Every year the Rotary Club of Belize holds cardiac clinics that are not ordinarily available in Belize.The clinics are a way for the organization to help out persons who would not have the opportunity to get specialized medical treatment. Such was the case for 9 year old Rayford Laing who was identified by such a clinic. As we reported last night, Laing had a congenital heart problem which gave him only six more years to live. Faced with the prospect of a mere 15 years on the planet, the Rotary stepped into action, and 3 surgeries later, the young man is as healthy as can be. We today visited with him and his grandparents who are thrilled to have the vibrant 9 year old with them:
Alfonso Noble reporting,
Alfonso Noble
Looking at 9 year old Rayford Laing today you'd never know that he'd been through open heart surgery. For Rayford's grandparents, the opportunity to take him to Tampa for the 50,000 U.S. dollar surgery was a blessing even after a 2 year delay.
Beaulah Laing
When Mrs. Burks phoned me and tell me that it's Rayford's chance now, I said what, I was happy. I made a call to his mother and told her it's time and she was glad and happy about it, e seh well da time. I just sorry that I couldn't gone, right, due to weh I have wah pressure that is giving me trouble, so I couldn't gone so I had to send my son.
Alfonso Laing
It delay about one year, a year no true. Two years, two years e delay from then, and when we get this opportunity, well I was glad about it. When we went home after he fly on the plane, when we went home, ah always think, the whole week I was thinking when e wah get cut, when this, I don't know what's happening to him. I was thinking every day until our daughter in the states ring us and tell us e get cut, I was glad about it. I don't know what kind of cut, I don't know what kind of operation, I don't know what kind of thing went on but I know those kinds of things like that it takes a lot of technician to get those kinds of cut there because in Mexico they tell you they can't do it, not in Mexico, in Guatemala neither, they only could do it in Tampa, Florida, to do that kind of cut.
Alfonso Noble
And the surgery was delicate, but routine for doctors in Tampa who had to plug a hole between the 9 year old's heart chambers. But having fixed that and repairing a damaged artery, Rayford is in full health which has his grandparents in total amazement.
Alfonso Laing
The poor lee bwoy can't walk wah distance too far because e got to sit down, tired. He ride wah bicycle, e have to get off and walk because e can't ride it, but now yes. Now e ride wah two mile with me yesterday. Ha, ha, ha.
Beaulah Laing
He walk ahead of me, e walk from home to crossroad, through the back-road and he used to... when you look pan ah e di sweat, and e can't mek it right and now he is ahead of me, ah seh wait bwoy, wait.
Alfonso Laing
If he didn't get cut, he would have been here keeping quiet. He would be right here di keep quiet while dem two di play. But now, da night he no sleep, e say e want some sleeping pills.
Alfonso Noble
So now, thanks to the Rotary Club of Belize, this 9 year old has gone from almost being unable to breathe to the need for sleeping pills.
The Rotary Club will be holding its cardiac clinic on the 26th and 27th of September for adults and on the 27th for children.