| 3-month old baby with a whole in his heart |
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| Written by Administrator | |
| Friday, 05 February 2010 | |
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Carmelita Perez reporting, A baby with a whole in his heart. It’s not a case we hear of often, but it’s the reality for a family in Orange Walk since their baby was born three months ago. The baby’s life is now on the line, and the family told us today that they need your help. When Baby Trozan Tun was born last year on October 17th, it caught the parents’ attention that he was underweight. Baby Trozan weighed four pounds, eight ounces, but what alarmed the parents the most was that it took the baby almost five minutes to take his first breath. Doctors said the baby had a breathing problem, so he was kept at the hospital for a week and a half. Before he was a month old, Baby Trozan returned to the hospital because his mother was concerned about his health. She said when he cried his skin turned blue in colour, and the breathing complications got worse. They took him to the hospital in Belize City and that’s when doctors diagnosed him with a severe disease.Maricruz Alcoser, mother of baby “He has five different problems in his heart that he needs to go for surgery abroad. That I know is that his artery is wrong, he has a hold in his heart and he has where the oxygen pass he does not have the hole where the blood can pass through. The other two I am not so sure but he has five problems.” The disease is known as tetralogy of Fallot or congenital heart disease. The number of cases in Belize is not known, but in the United States the disease affects 8 to 10 out of every 1,000 children. The condition is life-threatening because it is as a result of a type of defect or malformation in one or more structures of the heart or blood vessels that occurs before birth. In fact, the condition is so severe that it could lead to more than a dozen symptoms including shortness of breath, chest pain, underdeveloping of limbs and muscles, and the build up of blood and fluid in lungs, feet, ankles, and legs. Baby Trozan’s mother says the breathing problems are constant. She also said x-ray exams discovered that because of the malformation, the baby has a whole in his heart. Maricruz Alcoser, mother of baby We had to interrupt the interview because Baby Trozan, who was in his room, woke up and began crying. The crying could have led to difficulties with his breathing. When the mother came back with Baby Trozan in her arms, she pleaded for help. Maricruz Alcoser, mother of baby The family has already approached officials who spearhead the Gift of Life programme to help Baby Trozan access specialised treatment outside of Belize. But first a number of tests must be conducted and the family is requesting financial assistance. The mother can be contacted at numbers 322-0750 or 629-0286, or at their address at 36 Guadalupe Street in Orange Walk town. |
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| Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 February 2010 ) |
