Three-day-old baby of train crash victim dies

Three-day-old baby of train crash victim dies

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Under the scorching heat on Monday, the family of Slamet Purwanto
who survived the train collision on Thursday buried their three-
day-old baby in Gunung Putri public cemetery, just 15 minutes
walk from their home in Bojong Gede, Bogor regency.

Her mother, Ida Nurhayati, who broke her left hand in the
crash, was still in shock over the death of Retno Kartika Dewi,
who was born by caesarean section right after the accident. Retno
died late on Sunday due to respiratory difficulties.

"We had been looking forward to another daughter," said
Slamet, 35, who already has three sons and a daughter. "But, we
were only allowed to have her for a very short time."

Ida's water broke in the accident, although her baby was not
yet due. The doctors at Siaga Raya hospital in Pejaten, South
Jakarta, were forced to deliver the baby two weeks before the due
date.

Due to her poor condition, the doctors transferred Retno to
Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for intensive treatment.

"The baby had a high respiratory rate commonly found in near-
term babies and her lungs were not well-developed," pediatrician
Jusuf Effendi explained.

Ida, a fish monger, had to stay behind at the Siaga Raya
hospital until she was released on Monday morning to accompany
Retno to her last resting place.

On that ill-fated Thursday afternoon, Ida, Slamet and their
two younger children had taken the Bogor-Jakarta train to shop
for fish Ida sells door-to-door in her neighborhood.

When it crashed into another train packed with commuters in
Rawa Buaya, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, all four were injured
but only Ida needed to stay longer in the hospital.

The accident injured more than 600 passengers. The government
has pledged to cover all medical expenses.

"It was fate that led our family to grief like this," said
Slamet, who works as a public minivan driver. "At least, we do
not have to think about the medical costs." (003)