Story of Hope
by Thomas Pryor
“Harapan” and Thomas Pryor
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On Dec. 26, 2004, the world witnessed one of the greatest natural
disasters in recorded history, an event described to me by a survivor
as “a hand that reached out of the ocean, bringing death
and chaos to whatever it touched.” To date, the dead or
missing stands at more than 225,000 people, with billions of dollars
in destruction and despair in its aftermath. No area was ravaged
more than the province of Banda Aceh, Indonesia, less than 150
kilometers from the epicenter of the magnitude 9.15 earthquake
that triggered the tsunami.
My personal involvement in the relief effort was as a nurse in
the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), under the direction of
U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona. The mission of the USPHS
is “protecting, promoting and advancing the health and safety
of the nation.” In this case, however, the mission took
on global implications. I was assigned to the hospital ship USNS
Mercy as part of an integrated coalition of U.S. Navy, USPHS and
Project Hope medical and nurse volunteers. As part of Operation
Unified Assistance, we were deployed off the shores of Banda Aceh
to offer humanitarian assistance to the Indonesian government
and, most of all, to the people of Banda Aceh.
On the second day after our arrival, the ship received word from
an Australian medical team onshore of an 11-year-old boy with
respiratory failure. Because he was unable to breathe spontaneously,
a breathing tube was inserted and he was emergently evacuated
to the ship, where he was placed on a mechanical ventilator.
Because of my pediatric experience, my primary nursing role in
this mission would be the care of this boy, referred to in my
journal as “Harapan,” Indonesian for hope. Suffering
from what has been described as “tsunami lung,” a
severe infection caused by swallowing muddy, bacteria-laden water,
Harapan required aggressive respiratory and ventilator management,
blood transfusions, antibiotics and other medical support in the
weeks that followed. I worked 12 to 14 hours a day, taking care
of Harapan and precepting critical-care nurses who were caring
for other pediatric patients.
Speaking to Harapan’s uncle in his native language, I provided
reassurance and support. I explained the monitors, alarms, tubes
and wires connected to his nephew. As we watched Harapan fight
for his life, a bond was forged between us, and he told me the
boy’s incredible story of resilience and fortitude.
Two days after the tsunami, Harapan was found floating in the
ocean on a piece of debris by local fishermen and was taken to
a camp for displaced persons. Weeks later, his uncle found him
and told him that his parents, siblings and extended family—40
people—were all killed by the tsunami. Only his uncle, aunt
and cousin had survived.
Imagine the aunt’s anguish as she watched her nephew being
taken by helicopter to the “big white ship from America.”
The Mercy was viewed by Indonesians with suspicion and uncertainty.
By caring for those in need, its diverse crew practiced health
diplomacy. Building relationships based on compassionate bedside
care, the people involved in Operation Unified Assistance overcame
political, social, cultural and religious barriers, providing
a model of health diplomacy based on humanitarian principles and
global health ideals. It is hoped that these ideals will endure
and be furthered in a world community often separated by global
differences and indifferences.
Miraculously, after four weeks of providing one-on-one nursing
care to Harapan, I had the unforgettable experience of escorting
him back to Banda Aceh, where he was reunited with his new family.
As we embraced and said our goodbyes, Harapan and each member
of that family held my hands and said, “Terima kasih, menyetujui
cinta dan kelaurga kami,” which means, “Thank you,
and accept our love and family.” It is a family that will
forever be held close to my heart and remembered as one that found
Hope in the midst of despair.
Author Update: It looks like I will be returning
to Banda—almost exactly one year later—to assist Project
Hope for two weeks as a volunteer in establishing a pulmonary
clinic and to train local providers. Also, after a lot of effort
I have tracked down "Harapan" and his family and am
looking forward to a reunion with them. I have been told he is
doing well. RNL
Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Pryor, RN, BSN, is a commissioned
officer in the U.S. Public Health Service, assigned to Indian
Health Services (IHS). Recently, after helping Hurricane Katrina
victims in Baton Rouge, La., he relocated from Scottsdale, Ariz.,
to Pagosa Springs, Colo., for a new assignment as public health
nurse with IHS’s Jicarilla service unit in Dulce, N.M. For
more information about his tsunami-relief experiences, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/journal.
