7 News Belize

Newborn Flown Out For Life-Saving Surgery
posted (February 20, 2013)
Tonight, a newborn from Belize is in the USA receiving emergency attention after he was flown out on a private jet today.

He left from the KHMH this morning, and 7News was there. Daniel Ortiz reports:

Daniel Ortiz Reporting

Baby Bryan Raymond Williams Jr. is a fighter who's survived the short 22 days of his life with a birth defect where his digestive tract is not fully formed.

Doctors in Belize have identified the problem, but he needs specialized help not available here.

Dr. Cecelio Eck - Pediatrician
"Baby Brian was born 22 days ago, and while in the nursery, being fed, the baby started to vomit. So, the resident we have on, Dr. Borland, recognized the problem; we admitted the child in our ward. And we realized that the baby didn't have an esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. We stabilized the baby. We get a child like this with this abnormality maybe once a year, and we arrange with the surgeons abroad to accept the baby. Between then and now, the baby has had several setbacks, where the baby would choke on some of the saliva. It went into the lungs, 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 Pediatric Project, and our partners in the states in Ridgmond Virginia, they've agreed to accept this baby, and do this specialized surgery abroad."

Nevertheless, his family is hopeful, and according to them, their prayers have been answered in an amazing way:

Bryan Williams - Father
"Right now, we only have things in the hands of God. We just have trust and faith, and we're leaving everything in the hands of God."

Loydi Ku - Mother
"He's getting help from the grace of God. He's doing fine."

According to this doctor, he still has a long road ahead of him.

Dr. Cecelio Eck
"Well, it entails connecting the end of the esophagus to the distal part - the bottom part - so that the baby has a working food tube, so that he can eat and survive. Without it, the baby will surely die. Usually, it will be a slow death because the baby will slowly starve without that connection from the mouth to the stomach. You slowly wither away and die. Unusually, infections would come in. So, all of that has happened since this baby was born 22 days ago, but we've stabilized him enough to travel."

And the first part of that journey started here at the KHMH, where he was transported from the Hospital to the PGIA in Ladyville where a private jet was being prepped for his flight to Virginia.

The complicated surgery and plus all the accommodations necessary, the experts say that it's so valuable, they can't put a price on it:

Milagro Garel - Representative, World Pediatric Project, Belize
"This is really an overwhelming experience, and we're very greatful for all the partners in Ridgmond because I don't know if this is ever 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 surgeries."

Dr. Cecelio Eck
"For you and I, it's priceless. We can't afford it in Belize. These guys are sending down a private jet with a team to transport the baby to Ridgmond. The cost of an air ambulance alone is about $25,000 US. The surgery itself, getting the baby prepared for surgery, then the surgery and follow-up care would take maybe at least a month in the hospital. And you do the math, at maybe a thousand dollars US a day, it's crazy money."

Milagro Garel
"I really can't put a dollar figure to it. All I know is that the baby is going to get esophogeal atresia surgery."

For the medical procedure, he'll be getting world-class attention, which was made available to him through the efforts of World Pediatric Project, and it's partners.

Milagro Garel
"It's one of our partner hospitals in Ridgmond, and they came aboard because of World Pediatric Project. We have many hospitals in Ridgmond that are partners with us."

Baby Bryan has only spent his very short life here in Belize, and in the presence of his parents, but on this journey; he'll be accompanied by the medical team, and his aunt. His family won't see him for at least 2 to 3 months.

And this afternoon, representatives of World Pediatric Project contacted us to say that Baby Bryan arrived safely in Richmond, Virginia. We'll keep following his progress.

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