7 News Belize

Burn Victim Ian Succumbs In Galveston
posted (November 10, 2016)
Last month, it caught the nation's attention when 11 year-old Aaron Jacob Gabourel perished in the fire which destroyed his family's Aloe Vera Street Home. His cousins, 4 year-old Ian Sambula-Carr, and 8 year-old Empress Hamilton, suffered burn injuries to 90% of their bodies. They were in danger of losing their lives, but through generous donations of Yvette Burks' Burn Victims Mercy Fund, and the Shriner's Hospital For Children, these kids were flown out of the country for specialized medical care in Galveston, Texas.

But, tonight, there's terrible news. After a month of medical procedures. 4 year-old Ian has passed away. We are told that he and his sister were doing fine up until yesterday, when he had a crisis during their regular dialysis treatments. His little body gave out on him last night, and though the doctors tried their very best, they could not resuscitate him.

We understand that his troubles started back on on October 7th, when he had not done as well as the doctors hoped on the flight from Belize to Texas. Nevertheless, the doctors were able to perform the emergency surgery to to stabilize both children. From there, the doctors performed 5 more medical procedures on them over the last month, slowly trying to start the process to recovery.

For burn injuries like these ones, it takes these highly trained doctors months to get the victims out of danger of suffering some unforeseen medical complication. The two kids were not out of that danger zone as yet, and their health status fluctuated.

The doctors were very hopeful that they would have been able to get both of the children to that safe zone in their recovery, and so it was especially disappointing for his caregivers and Yvette Burks when his health took a turn for the worst last night. As you would imagine, his mother, whose in Galveston, Texas, is devastated by the outcome, but she still has to be the support system for her daughter, Empress, who continues to undergo the treatments. She still has a long road ahead of her, and many more medical procedures before the doctors will be confident enough to send her home.

But, while the journey to recovery has ended for little Ian, the expense to the hospital and the Burn Victim Mercy Fund are still due. The hospital agreed to absorb the costs of trying to save the lives of these children, and they have already expended tens of thousands of dollars to conduct the medical procedures on him. Yvette Burks is still in debt to the the creditors for air ambulance which flew the children out last month. That cost 60 thousand dollars, which she had to pay with her own money, and donors within the public have already contributed half of that amount. But, she is still in need of more help from the public for the other half. She tells us that the Fund stands ready to help any other child who would have the misfortune of suffering burn injuries, but to help others, she needs the support of the general public. If you'd like to contribute, the Belize Bank Account number is 69501152111.

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