On 14 May 2022, Fanfina – the wife of gynaecologist Dr Mbaigoto – suffered a heart attack in Moundou, Chad’s second largest city After receiving treatment for two days at a hospital in Moundou, Fanfina’s condition became critical, and she needed urgent medical attention in N’Djamena, to save her life. The 372-mile journey overland along pothole-ridden roads would have taken 12 hours – so Dr Mbaigoto called MAF. Pilot Becki Dillingham prepared our aircraft for the 90-minute medevac flight to collect Fanfina, taking off early on 17 May, accompanied by MAF’s acting Operations Manager John Feil. The plane followed the Logone River which forms the border with Cameroon – Becki noting the dire state of the roads below and commenting that she could ‘see some of the potholes from the air, they’re that big!’ When they landed to collect the patient, Becki offered Dr Mbaigoto a seat on the aircraft, though he refused due to the pressing needs of local patients. Instead, he waved the flight off, asking Becki, ‘Please take good care of her.’The journey from Moundou in MAF’s Cessna 208 aircraft saved Fanfina’s life. Three weeks later, Fanfina – who’d recovered from her treatment – was discharged from the hospital in Chad’s capital. Doctors confirmed that she wouldn’t have survived the journey overland. Dr Mbaigoto is really grateful for MAF’s life-saving assistance. He says, ‘Fanfina is alive today thanks to this rapid evacuation and effective care. We are very grateful to the staff of MAF and the partners for this ideal flight. God bless you richly.’ Please pray
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