Arkun cheeran, Jayavarman Hospital

Arkun cheeran means «thank you very much» in Khmer, and if I have to think of something to say to end these two wonderful months in Cambodia, even if it might seem obvious, it’s exactly arkun. It’s a thank you from the heart, because my heart here has been filled with many strong and mixed emotions that I will always carry with me.

Arkun, because in this hospital I felt welcomed with open arms every single day. Everyone was incredibly kind to me, even if we couldn’t always understand each other with words. Often, just a look or a smile was enough to communicate.

Arkun to all the doctors and nurses who took the time and had the willingness to teach me so many things, with real one-on-one lessons on topics I had forgotten or only studied superficially at university, like dengue, which is rare back home but a daily reality here.

Arkun to all the midwives and gynecologists who made me fall in love with obstetrics. I was supposed to stay in the maternity ward for just two weeks, but I ended up staying five because I didn’t want to leave. In that ward, I met people who believed in me and encouraged me to believe in myself. Thanks to them, I learned to do things I never thought I could do alone, like supporting a woman during childbirth. The first baby I helped deliver was a mix of fear and adrenaline. I didn’t know how to hold the head, I was scared of hurting him, and the poor mother was in a lot of pain. The gynecologist with me had to take my hands, move them onto the baby’s body, and guide me patiently through the birth.

Five weeks later, thanks to the patience and support of the people I worked with in the delivery room, helping a baby be born felt a little easier and more natural. During the last birth I followed, I was finally able to enjoy the emotion of seeing a new life begin.

During these five weeks, I was deeply impressed by the strength of Cambodian women. Every day, they go through the final part of labor alone, without any epidural. Birth is a magical moment, but also very painful and full of risks for both mother and baby. That’s why it’s so important that every woman can give birth in a safe place, where any problems can be treated quickly and where care continues after the baby is born.

In the maternity ward of Jayavarman Hospital, about 60 babies are born every day, and 13 cesareans are performed. The care provided is completely free and of high quality, with ultrasound machines, the ability to manage emergencies quickly, and highly trained staff. I truly understood how big the impact of this ward is just by walking through the streets of Siem Reap, where so many people told me their children were born right here, speaking about the hospital with deep affection and gratitude.

So, my biggest thank you goes to all the people who make the work of this hospital possible: to the healthcare workers who care for patients every day, but also to those working behind the scenes in administration, and to those who support this important project through their donations. Thanks to all of them, many babies and mothers are saved every single day. For me, it was a true honor to see this reality up close and to learn from the staff of the hospital.

With best regards

Laura

P.S.

To all the doctors who might be reading this: this is what I meant to say during my goodbye speech on the last day … but, as you probably noticed, I got a bit emotional, started crying, and ended up saying a few very random and disconnected sentences instead. So here it is now, properly written down, from the heart, and in full sentences.