4 months ago, 10-year-old Bella Vista resident Darwin Cruz was flown out of the country to receive treatment for burns he received to 80% of his body. Now the 10 year old is back home from Texas, and we visited him today to find that the boy we first met, his small body ravaged by burns, has been renewed. It could be called a miracle of modern medicine.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
On March 13th we found 10 year old Darwin Cruz at the KHMH. He had been there for 29 days. At the time his condition was critical, he had sustained burns to 80 percent of his body and his hope for recovery was next to none. Help came a day later from the Rotary Club of Belize which flew the 10 year old boy to Shriner's Burn Center in Galveston, Texas. 4 months later Darwin is back and his recovery is proving to be nearly miraculous.
Adan Cruz, Father
"I feel happy especially because of God's help and all those people who made it possible to take my son to the U.S. because he would have died here. After undergoing 8 skin graph surgeries Darwin is coming ever closer to resuming a normal life. He says he's now working on exercises and therapy."
Darwin Cruz, Recovering
"I have to do exercises and therapy, all of that."
But therapy alone will not make Darwin recover fully. He has to visit Shriner's Hospital at least twice a year where doctors will have to continue performing surgeries to relieve the tension that develops as his skin heals. Darwin and his father are expected to go to the u.s. for follow up treatment in november.
Ends...
Darwin's transportation expenses were covered by numerous individuals and organizations who made contributions to the Rotary Club. He and his father are now raising funds to go get follow up treatment. The treatment is donated by Shriner's, but the family has to cover travel expenses.
