The traffic accident on 27th September was a car hit a motorbike. 2 people on the motorbike severely injured. One got broken arm, the other got broken leg. Both of them are compound fracture. We transport them to Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh.
It was almost mid night when the ambulance returned to the Graphis Health Center. After the response, inside of the ambulance was full of blood and ambulance crews needed to stop at the Side by Side International's Phnom Penh office to clean up the car.
Yesterday, 28th September started as relatively quiet day. Some children came with their parents to get vaccination in the morning. Graphis Health Center staff took care of a long-term inpatient. Clean hear wound, wipe her body, help her eating breakfast. It looked a quiet day.
Around 16:00, a van arrived at Graphis Health Center. A family transported a diabetes lady. She was almost unconscious, having short of breath. Her blood pressure was so high that our machine could not measure it. She had very severe wound on her left leg due to the diabetes. According to her family, she had been quite sick for about 6 months but never been to any other hospital. The family drove her over 120 km from Phnom Penh to Graphis Health Center.
It was very unfortunately too late to save her. Her body reaction shows her internal organs are destroyed already. Around 20:00, we explained to the family members that they should prepare for the last moment.
In Cambodia, people rarely die at hospitals but at home. When patients reach to the last stage, family take patient back home, call monks for a ceremony. For this diabetes lady's case, her home is in Kompong Cham Province, which is too far to transport from Graphis Health Center. We suggested the family to hold a ceremony at the health center.
We prepared tents and necessary tools to hold the ceremony. We invite local monks to Graphis Health Center. Around 21:00, monks arrived and we started the ceremony. At 00:05 this morning, sent by Buddhist chant and with attendance of our medical staff, the lady passed away.
After the family decided to hold the ceremony, we concentrate our medical care to minimizer her pain. We really wish the lady had the peaceful last moment, physically and mentally.
This morning around 06:00, the family departed from Graphis Health Center. They really appreciate our treatment and service for these 2 days.
Graphis Health Center goes back to the normal operation and prepare for the next emergency.
