Children in urgent need of surgery

The Haitian earthquake has taken many lives – some estimates run as high as 300,000. While the official count stands at 212,000, the exact figure may never be known. Many other Haitians were injured and are still without the necessities needed to maintain a normal life – adequate food, water and shelter. But this is not their story – this article relates to the mountain of red tape that is keeping children apart from much needed medical care.

This is the story of one of these children – Landina – a three month old, little Haitian girl that unless she receives an operation – she will die - says Dr. David Nott – a British volunteer.
Landina has suffered greatly in her short life. “Her agonizing wails are hard to list to”, he says. “It is a desperate cry for help from a life that is only just beginning, but may soon end.”
She was pulled from the rubble of a collapsed hospital. Her mangled right arm had to be amputated. But she has lost much more than that - her mother is missing – presumed dead.
Dr. Nott said: "Because the bone in her head is dead there is significant risk of infection not only systemic infection but brain infection."The child needs urgent treatment in a neurological centre." And one of the few places that performs the complex operation she needs is the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. But transporting her there has become a major challenge.
Dr. Nott’s request to move her out of the country has been turn down, because of the lack of paper work. The problem is how to get the child from Haiti to London at a time of great sensitivity over Haitian children, especially orphans, following the scandal over the American missionaries who are now being held on child trafficking charges.

Dr. Nott said: "With all the paper work and legal problems I don't know precisely how we will do it but we are not going to stop.”I have written to the Haitian government to see whether or not they can expedite this to ensure she gets on a flight to the London.”

Time is running out for Landina. Mr Nott believes they have a window of 10 days, possibly only a week to save her; such is the risk of brain infection.

For Landina… the clock is now ticking. If this tiny child, who has already suffered so much, does not get help and fast, she may well become another needless casualty of a disaster that has claimed so many.

The upside to this story… we have just learned, as we were finishing this article, that after weeks of trying to obtain the necessaries paper work - last Tuesday, the authorization to evacuate Landina was received, but due a series of last minute delays – she was not able to leave until last Friday. Landina is now being looked after at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, where she will receive treatment for her injuries.

Back to an even darker downside to this story… six to twelve months after her treatment, Landina, that had her right arm amputated near the shoulder – is to be returned home to Haiti. (An agreement – that had been made with the Haitian government in order to expedite her departure.) This child will be returning to a country that cannot feed her people – where there’s little medical care, no parents… an orphaned amputee.