| |
 |
ARCHIVES |
|
|
|
|
| Children International / News and resources / Archives / eNews archive / February 2005 eNews / eNews article |
| |
|
 |
| SOOTHING THE SCARS OF POVERTY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Deron Denton
For most people who contract it, chicken pox is merely an uncomfortable rite of passage. For 14-year-old Delia, it was nearly fatal.
Delia had a fever and small, reddish, itchy welts all over her body for about a week. Then, a morning or two after her apparent recovery, she woke up with paralysis in her right hand and leg, couldn’t move her mouth, and was suffering from painful body aches.
Her parents frantically sought help from the staff at a Children International community center in Guayaquil, Ecuador, who swiftly took her to the Roberto Gilbert Children’s Hospital. There, Delia was diagnosed with encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
As a result of the chicken pox virus, Delia had acquired an infection that spread to her brain. Doctors immediately admitted her to the intensive care unit and began giving her a powerful antiviral medication.
For those living in poverty, medical emergencies like this can have dire repercussions, even if the sick person recovers.
Fortunately, Children International has a cooperative agreement with the Roberto Gilbert Children’s Hospital (as well as other hospitals throughout the world) to provide sponsored youth like Delia with medical care that they likely could not otherwise receive.
In Delia’s case, the hospital is a 45-minute bus ride from her family’s home. With Delia hospitalized for an entire month – receiving three shots a day – one of her parents needed to be with her, so they took turns staying with Delia in the hospital. Her outpatient therapy lasted another five months after discharge. As a result of their absence from work, both parents lost their jobs.
“Delia was prescribed a very expensive medication,” said Delia’s father. “They were shots, and she needed 28 of them. Children International helped me with 22 shots, and I bought the rest. They also helped with the hospitalization. My daughter was in a critical situation, and without that help, I wouldn’t have been able to support her.”
Without assistance, poor families can sometimes scrape together enough money to pay for the necessary treatment – although that might mean selling necessities like household items, bicycles (which often serve as a primary means of transportation), or even clothes. Those who are less fortunate desperately turn to herbal folk remedies that are rarely effective.
Had Delia’s condition gone untreated, she could have remained partially paralyzed on her right side – or it could have been even worse.
Although Delia’s parents are again seeking steady work, they are grateful to have their daughter back, healthy and whole.
With reporting assistance from Jorge Salgado, health coordinator for the Guayaquil, Ecuador, field project.
Contributions to our Emergency Medical Fund help provide treatment for children like Delia and ease the unbelievable burden placed on their parents. Please donate today.
|
Do you like this story?
Forward to a friend | Link to Us
|
|
|
