An Ascot doctor reunited a woman with the nurse whose life they saved during childbirth 30 years ago.
Dr Keith Thompson, 68, was touring with Mercy Ships, a floating hospital charity alongside nurse Aly Hogarth-Hall when they came across a woman who was undergoing an agonising four-day labor.
After offering to pay the $100 from his own pocket, both Catherine Conteh and her baby daughter Regina, successfully came through the cesarean and were both completely healthy.
Before passing away in April 2023 after a battle with cancer, Keith reunited nurse Aly and Cathrine in an emotional phone reunion.
Cathrerine Conteh and Aly paid tribute to Keith as they came together in person to volunteer together onboard the international charity Mercy Ships latest hospital boat.
After reconnecting, the two were reunited in person as they now volunteer together on board the international charity Mercy Ships latest hospital boat.
Although they lost touch for years, Catherine and her daughter Regina were inspired to become nurses after being saved by the kindness of strangers.
Catherine said: “To see her in person again, I couldn’t believe it. We just sobbed. We cried and cried.
“The other aspect is it’s my hometown where I was born. I’m coming home to come and serve, not only Mercy Ships but my country.”
Aly said: “To see Catherine again, it's very surreal really, and it’s not something I ever expected until we made contact again, 18 months ago or so. That’s something I never expected to do, so it was overwhelming really.”
The pair reflected on Dr Thomson and how much it would have meant to him to see them together.
Aly said: “This is his legacy in a way. This is a tribute to him in a lot of ways because his dream was for us to come together here, and he realised that before he passed away.”
Catherine said she made the journey from Australia, propelled by the encouragement of her daughter, Regina, now a 30-year-old mother to a young son.
She added: “It’s a privilege for me, serving. Apart from being my people, any aspect of serving somebody is a privilege because you may not have that privilege tomorrow, so if you have it today, it’s a blessing by itself. I felt so blessed to come back and serve my people.”
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