Nine-year-old has new lease on life
There is no shortage of stories on this newscast that cover the activities of various service and charitable organisations. Many times the coverage seems trite or needless, as it usually consists of some trivial donation for some meaningless purpose. But the family profiled in this next story will tell you that the help they received was anything but trivial and as for meaning, it was no less important than life itself. Jacqueline Woods reports.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Doctors did not expect young Rayford Laing to live to see his tenth birthday. But one month ago, this nine-year-old underwent open-heart surgery that has given him back the rest of his life.
Beulah Laing, Grandmother
“He couldn’t do a lot of things. He couldn’t play, he couldn’t run like the way he want, he couldn’t play ball the way he want, he use to get tired, then he would sweat you know. Then sometimes he wouldn’t tell if here (points to chest) hurt him, no time. But he would say he feels tired.”
Laing was born with an enlarged hole in his heart. The defect created an obstruction that prevented the child’s blood from being properly oxygenated. It made Laing susceptible to strokes, heart attacks and a number of other life-threatening conditions. Because Belize does not have the kind of medical facilities needed to treat the problem, a child born here with congenital heart disease, is not expected to live long.
Yvette Burks, Co-ordinator, Gift For Life
“So the life expectancy obviously and the very quality of life is diminished significantly for these children. Very few children with congenital heart defect make it beyond forty or fifty years old.”
Yvette Burks is co-ordinator for the local chapter of Gift for Life. The project, which is managed by Rotary International, truly gives young heart patients the gift of life. Through its local affiliates, each year approximately ten children are sent to the United States to receive surgery. However, because worldwide the demand is so great, sometimes it takes a year before a child can go.
Two years ago, Laing’s name was put on a waiting list, but it was not until June of this year that the family received the news that a medical team was ready to receive him at Tampa Children’s Hospital at St. Joseph. Beulah and Alfonso Laing, who both raised their grandson, admit it was a nervous time.
Alfonso Laing, Grandfather
“I will tell you the truth, I never feel too bad, I never feel too good neither. But I’m just praying to God that he will get true, because he’s the only one that can help us in doing these things. And I just ask ah to wait until that time comes.”
On June twenty eight, Laing successfully underwent surgery. While in Tampa, the boy became something of a celebrity after his story was covered in several news media. Today, for the first time, the grandparents got to see the overwhelming response their grandson received in the United States.
Beulah Laing
“They did a great job and everything was good. And I’m happy about it, happy and glad.”
Yvette Burks
“So many of these children do have diseases or problems, which are fixable that they could live a normal life. And for me, if one person is able to go on and live a normal life and become a productive citizen. Whether or not he becomes the Prime Minister, or if he is one of our good handy domestic engineers or whatever they’re called now, the thing is, that’s a productive citizen in our lives. That just feels great for me.”
But no one could be more blessed than the young patient himself. Rayford, who loves to play basketball is just happy to be back in play. Reporting for News 5, Jacqueline Woods.
Viewers who would like more information on the Gift For Life programme can get in touch with Yvette Burks at 223-3292.
