HPIC at Work

Rescued from a plane on fire in Goma

On April 15, a passenger jet attempting to take off crashed into a crowded marketplace in Goma, DRC, killing dozens. Mapenzi, who had recently lost her husband to malaria, was on that plane with her three daughters. She was going to her brother's house - to a new town, a new job, a new life.

She tells her story: "When I realized our plane had crashed, my first thought was, How am I going to save my children?

"I pushed Lola, my 8 year old, in front of me, but she clung to my skirts and yelled, 'Mummy, we're burning!' Right after that a huge man came up behind me, passed out and fell on top of me. I said to myself, That's it. We're finished. We are going to die here as there is no way to get out now.

"I put my baby, Stella, down for a minute, but when I looked back at her I saw flames where she was sitting. Then I took my two hands and pushed that big, fat man off of me. I picked up Stella and put Lola in front of me again. Right away I saw a light. I pushed towards the window. People outside the plane saw me steering Lola and said, 'Give her to us!' They pulled her out of the plane, and then I tossed the baby out to them. Next I picked up Horeli who is 5 and the rescuers pulled us out together.

"After that I can't remember what happened for awhile. I think I blacked out. Someone recognized us and brought us to HEAL Africa Hospital. When I came to, I looked around me and couldn't see the girls. I went crazy, yelling and throwing things around. I picked up my intravenous bottle and tubing and ran outside screaming, 'Where are my kids?!'

"I have deep burns on my back, so I'm still having dressing changes and treatment with antibiotics. Since we've been here at the hospital, the doctors and nurses have taken good care of us. That has been about the only bright spot, that and the kindness of our friends from church.

"I had sold our house and all we had in Goma to have some money to start our new life. All we owned was in our suitcases on board. I lost everything in the crash, including the cash I was carrying with me. It was all burned. But my girls and I were saved."

HPIC provides wound dressings and other medical supplies to HEAL Africa Hospital for the treatment of people like Mapenzi and her children.