Baby with rare disorder flown to Virginia for surgery

A private jet landed at the Phillip Goldson Airport this morning to transport Baby Brian Williams Junior to Richmond, Virginia. The infant was born in January with a rare abnormality. Because surgery is costly and is not available locally, the World Pediatric Project arranged surgery for him overseas. His parents are overjoyed at the goodwill of the Project. Duane Moody has that story.

“He was born with a little defect on his esophagus, but he will get over it.”

Duane Moody, Reporting

Twenty-two days ago, this baby boy, Brian Raymond Williams Junior, was born to parents Brian Williams Senior and Loydi Ku. But couple days later, while under observation, baby Brian was diagnosed with esophageal atrecia—an abnormality, which according to Pediatrician, Doctor Cecilio Eck, occurs once a year.

Dr. Cecilio Eck, Pediatrician

“While on the nursery being fed, the baby started to vomit. So the resident we have on, Doctor Borland, recognized the problem, he admitted the child on our ward and we realized that the baby did not have an esophagus—the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. We stabilized the baby. We get a child with this abnormality maybe once a year and we arrange with the surgeons abroad to accept the baby.”

But since January, baby Brian has had several complications and there was urgent need for corrective surgery abroad.

Dr. Cecilio Eck

“The baby has had several setbacks where the baby would choke on some of the saliva, went in the lung and the baby needed to go on the ventilator for a few days. We are at the point now where with the help of Friends of Pediatrics, World Pediatrics and our partners in the states, in Richmond Virginia, agreed to accept this baby and do this specialized surgery aboard. So it’s a miracle for this kid; he has gone through a lot so far.”

A miracle indeed, says the family and representatives from World Pediatric Project agree. Preparations were made and the baby was taken by ambulance to the Phillip Goldson International Airport to a waiting private jet. Accompanied by his aunt, baby Brian will be taken to a hospital in Richmond, Virginia.

Loydi Ku, Mother of Infant

“He’s getting help from the grace of god.”

Brian Williams Sr., Father of Infant

“Right now we just have everything in the hands of god you know. Right now we just have trust and faith and leave everything in the hands of god.”

Milagro Garel, Country Representative, World Pediatric Project

“It is really an overwhelming experience and we are very grateful for all the partners in Richmond because I don’t know if this is every going to be able to happen again to have a private jet come for one of our babies. And the reason that came about is that the airlines are no longer able to provide oxygen for us to transport the babies for life-saving surgery.”

The transportation and medical procedure, according to Doctor Eck, will cost over a hundred thousand dollars.

Dr. Cecilio Eck

“It entails connecting the end of the esophagus to the distal part, the bottom part, so that the baby has a working system so that the baby can survive. Without it, the baby will surely die.”

Milagro Garel

“It is a complex surgery that he needs to repair the incomplete esophagus to be able to make it; to be able to eat.”

Dr. Cecilio Eck

“For me and you, it is priceless; we can’t afford it in Belize. These guys are sending down a private jet with a team to transport the baby from here to Richmond. The cost of an air ambulance alone is about twenty-five thousand U.S. The surgery itself, getting the baby prepared for surgery and then the surgery and the follow-up care would take at least a month in the hospital. You do the math, at maybe a thousand U.S. a day, crazy man.”

If the surgery is successful, baby Brian Raymond Junior will return to the country in about two to three months. Duane Moody for News Five.

This is the second child born to the Belize City couple, Brian Williams Senior and Loydi Ku.