Canberra Hospital paediatric surgeon Professor David Croaker says the surgery he performed on 14-year-old Reedly Gershon from Vanuatu last month was all in a day’s work.
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Reedly’s mum, Juliette Gershon, knows better. She weeps tears of joy every time she thinks of the difference Professor Croaker, volunteers from ROMAC (Rotary Oceanic Medical Aid for Children) and other members of the Canberra Hospital staff have made in the life of her son.
Born with Hirschprung’s disease, a genetic condition that causes chronic bowel blockage, Reedly weighed just 27 kilograms when he arrived in Canberra.
His abdomen was grossly distended and his growth had been severely inhibited. Reedly also had major issues with his teeth, partly as a result of his underlying condition.
Dr Croaker and his team removed a significant section of malformed bowel, along with seven kilograms of faecal matter, or almost 25 per cent of Reedly’s body mass. The lad is now eating like a horse.
He will use a colostomy bag until early next year when he and his mum are due to return to Canberra for the second part of the procedure.
Reedly is already a far cry from the scared little boy who had no idea what lay ahead when he stepped off the plane at Canberra Airport less than a month ago.
His teeth have been straightened, he is putting on weight, growing in confidence and there is hope that it is not too late to make up for lost growth.
Ms Gershon, who has four daughters in Vanuatu, said life had been a struggle from the day Reedly was born and that she had needed to stay home to look after him.
Doctors in Vanuatu had performed exploratory surgery shortly after his birth, but did not have the training or the facilities to correct the problems.
ROMAC discovered Reedly’s plight last year and made his case a priority, volunteer Sandra Mahlburg said. She has been looking after Reedly and Mrs Gershon in her home, providing emotional support through what has been a trying time.
Mrs Gershon said words could not express her thanks to Professor Croaker, the other hospital staff and ROMAC for changing the course of her son’s life.
"He will be able to play sport with the other boys." The two are due to leave Canberra early next week for a long-awaited family reunion. "Everybody will be waiting at the airport to see us."
Professor Croaker, who spends up to a month a year working in developing countries, said cases such as this were valuable in developing a sense of perspective.
"It is likely [if Reedly's condition had been left untreated] he would have suffered early mortality," he said.
"Because of his condition even something like appendicitis would be difficult to treat."
Reedly's quality of life would have also been very poor. "[If you have this] you don't eat well, you are chronically malnourished and your growth is poor. Reedly would have been in constant pain."
Reedly's name and picture will be added to an honour board that has recently been established at the hospital to record all of the children who have been assisted in this way.