Earthquake Critically Injures Little Cynthia

Operation Blessing Indonesia’s emergency teams have been helping earthquake survivors on Nias Island for more than two weeks. As of April 8th, doctors have treated 2,127 people injured during the quake. OB emergency workers have also given desperate families 20,000 relief packages containing food and supplies. Every day OB medical teams look for more wounded by surveying devastated areas. That is how they found Cynthia.

This little 8-year-old’s face was swollen; her head wrapped up in gauze. Although the earthquake demolished the family’s house and destroyed most of their few belongings, everyone was alive. For this, Cynthia’s father Herdi was thankful. His daughter’s serious head injury, however, was a great concern for him.

Concern turned to relief when an OB medical team came to Cynthia’s village and administered emergency first aid. Then they transported Herdi and Cynthia along with other patients to our medical base. Those with serious cases like Cynthia went on to the hospital in Medan. Along the way, Cynthia shared her survival story.

It was a terrifying experience. When the earth began shaking she had run and slipped over a pipe, falling down. The earthquake knocked buildings over and her small body got pinned among the ruins. “I tried to continue running, but I couldn’t, since I was weighed down by a beam. ‘Lord, please help me’ - I could only utter those words. I finally managed to get rid of the beam and crawled out.” Even though her head was throbbing and bleeding, the brave girl got to the safety of her father’s arms.

Earthquake Survivors Need Your Help
Thousands of injured and homeless children and their families need our assistance right now. They need food, shelter and medical attention to stay alive.