Second chance at life

FOUR-year-old Bainam Palo has survived her second heart operation, this time under the operation open heart (OOH) involving Australian doctors and nurses and their PNG colleagues, The National reports.

Palo, of mixed Morobe and Goroka parentage, was first wheeled into the operating theatre for a closed heart surgery last year.

However, when her condition did not improve, further tests revealed that she had a hole in her heart that needed open surgery.

Doctors at the Goroka Base Hospital had her listed as a candidate for this year’s OOH and, hence, Palo’s second surgery which went smoothly to the relief of her mother, Nafil Palo.

She said her daughter was diagnosed as having a heart defect at two years of age.

“I thought my daughter would die. She had recurring shortness of breath and, sometimes, seizures; and she would collapse. She could fall asleep all day from 8am to 7pm faced down and not wanting to be moved around,” mum Nafil said.

Mother and daughter first made the trip to Port Moresby in 2008, but were referred to surgery last year.

“We returned last year and my daughter had a closed heart operation because of a lack of oxygen circulating in her body. After careful examination, she was confirmed to have a hole in her heart,” Nafil said.

“The feeling of pain when your child is going through such a condition is very painful.

“I am thankful to God for giving my child another chance at life and for blessing the medical staff at PMGH with lovely hands to carry out this extraordinary work,” she said.

Meanwhile, Australian High Commissioner Ian Kemish and his family visited PMGH yesterday.

The family’s visit was a morale booster for the Australian volunteer doctors and nurses and a clear indication of the Australian government’s support and commitment for the OOH programme in PNG.

Kemish said OOH was supported by the Australian government through AusAID’s PNG health programme which provided about A$100,000 per year since 2002. To date, this amounts A$820,000, which is inclusive of this year’s A$140,000.

The family toured the two operating theatres – Kangaroo and Kumul – the emergency ward and the intensive care unit.

They were accompanied by Prof Nakapi Tefuarani, OOH coordinator Russell Lee and board member of the Sir Buri Kidu Heart Foundation Marilyn Ward.

The Australian doctors and nurses, the largest OOH contingent so far, arrived last Thursday and will leave for home on Sunday.

The team included 53 volunteers ranging from surgeons to scrub nurses from hospitals in Alice Springs, Newcastle, Brisbane and Sydney. 

Officials said 24 OOH patients had gone through surgery and were recovering at the PMGH.