This blog will be part two of the information regarding the
Cardiac Kids. I profiled Kenneth andLydia on my blog a few days ago. Before
I move on to introduce you to the other two heart patients, I would like to
update you on Lydia. I just got word
from Dr. Martin this morning, and he says that Lydia has stabilized on some new
medication. She has been scheduled for
surgery on August 2nd, as long as she remains stable. Please pray that, over the next 32 days, she
will remain stable and be able to have the procedure done. Compared to the other Cardiac Kids, this
procedure is more simple, but her disease has progressed to more problems.
The third “That One Person” with heart problems is
Mercy.
She is 2 years old and, like Lydia and Kenneth, is from
Rushere. We noticed her in the Rushere
clinic that we did 6 weeks ago. She was
very afraid of Mzungus, so it was hard to examine her. In fact, despite her big heart problem, I
could not determine a murmur over the screaming. We did notice the “clubbing” of her
fingers. This is a problem where the
finger tips get thicker in response to chronic low levels of oxygen. We see it commonly in people with chronic
COPD. She went on the bus to Mbarara
with Dr. Abdul and then to Mulago. She
has been found to have Tetralogy of Fallot.
This is a problem where parts of the heart and big vessels entering or
exiting the heart are on the wrong side.
This is a surgery that cannot be done in Uganda, except for the fact
that a visiting surgeon from the West (UK I think), comes to do surgery. She has been put on medicine, and awaits the
visiting surgeon for her operation in December.
This will be the most complicated and expensive surgery of the 4. We don’t have an exact amount for that
surgery yet, because they are still pricing and getting some of the supplies
that they will need for the surgery. I
am estimating that this operation, and care surrounding it, will cost around
$10,000 USD. What a blessing that she
will be able to have this done without traveling to another country. If she had needed to come to the US, her
costs and family disruption would have been much greater.
Our fourth Cardiac Kid is Joseph.
Joseph is a 12 year old boy from Soroti. We found Joseph on our last trip that we made
while in Uganda. We saw him on a
Saturday, and were standing in Oklahoma the following Friday. He is easy going young man with a big
smile. The interpreter, that I was
working with in Soroti, pointed out Joseph to me because he had noticed that
Joseph was not growing and seemed to have muscle wasting. He wanted me to check him over to make sure
that he did not have a big illness going on.
Joseph’s heart murmur gave away at least one of his problems. He was seen at Mulago, and found to have a
large PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosis) that is causing some dilated left heart
chambers and some pulmonary hypertension. The PDA allows blood to flow in the wrong
direction in his heart. Joseph has been put on medication and scheduled for
surgery on August 20th. The
estimated cost for the operation, hospitalization, medications, and family
travel will be $1,500 USD. He has some
dilation of his heart, but this should improve if the problem is corrected.
Please join me in praying for Joseph and Mercy. They have life saving and life changing
surgeries coming up. We are praying that
the healing that they receive will be a display of God’s love to their families
and their villages. We pray that people
will be drawn to Jesus from their care.
If you feel called to help with these two awesome kids, please email me
at dueunto@gmail.com. I’d be happy to give you more information
about these kids and their families.
Here is a quick update on my buddy Jamil. I got an email from Pastor Fred this week
that said that Jamil has moved into the boarding school and is progressing well
in his classes. The Due Unto Others supporters
have sponsored Jamil through the end of 2012 by paying for his school, room and
board and by getting his uniforms, bedding, towels, shoes etc.
You can see from this picture that Jamil is happy about this
new lease on life that he has received after having the large tumor removed
from behind his eye. Thank you to all
who have been praying for Jamil and for those who have helped sponsor his
surgery and school.
Jay
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