amecet stepped in when there were all kind of problems between the two families and between Catherine and her boyfriend. Mostly, because we were concerned for Catherine's well being and for the life of the baby. Tuesday night, Simon got a phone call that Catherine had contractions. She was in the village, but we had let her promise to go to the hospital there, when the contractions would start. Simon talked with the boyfriend and told him to bring her to the hospital. After all kind of problems, she ended up in the hospital, but the labour did not go well. Wednesday afternoon we got a phone call that they wanted to refer her to Soroti hospital, but they didn't have money to pay the ambulance. Catherine had been the whole day in labour. Via the phone we could get her in the ambulance and Janneke, Mary and I were waiting at 7 pm for her at Soroti Hospital, yesterday evening. Catherine was very happy to see us and Janneke and I went with her into the delivery room, to encourage her while she tried to push the baby out. It was very difficult, we saw the head of the baby, but nothing happened. The doctor and the midwife decided that she had to go for a Cesarean, when she heard that she decided to really push hard and we, all cheered and encouraged her and yes the baby came out!!!
The baby was small, (2.1 kg) and had been squeezed because of the long labour time, but he cried!! And Catherine was so happy, smiling and thanking God!
We asked what his name would be, she said : Theo, I asked Theo?? Yes, Catherine said, after your brother, because the Dutch people really helped me in this difficult time! It touched me and I pray that little Theo will bring joy to her heart!
Catherine had a good night, she had eaten something and she was already making jokes. She now called him : uncle Theo!! We talked with the doctors and we were allowed to take her out. Because of the problems with the father's family, we took her to Amecet. We want to be sure that the breastfeeding will be going well and that the baby get his ARV's everyday and to be sure that Catherine is fine. Little Theo was looking much more handsome already after only one day!! (I wonder what he will be like in 20 years???) We are thankful that the operation was not needed and that mother and baby are doing well. Little Theo is small and a bit fragile, but we have good hopes that he will pick up and we pray that he and Catherine will have a great future!!
(PS. and I feel a little bit a grandmother)
How great is it! Congrat Catherine
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