So the thing about CAMTA missions is that one gets to really feel the gratitude of the patients whose lives we touch. They all express their gratitude in different ways. One of our patient's mother brought hand made jewellery and bags enough for all the female volunteers. Little Emilio's grandparents brought flowers for one of CAMTA's co-founders just to say thank you. The admin area is filled with fruit that one patient's family brings for the entire team. Team members do develop special bonds with patients and their families and that is what brings most of them back every year.
In the last two days, I made a little friend and this blog post is mostly about him.
Alexander Samuel Simisterra Enriquez is a happy 8 year old who passionately loves soccer. He was a last minute CAMTA patient who turned up for assessment on Thursday and was lucky enough to be scheduled for surgery the next day which also happened to be our last day. Alexander needed a Tibial Derotation Osteotomy to correct the abnormal twist on his right leg. In layman terms, this means that the doctors would have to make a cut in the front of the lower leg, cut the shin bone and then rotate the bone to the correct position. A simple procedure but one which his parents could not afford to have done on him.
From the minute he turned up, Alexander charmed everyone including me. I couldn't help but see my 8 year old Mandla in him who loves soccer just as much. Below are pictures of Alexander in the little time he spent with the CAMTA team.
Alexander arrives for admission at the CAMTA clinic with his mum and soccer ball.
Alexander showing off his soccer moves with translator Toby.
The next day, Alexander arrives at the pre-operative clinic.
The Pediatric Anesthetist (Kate Fry) and Recovery Room nurse (Bev Runka)
prep him for the hour long surgery.
The surgery is successful. Here, the surgeon, puts a cast on his leg before he is wheeled to the recovery room.
Alexander in recovery room with Recovery Room nurse Pauline and Anesthetist Kate
Once the effect of anesthesia wears off, Alexander is transferred to the Ward where a team of ward nurses
and physiotherapists attend to him. One of the GP's will also keep an eye on him while on the ward.
Alexander approximately 4 hours post surgery. All smiles as if the surgery was a walk in the park! The next day Alexander is discharged.
And so we come to the end of yet another successful CAMTA mission. Our last night is spent dining together as a team. The general mood at dinner is happy yet sad. Happy that we succeeded in what we set out to do but sad to be saying goodbye to the patients and to each other.
Thank you all once again for your support and for indulging me by reading my blog posts. I hope the work that CAMTA does inspires you to make a difference in someone's life.
May God bless you all whichever corner of the world you happen to be!
Much love to you all!
Sandra
With my lovely roommate, Alyssa
With Pediatric Anesthetist, Kate who travelled furthest to be on the team...Australia!
The lay team. Dan, Rachelle, Becca, Alyssa Karen and I
With Ward nurse, Erica.
Sightseeing Ecuador! In front of a house that belonged to the famous Ecuadorain artist: Guyasamin.
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