CHAPTER 18 PATIENT WITH PENICILLIN ALLERGY
After some time serving at the Advent Medical Clinic in Pontianak, Perry and his wife experienced many situations in their mission work as nurses. This clinic served between 100 and 150 patients per day, not including those who came outside of regular hours.
One day, while the clinic was still crowded with patients, a man came rushing in, carrying his child—around seven years old—on his lap. The child was unconscious, bluish in color, and limp in his father’s arms. He was brought straight to the emergency room, passing through lines of patients still waiting to be seen.
It was discovered that the child had already come for treatment that morning. According to the clinic’s records, he had presented with a fever, cough, and sore throat. He had previously experienced similar symptoms and had been treated with an injection of Penstrep (Penicillin + Streptomycin), along with cough medicine and fever reducers if needed. According to the father, the child had quickly recovered with that treatment. Therefore, since the symptoms were the same and the previous result had been very good, Perry repeated the same treatment—injecting Penstrep and prescribing the same medications.
Not long after leaving the clinic, however, the child had an allergic reaction on the way home. He was immediately rushed back to the clinic. The staff sprang into action. Unfortunately, at that time, the clinic had no oxygen supply. Perry checked the boy’s heartbeat—it was irregular, and his circulation was clearly impaired. His entire body had turned blue. By sight alone, one might conclude the child was already dead. But through the stethoscope, Perry could still detect a faint and irregular heartbeat, indicating there was still a chance of recovery.
At that moment, Perry felt that simply injecting an antihistamine (anti-allergy medication) into the muscle would not be sufficient to save him. A different approach was needed. He drew a dose of adrenaline into a syringe and asked for a long needle. With heartfelt prayer and surrender, he injected the adrenaline directly into the child’s heart. After inserting the needle, he aspirated a bit of blood—then immediately injected the medicine into the heart. Within seconds, the child jerked his arms and legs. He was quickly given antihistamines and other necessary medications. The outcome was positive: the child began showing clearer signs of life.
The waiting patients could feel the urgency of the emergency unfolding before them. All of the clinic staff focused their full attention on this one child. Not long after, he regained consciousness, although still weak.
They advised the father not to take the child home immediately. Instead, they placed him in the observation room while continuing to treat the other patients. Many of those waiting asked Perry about the child’s condition, and he replied that the boy had recovered. The patients were amazed, as they had seen the boy when he arrived—looking like a corpse. Perry always pointed to one thing: it was by God’s grace! They responded with “Amen,” and shared in that sentiment.
That evening, after all the patients had been treated and it was time to go home, they walked the boy to the clinic door. As they were parting ways, the father said to Perry,
"Sir, you don’t need to burden yourself too much or feel pressured. I know not all patients who come here will recover. If everyone did, there would be no cemetery in front of this clinic. Praise God, my child has recovered."
What encouraging words! Apparently, Perry’s face had shown just how tense and stressed he had been—something the boy’s father had noticed.
About three years later, Perry had a reason to cross the Kapuas River from the city to Siantan. It was still very early in the morning, and he took a boat, as there was no bridge across the Kapuas River at the time. In the middle of the river, the boatman suddenly said,
“Sir, do you remember that boy who was nearly dead when he was brought to the Advent Medical Clinic? Since that day, he’s been completely healthy—never got sick again.”
At first, Perry thought the man was about to say the boy had passed away—but it was quite the opposite. Perry replied, “Praise the Lord for His blessings.”
The boatman seemed genuinely happy to meet Perry again on his boat.