photos - hydrocephalus - part 1

It is good to see hydrocephalus surgeries happening more frequently. With a shorter interval in between surgical teams for some children it means the difference between life and death. This baby has a fairly large head but looks like she is resting comfortably sucking her thumb.

The mothers of hydrocephalus babies need to be strong. Society encourages them to abandon babies. This mother lovingly is feeding her baby one day after surgery.

With a surgery pressure is relieved on the brain. I always take lots of photos of these children. To see how these children advance and develop over the years is proof of how a brain can develop once pressure is relieved.

This spina bifida baby is now recovering here at Coram Deo. The ventriculoscopy procedure didn't resolve the hydrocephalus and he will need another surgery in October to install a shunt. Pray that the baby stays healthy and free of infection until then.

This young child has not had surgery yet but is very alert. This family comes from the countryside and the child was not selected for surgery in September.

photos - hydrocephalus - part 1

This young hydrocephalus girl came to visit one day with her mother.

She is a smart girl and her mother is going to put her into kindergarten. This young girl is an example of a "post-surgery success"! Pray for her as she starts a new chapter in her life of going to school.

The first week in September was a special time because a neurosurgical team from St. Louis came to do surgeries at the Bernard Mevs/Project Medishare Hospital. The first day we were there there was a UN patrol walking the street in front of the hosptial.

The UN will be starting to reduce their forces here in Haiti. This week President Martelly will speak at the UN General Assembly meeting. The goal for Martelly is that one day Haiti has their own security force and that the UN will not need to provide security for the country.

Here is a view of the gate in front of the hospital.

photos - hydrocephalus - part 1

Head circumferences of babies vary in hydrocephalus. This baby's head is growing rapidly and she is no longer able to turn her head by herself. The mother constantly has to change the head position.

If a baby lays in the same position for too long pressure sores develop. This baby has a small pressure sore on the side of her head.

This woman came from an orphanage in Cap Haitian with this young girl. The doctor explained to her that surgery wouldn't change anything and we deposited her at the airport for a flight back. This woman told us that the orphanage has around 80 handicapped children in their care and that teams regularly travel from Britain to help at the mission.

We saw several babies that have large heads. It is good that the surgery teams are coming now every 3 months. This baby's head has grown rapidly as well.

Sarafina, the young girl whose mother didn't have the tap-tap money to leave the Corrail refuge camp is resting in her bed. The team created a slot for her on the surgical list and she got her surgery.

photos - hydrocephalus - part 1

February was hydrocephalus surgery month! It was a busy time. Several of the children come from out in the province and it is difficult for them to travel in for the assessments and then come back again for the surgery date. Our dormitory became the "Hydro Hilton"! One evening we had 10 mothers and their babies staying as well as a couple of fathers too. The guys gave up their beds to the mothers and their babies and slept on the roof on mattresses/cots. It all worked out well. This young boy is Guerdson Delile. He had surgery a couple of years ago and he came from Jeremie with his mother for a post-op check. He is doing well, sitting by himself and especially is rapidly learning new words. He is now speaking in small sentences and we taught him some english like "How are you, and I am fine". It is amazing to see these children develop after the pressure is relieved from their developing brains!

We loaded up Kimosabee and headed over for the assessments which were held at Healing Hands.

Calwens Sanon and his mother have been staying here for a few months. Calwens has had 3 infections which we thought originated from an infected shunt and has been having a difficult time with seizures as well. He went to the assessments to find out if his shunt needed to be removed.

The mothers patiently waited for their opportunity to see the american neurosurgeon. Guerdson Delile does not need any further surgery and was told to return after 6 months.

We met Schnaido. He is growing and developing well. He is living at New Life Children's Home and is doing well there. He speaks and understands english and creole! It was good to see his smile.