A day may look like just another day in the life of a Delta woman—making sago, fishing, cooking, and caring for the children—but for Adamu, just another day suddenly became a fight for life.

The “just another day” at Titihui village all changed for Adamu at 11 a.m. by a bite, the bite of a death adder. Titihui village is situated in the low hills where the coastal wetlands meet the mountains of the highlands. There is no health aid post at Titihui or in any of the surrounding villages. Death by snakebite is feared by all these villagers; they can list you the names of those from their village who have died this frightening death.

The family scrambled to get Adamu into a dugout canoe and downriver to the sub-health centre at Karalti. They arrived at four p.m. with things not looking good for Adamu. Nurse Janet knew things were serious; it was too late for first aid, and with no antivenin, what could she do?

Kapuna Hospital was to the east and Kikori Hospital to the west, but there was no emergency fuel at the clinic. The only possible help was try to call for help, but it was a race against time. Janet managed to get through on her phone to Sr. Vaieke at Baimuru; Sr. Vaieke, who had WhatsApp, called Dr. Valerie. Dr. Valerie, however, was in Auckland, NZ, but she answered the call. How amazing is communication technology. Once Dr. Valerie had confirmed that Adamu was showing all the symptoms of snakebite, she first called Dr. Pais at Kikori Hospital, then a WhatsApp message to the medical team at Kapuna, which was seen, and plans were put in place. Soon after 7 p.m., the boat and the medical team were good to go, heading out in the rain and dark for the three-hour night trip across the Delta waterways to Karalti sub-health centre.

Finally, help was on its way; however, the team’s faces were worried as they knelt around Adamu. She was slipping away; would the antivenin get her back? The story is a happy story, as it is with all the best of stories; they have happy endings.

Within half an hour of the miracle antivenin being administered, Adamu was securely back in the world of the living, putting a smile on her husband’s face and 9-month-old baby and ensuring many happy tomorrows for her baby and family. The team from Kapuna remained till morning and then set off back to Kapuna with smiles of their own and the joy of a life saved.

With Samaritan Aviation working towards setting up their ministry in the Gulf, we are looking forward to seeing many more lives saved.

Medical version:

Thursday, March 13th, 2025, began like any other in the remote village of Karati, Papua New Guinea. But by midday, a life hung in the balance. A 30-year-old mother, breastfeeding her nine-month-old child, had been bitten by a venomous snake.

News of the emergency, relayed via a frantic WhatsApp message from Sr. Vaieke at Baimuru Health Center, reached Dr. Valarie in New Zealand at 9:15 AM NZ time. “Snake Bite Patient at Karati. They have no fuel for their boat to refer her.” The urgency was felt a world away.

The message sparked a flurry of  activity. Dr. Paias was tasked with contacting Karati for details, but communication was difficult. Time was critical. The patient, having been paddled in a dug-out canoe for hours, was showing severe symptoms: nausea, vomiting, and slurred speech.

“Send the team out now?” Valarie asked, echoing the growing concern. “Kapuna please prepare. Just get ready.”

Adam, on the ground, confirmed Kapuna’s readiness. “Kapuna is ready, I think we should just get ready and go.”

The decision was made. A rescue team, comprised of Manu Laiko, Charlie Jack, RMO Tracy, Nathan Omae, and Manu as the driver and torch man, was assembled. They packed IV lines, antivenom, atropine, and Neostigmine, preparing for a long and uncertain night.

At 7:45 PM, the rescue team embarked on their journey.

“Rescue team left now. Can everyone pray for safe travel and life to be saved,” Adam messaged.

The journey didn’t come without its usual jungle challenges. A sudden engine failure threatened to derail the mission, but after a tense 30 minutes, the problem was resolved, and the team continued on, arriving at Karati around 11 PM.

The team quickly found that the patient was not doing well, with the signs and symptoms of venom present, the team quickly administered the Anti-venom and in 30 minutes she started to respond well and her life was saved from the deadly venomous snake bite. If it was not for good communication, we would have lost a life, but we all thank our Heavenly Father and teamwork that led to a successful mission in saving a life, and keeping a family together. The team overnighted in Karati to keep an eye on the woman and returned to Kapuna the next day after seeing she was back to good health. Thank you all for your prayer support and for standing together with us to make this life-saving work possible.