When a brand-new baby girl appeared from the operating room tent and Samar’s grandmother learned both mom and baby were safe and healthy, she couldn’t suppress her joy. Other women joined in with cries of excitement that drew smiles from everyone in earshot.

Samar already has two sons, and now she has Farha, which means happiness.

“I’m familiar with the cesarean section,” Samar said, “but here it was a different experience. Even in the operating theater, I felt that everybody was taking care of me.”

Two days later, Samar was ready to go home, or at least, the place she is calling home for now.

“I’m going to share about my experience in the hospital with others. I’m going to tell people about the nice treatment that I received here.”

In Sudan, it’s common to have many children, and this little boy is Ayam’s ninth!

When we asked how she was feeling before giving birth, Ayam said, “I’m not nervous.”

Her other eight children were all delivered at home, but a lot has changed for Ayam since coming to Gedaref eight months ago. She doesn’t have a comfortable place to give birth here, and the local women’s shelter suggested Samaritan’s Purse Emergency Field Hospital.

As Ayam labored, we spoke with her Aunt Nyagoa, who has come to help. She explained that in the public hospital she would be responsible for changing IV bags, sheets, and meals—anything the patient needed. Since everything is provided free of charge at Samaritan’s Purse hospital, Nyagoa sits and chats about how much she adores little babies.

When Ayam goes back to deliver, she sits outside, listening expectantly…

“I was consumed by happiness when I heard the cry of the baby!” – Aunt Nyagoa

Najawa’s life has been full of difficulties since coming to Gedaref one year ago. Her husband hasn’t been able to find work, and the family of seven live at a shelter for displaced people. Still, she was filled with relief and joy to hold her new son in her arms.

During past cesarean-sections, Najawa said she was unconscious, but at Samaritan’s Purse field hospital, she was able to meet her son right away and remembers everything from his birth.

“What I have found here is perfect. Thank you for what you have done. You spare nothing.”

When Majda learned she was expecting twins, she was not surprised. After all, her mother had not one, but two sets!

As she prepares for her first cesarean section, Majda said she is a bit nervous, but she can’t wait to hold her little ones.

After her successful surgery, we peaked in on Majda, and she waved us over to see her babies—a healthy girl and boy. She and her mother, sitting beside her, were both beaming.

When we showed Malik a photo of her with her first child, a daughter, tears began rolling down her cheeks.

“I always wanted to be a mother. I can’t even describe my feelings. I’m overwhelmed by happiness.”

Sharing her birth story, Malik said that she had excessive bleeding after delivery, and she’s grateful for the doctors and nurses who saved her.

“The whole team took care of me,” Malik said. “As your doctors have helped me today, I wish when my daughter grows up, she’ll be a doctor so she can help others.”