chapter 27

Amanda and Michael Dombrowski decided that they wanted to go somewhere truly exotic for their honeymoon. Amanda didn't feel much like competing with a bunch of toned and tanned girls in teeny bikinis and frankly all Michael wanted to do was lie beside Amanda and softly and slowly massage her massive belly. They chose to go to the island of Aranuku in the South Pacific. It was remote and isolated and there were no big, fancy resorts around. In fact, the only accommodations they could book for their honeymoon was literally a grass hut.

They flew to Australia first and then made their way to Aranuku. The weather was warm and balmy. The sun shone down on them, lending a magic touch of a golden haze to their day. They packed lightly, VERY lightly. Amanda purchased a couple of sarongs from a specialty boutique she found in Bolingbrook, and apart from toothpaste, toothbrush, and comb, that was about all she took. Michael took a couple of tee shirts, two pair of shorts, also toothpaste, toothbrush and a hair brush. Fortunately, he also brought along a heavy duty sun screen because while the sun painted a beautiful golden picture, it could burn the hide off an elephant.

They were about half a mile from Baurua village with a population of about two hundred people. One night, just as sun was setting and Amanda and Michael were just getting up off the beach to go to their hut, they saw somebody running towards them. At first they were slightly alarmed, but then a voice called out asking for Amanda. As it turns out it was Ramauna, the travel agent who had booked their honeymoon. He apologized profusely for bothering them but it seemed there was a medical emergency. A little girl about six years old appeared to have a burst appendix and she needed immediate medical attention. They had a clinic in the village but their doctor was in Australia attending a medical convention. Ramauna asked if Amanda might come and take care of the little girl.

Amanda lumbered over to the village, stopped by the clinic and checked out the little girl. She did indeed have a burst appendix and needed emergency surgery right away. It had been years since Amanda had done an appendectomy but she had no choice. Fortunately, all her surgical skills came back to her and she saved the girl from any medical complications.

This had a profound effect on Amanda. It reminded her of just why she had decided to become a doctor in the first place. Long story short, Michael and Amanda decided to stay in Baurua. Amanda was the resident physician and Michael opened a small cafe for the occasional tourist trade. It was a drastic change from their previous lives, but they found the time they spent among the people of Baurua rich and rewarding.

They would come back to Chicago from time to time but they were more than satisfied with their new island home!