9-year-old burn victim medevacked to US for treatment

Nine-year-old Neil J of Enmore, East Coast of Demerara (ECD), who was burned about his body, allegedly at the hands of his mother and stepfather, has been medevacked to the United States for specialised treatment.
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA) collaborated to make this a reality, owing to the extent of the young boy’s injuries.

The GPHC on Monday updated that the patient was safely medevacked to the United States last week in a stable condition, accompanied by a guardian.
“He will remain at the Children’s Hospital until he achieves a better state of health and can eventually return home. GPHC and SHEA commend the dedication and teamwork that made this life-saving mission possible. Our hearts go out to the patient and their family during this challenging time, and we remain committed to their well-being throughout their journey to recovery,” the hospital shared in a statement.
Since arriving, SHEA shared that the child has had multiple surgeries to treat his burn injuries and to combat infections throughout his body. In particular, he has an infection from an old injury at the back of his head, which is proving to be very difficult to treat. In addition, several of his fingers and toes are also infected, and he is running a constant high fever, which his doctors are trying to keep under control.

On the evening of September 9, the boy was taken to the GPHC Emergency Room. Upon triage by the Accident and Emergency Department, it was determined that the child was suffering from 30 per cent mixed second and third-degree burns, along with multiple other injuries in various stages of healing. Immediate action was taken to admit and stabilise the patient before consulting with the Burn Care Unit at GPHC.
In a critical turn of events, the patient was intubated in the emergency department. Following this, a series of essential procedures, including dressing changes, imaging, and laboratory tests, were conducted to assess the extent of injuries. It was apparent that the patient required highly specialised care, beyond the capacity of GPHC.
Recognising the need for specialised care, GPHC reached out to Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA), a nonprofit organisation renowned for its commitment to providing financial assistance and coordinating free or low-cost treatment for individuals in developing countries facing emergency medical needs.
SHEA employs a comprehensive methodology, focusing on identifying individuals in underserved communities with the most pressing needs. They then mobilise funding for medical aid and humanitarian services on a case-by-case basis, often forging partnerships with compassionate and expert organisations.
With SHEA’s swift intervention, arrangements were made for the young patient to receive treatment at a distinguished Children’s Hospital in the USA. A collaborative effort involving medical experts and philanthropic partners ensured the necessary resources were available. (G12)