After 8 days under the rubble, a Turkish teenager is treated in Samaritan's Purse field hospital
"I remember waking up and hearing the birds. My father was running towards us, but the building started to collapse. At that moment, I knew that my father and my mother had just died."
Mehmet is 14 years old. He was buried with his family in the 7,8 magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on February 6. The teenager held his little sister's hand for a long time under the rubble, but she did not survive. Likewise, his brother once stopped responding to him. Mehmet is the sole survivor of his family. But he was found by the emergency services and is now being cared for in the field hospital in Samaritan's Purse.
On February 13, the Franklin Graham organization's field hospital began receiving its first patients. Nearly 80 were taken care of in the first 24 hours. Among them, Mehmet. This teenager is accompanied by his uncle.
He arrived at the health center dehydrated and injured. His uncle rubs his feet to warm him up. An interpreter tries to make him drink. Tells him about the morning of February 6.
"I remember waking up and hearing the birds. My father was running towards us, but the building started to collapse. At that moment, I knew that my father and my mother had just died."
When he is under the rubble, Mehmet dreams of his family bringing him oranges, honey and comforting him, "keep calm, they will save you".
But it is only 8 days later, when the rescuers think they find only bodies, that Mehmet's uncle hears his weak call for help. "I was so happy," he recalls.
Every day, Mehmet progresses towards his recovery. He is now able to sit up and get into a wheelchair.
Samaritan's Purse calls for prayer for the victims of this earthquake, but also for the staff of this field hospital.
MC
