10-year-old leaves Monday for surgery…
On Monday we introduced you to a boy who was desperately ill and needed your help. Tonight, while we still have our fingers crossed for his survival, thanks to the community’s generosity, there is now some hope.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Tonight ten-year-old Neville Bermudez is fighting to survive the weekend. On Monday, a critical care paediatric air ambulance will arrive in Belize to rush the young student to Tampa Children’s Hospital in Florida where he will undergo emergency surgery to repair a collapsed mitral valve in his heart.
Neville Bermudez, Heart Patient
“I just want to say thanks to everybody who put together to save me on this surgery mission so that I can come back safely and give them more thanks.”
Janelle Chanona
“What you want to do when you come out the hospital? What are you looking forward to?”
Neville Bermudez
“Try talk to the people who help me through this surgery.”
Neville’s journey was organised through the efforts of his doctors at the K.H.M.H. and the Rotary Club’s Gift of Life Program. The U.S. medical institution has agreed to absorb the cost of the operation and aftercare. But according to Rotary?s Yvette Burks, contributions by the Belizean community have made Neville?s flight possible.
Yvette Burks, Coord., Rotary’s Gift of Life Program
“We have pledges, many pledges, it’s been awesome, the generosity of the community because having to use an air ambulance has totally exceeded Rotary’s capabilities. As you know, we send well over a dozen kids every year for open heart surgery and we have to stretch our little budget to fit all those kids so we certainly couldn’t afford to pay for Neville to fly up to the States by air ambulance, so the community has come through.”
Neville remains admitted to ward in the Intensive Care Unit of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. His mother, Elizabeth Dominguez, spent the day finalising immigration requirements.
Elizabeth Dominguez, Neville’s Mother
“I would say to any parent, please nuh give up, have faith and trust and do whatever they have to do. If they have to beg, beg, whatever it takes, because da your child. Same likewise, my child, I wah do whatever it takes for my child. Likewise I encourage parents out there that are in my situation or almost my situation, don’t give up and do likewise.”
Despite his critical condition, Neville is one of the lucky ones. According to local officials, there are many children whose economic status means the difference between life and death.
Yvette Burks
“The sad part is that if this had happened in a first world country or anywhere where this capability was available, Neville would have been able to be rushed into surgery, fixed up, and in about three to four weeks give his parents trouble again. It’s just delicate because of us being here and having to go through the process of getting approval, and then of course the transportation is a major deterrent due to the cost.”
Among the many, many people who donated to Neville Bermudez are the Orinco Group of Companies, Sagicor, J.M.A. Motors, Bravo Motors, Fabrigas, Bowen and Bowen, the Radisson Hotel, Brother’s Habet, and the students of Pallotti High School. On behalf of the family, a heartfelt thanks to all of you.
