After taking a day off in lue of our anniversary earlier in the week, I had just enjoyed Jay bringing me breakfast in bed and we were gearing up to have a day spent together when a call came over the radio. As Jay reached for the receiver he guessed at there being a medivac and sure enough the MAF staff at the base were calling to say that there was a request for a medivac of a young boy who had suffered a snake bite in Owena. While this changed the look of our day somewhat, we were still able to spend it together as there was space for me to jump on board and go for a ride.
As we quickly changed gears the first question Jay had for the guys at the base was to get a weather report for Owena, any wind and we would not be able to land. With Owena being one of the steepest and shortest strips the guys go into, it is imperative that the weather cooperates.
Twenty minutes later, with the plane fuelled and ready, we took off for the 24 minute flight. As we flew I was praying about a few different things, that the little boy would be able to hang on until we were able to get him to a hospital, that the wind would remain calm and the airstrip clear for landing, and that my breakfast would remain where I had put it that morning. As we got close I began to hunt for the clearing on which we would land and as we came around the last mountain to do a fly over to check out the strip and wind sock, I was surprised at the length of the clearing we would be putting down on. As we touched down and rumbled our way up to the top of the airstrip, people came from all directions to meet the plane.
As quickly as possible, cargo was pulled off the plane that had been waiting in Goroka to go out to the people at Owena and the plane was made ready for the the sick little boy and the care giver that would be going with him. As the preparations were made, I was able to briefly catch up with the missionary who has been working with the people in this area for nearly 30 years. I was surprised to hear that there were death adders in this area of the country as it is the same elevation as Goroka at 5200', and he shared that they have lots of issues with snake bites and as reliable refrigeration is necessary to keep the anti-venom they are unable to have a supply available.
Naha, the snake bite victim, was lucky that the bite he received was on his finger and the poison didn't make its way into the blood stream quickly and he was able to get out to a main centre to receive treatment.
As we quickly changed gears the first question Jay had for the guys at the base was to get a weather report for Owena, any wind and we would not be able to land. With Owena being one of the steepest and shortest strips the guys go into, it is imperative that the weather cooperates.
Twenty minutes later, with the plane fuelled and ready, we took off for the 24 minute flight. As we flew I was praying about a few different things, that the little boy would be able to hang on until we were able to get him to a hospital, that the wind would remain calm and the airstrip clear for landing, and that my breakfast would remain where I had put it that morning. As we got close I began to hunt for the clearing on which we would land and as we came around the last mountain to do a fly over to check out the strip and wind sock, I was surprised at the length of the clearing we would be putting down on. As we touched down and rumbled our way up to the top of the airstrip, people came from all directions to meet the plane.
As quickly as possible, cargo was pulled off the plane that had been waiting in Goroka to go out to the people at Owena and the plane was made ready for the the sick little boy and the care giver that would be going with him. As the preparations were made, I was able to briefly catch up with the missionary who has been working with the people in this area for nearly 30 years. I was surprised to hear that there were death adders in this area of the country as it is the same elevation as Goroka at 5200', and he shared that they have lots of issues with snake bites and as reliable refrigeration is necessary to keep the anti-venom they are unable to have a supply available.
Naha, the snake bite victim, was lucky that the bite he received was on his finger and the poison didn't make its way into the blood stream quickly and he was able to get out to a main centre to receive treatment.