Two-year-old Mawulorm Kwabla has undergone surgery to feed through his mouth instead of a tube.
His mother sought public support through the 3Foundation upon which a news report was aired on TV3, January 20, 2024.
Prior to the surgery on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Mawulorm could not feed by mouth, so doctors devised a mechanism for him to eat through a gastronomy tube.
He was born with a congenital anomaly known as esophageal atresia, that is the non continuity of the esophagus to the stomach. A diversion of the esophagus and gastronomy was done to help avoid chocking.
Doctors have now taken him through a procedure where a portion of his large intestine has been cut and connected as a conduit between the stomach and esophagus.
“We are going to sew intestines so; the aim is that the intestines must heal very well. If it heals very well, all the best but if it doesn’t heal very well, then it presents a challenge. …we are also going to go through the chest which is quite a challenge but we are trusting God that everything will be fine.” Lead Surgeon, Dr. Glover Addy told the 3news before the commencement of the operation.
Mawulorm’s mother eagerly awaited in the lobby, filled with hope for a successful surgery.
The surgery ended after four and a half hours. Doctors say Mawulorm will be placed under intensive care for two days before being transferred to the recovery ward.
Dr. Glover speaking to the news team after the surgery noted that “In all, we had to sew portions of the neck, portions of the stomach and the intestine where we harvested, we had to sew that part. So, we have sewn about four different places.”
He added that “Now, what we have done is, we will wait for this child till for about seven days’ time hoping that within this period, all the places that we have sewn will heal without any problem.”
Little Mawulorm’s mother, shed tears of joy while expressing gratitude to donors.
She said “I thank TV3 people, everyone that is hearing me, I thank everyone. May God bless all of them one by one for supporting my son.”
After the surgery, 3Foundation presented a cheque to Mawulorm’s mother to cover his recovery needs.
To the medical team at the Korle Bu pediatric unit and to all those who donated, on behalf of media general, we say, thank you.
By Job Kwabena Laboja