Health - Channel 5 Belize

Belize joins HEARTS Initiative to Combat Cardiovascular Diseases

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with PAHO, is implementing new tactics in Belize’s healthcare sector to combat cardiovascular diseases. The HEARTS initiative was introduced to Belize in November 2023, after it proved successful in other parts of the region. Today, key stakeholders in the healthcare sector across the region, and Belize, attended a workshop to learn how to implement the strategies in the HEARTS initiative into healthcare services. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with more information.

Britney Gordon, reporting

Each year, cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death globally. Roughly thirty-two percent of all deaths worldwide are caused by related illnesses with low-income countries such as Belize being highly susceptible to these diseases. Diet and lifestyle choices play a major part in the prevalence of these conditions and Belize has struggled to overcome these challenges year after year. To combat these statistics, The HEARTS initiative was introduced to Belize through PAHO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The initiative was implemented locally, in the western region first and now in the central region. Today, members of the healthcare sector gathered to participate in a workshop that will guide them on how to use HEARTS strategies effectively. Doctor Fidel Cuellar, Deputy Director of Public Health and Wellness, explained what the HEART initiative encompasses.

Doctor Fidel Cuellar, Deputy Director, Public Health and Wellness

“What HEARTS is, it is a package, various packages that are geared towards addressing risk factors for the biggest reason of death, really, in the Caribbean and Belize, which is cardiovascular deaths. What we’re saying is that we understand that people are dying of hypertension related illnesses, like stroke, heart attack, chronic kidney diseases. HEARTS is going to help us to address this problem, to be able to control hypertension and diabetes the way it should be. Unfortunately, the majority of people who have hypertension, they do not have it properly controlled. And then that leads ultimately to your strokes and your heart attacks. And that is why HEARTS is very important for us in Belize.”

Cuellar acknowledged that cardiovascular diseases have continued to be the leading causes of death in the region, despite previous attempts to combat its prevalence. He explained that the HEARTS initiative is taking a dynamic approach across various aspects of the healthcare sector to combat the condition from several angles.

Doctor Fidel Cuellar

“So what hearts is doing is putting very clear, easy protocols in place so that the physicians and nurses and everybody can get on board. For example, right now in Belize. If you’re just diagnosed with hypertension, depending on which doctor you go to, you will have different medications. The hearts data shows that doesn’t work. You need to be on a specific set of medications for a specific set of time. And it needs to be adjusted in a specific way. So that, in itself, is a big difference. The other difference is the way we approach hypertension. Traditionally, we use manual cuffs, or we don’t use validated devices. And everybody does it their own way. Having people do it one specific way helps us to determine who is hypertensive and who isn’t. And if you’re hypertensive, what is your true number? So these are major changes in the way we approach hypertension and the way we treat it.”

The HEARTS Initiative was launched in 2016, by the World Health Organization and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with other partners to support governments in strengthening the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases. Doctor Karen Lewis Bell, PAHO WHO Representative in Belize, explained how the initiative found its way to the country.

Doctor Karen Lewis Bell, PAHO WHO Representative, Belize

“And so the hearts in the initiative, the hearts in the America’s initiative which was launched in 2016 now has some thirty-three countries in the region of the Americas implementing this. Belize implemented it in October 2023. They became the twenty-fifth country in the region to implement this. And I really want to give kudos to the Ministry of Health in recognizing the importance of ensuring proper and comprehensive management. of hypertension and diabetes as part of this initiative. And so PAHO is providing the technical cooperation in terms of training, capacity building, helping to provide the clinical guidelines as well as helping to provide some of the equipment in terms of, the clinically validated blood pressure machines that the health facilities will use to measure diabetes high blood pressure, et cetera. And we are really getting some funding support from the European Union for this workshop that we’re having today and to help to roll up the hearts initiative.”

Cuellar reiterated that the approach of HEARTS is complex, starting at the primary level before working its way through the sector. She said that it has displayed successful results in other regions that can be replicated in Belize with the right approach.

Doctor Karen Lewis Bell

“And so it’s a comprehensive package of care, and we do it in an integrated way, focusing on the first level of care, what we call the primary health care. As you may know, in many countries, in fact, in all countries, the first level of care is where the individual or the patients will first interface with the health system. And so we have to work at that level, at the village level, and to make sure that everybody understands and is doing the right thing. Doing you know, the initiative in a structured way. And so with this we are building capacity So everyone is on the same page with the knowledge of what to do and how to do but in addition to that the countries that are further advancing the implementation in our region have actually shown significant improvement In the control of these conditions so hospital admissions will be decreased The complications that you may have, like amputation, strokes, heart attacks, will be decreased. And ultimately, we will decrease the deaths from these conditions.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

MOHW Investigates Allegation of Neglect at NRH

A family claiming that they were denied care at the Northen Region Hospital shared a video on social media that went viral. In the video, the person behind the camera is heard saying that someone was suffering from heart pain and that care was being refused because other patients were being attended to. Under the impression that it was an emergency, the individual also said that the patient was dying because of the pain. The video prompted a release from the Ministry of Health and Wellness condemning any behavior that compromises patient care and safety. Today, Doctor Jorge Polanco was at the Northern Regional Hospital investigating the incident. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is investigating reports of patient neglect at the Northern Regional Hospital. One family alleges that a loved one was taken to the hospital for treatment after she began suffering from heart pain. The family member further asserted that healthcare providers at the facility refused to help. Other patients were reportedly pleading with the hospital staff to assist the woman. That did not work, and the woman decided to bring public attention to the incident. Here is the video that she made public.

Voice of: Family Member of Patient

“Goodnight everyone, we are in the Orange Hospital and this lady is dying from heart pain after an operation and they don’t want to attend to her. All the patients that are here are pleading for them to help the lady and they simply said they wont attend to her because they have other patients. What do you think of this? The lady is dying of heart pain.”

We spoke with Doctor Jorge Polanco, the Director of Hospital Services, who was at the Northern Regional Hospital today investigating the complaint. Doctor Polanco met with the hospital staff that was on duty at the time. Here is what he told us.

On the Phone: Dr. Jorge Polanco, Director of Hospital Services, MHW

“She had had a surgery during that day which was considered a minor surgery, minor in that it was even done with local anesthesia. So the surgery was completed and she went home. However around eight o’clock she returned with pain. In reality it was not an issue of the heart, it was from the surgery done earlier before and she was having pain. The issue that she was not attended to was really not as it was depicted in the video. That person was seen at eight-twenty during the night, before the video was taken. She was seen by a nurse and when the nurse reviewed the overall clinical situation, she was told to wait a few minutes and then they would return to her. At the same time, the doctors were dealing with two other emergencies in the trauma room and the nurses was also busy. At eight twenty-four the nurse came out and called for the patient to be evaluated, four minutes afterwards, not knowing the video had been taken. Even the doctors or the nurses knew that video was taken until many minutes afterwards. And, I am claiming this because that is the time when it was recorded in our health information system automatically records the time when the entry was made.”

According to Doctor Polanco, the patient was seen by a doctor and given two injections to alleviate her symptoms. He further stated that the doctor who performed the surgery on her requested an x-ray to be done the following day. He says that the x-ray returned normal.

On the Phone: Dr. Jorge Polanco

“People would post concerns regarding long waiting times at the hospital. We went in depth as to the long waiting times and there is some degree of truth in many cases, however when people would wait long, it is not because they would not have been assessed. Some of those patients who claim they waited long, they would be at the outpatient section, waiting one or two hours, they would then be seen by a medical officer who said you need to go to the emergency room. At that point they would go to the emergency room, and they would be seen but they would be adding all those hours they wait elsewhere. And vice versa it happens, when the outpatient section is flowing with patients they would go to the accident and emergency room, but if the issue is not an emergency, they would be told to wait a few minutes while they finish with the other emergency. So, these are situations that form the context of these complaints regarding waiting times. Also we looked into the communication approach, we empathized to our staff that everybody should be patient centered, everything should revolve around the patient, everything that is done and said it should have some impact on the patient and the patient should be aware as to why he or she would wait, as to why he or she is given a prescription and many times the communication skills are not the best. It is something we are cognizant of, and efforts have been done especially here at the NHR where exposure to training and communication skills has been given.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Patient Neglect at Northern Regional Hospital?

A video making its rounds on social media has forced the Ministry of Health and Wellness to launch an investigation. The video, which was recorded inside the Northern Regional Hospital in Orange Walk Town, shows individuals, including a woman, who were seeking medical attention.

The person recording the video says the woman was suffering from heart pain, and officials from the hospital refused to help. Other patients were reportedly pleading with the hospital’s staff to help the woman. That did not work, and the woman decided to bring public attention to the incident.

In a press statement, the Ministry said, “The video suggests that there was a significant delay in a patient receiving necessary medical attention.”

While the situation was resolved, the ministry says it takes “any allegations of patient neglect and staff misconduct very seriously.”

Ministry of Health says it will investigation allegations of patient neglect.

The statement said, “In response to the video and the allegations made, we have already commenced a thorough investigation to ascertain the facts surrounding this incident. The Ministry condemns any behaviour that compromises patient care and safety.”

This is not the first time that patients have been ill-treated at the Northern Regional Hospital. In March, Jaime Castillo complained on Facebook that he was disrespected by a female security guard.

A Dream For Kids To Drink Healthier

No sugar, no water, just pure, healthy juice. That is what Marjeli Alvarado, owner of Juiced by Mar told us when we asked about the contents of her cold-pressed juices, which are currently making waves across the country. Alvarado is hoping that she can get her juices to even more children by making them available in schools. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Belize City resident Marjeli Alvarado has been making juices for over six years, and in August 2023, she decided to launch Juiced By Mar, her very own company, to provide Belizeans with cleaner, healthier juices. In alignment with that goal, she launched Juiced for Kids.

Marjeli Alvarado, Owner, Juiced By Mar

“I have I have a dream, a dream and a vision that I want to see make an impact in Belize.”

Britney Gordon

“So what is that dream?”

Marjeli Alvarado

“So last year in July, the Ministry of Education started a healthy school. Healthy Belize campaign. And mainly, that is to eliminate sugary drinks from our primary school kids diet. And since I’ve been doing cold fresh juices for the past six years, I was like, wow, this can be the perfect opportunity. How can it be a coincidence? My dream and the vision that I have is to see my juices in all schools in Belize City. Not only in Belize City, but countrywide. It’s not something that I want to keep for myself, but I want everybody to benefit from it, especially our kids. It’s hard for us as adults to get out of our habitual ways that we’re stuck in, but it’s easier to work with our primary school children, right?”

Alvarado stated that her products are made from locally sourced produce.

Britney Gordon

“So you said that this is cold pressed juices. What is a cold pressed juice exactly and what makes your juice stand out from all the other natural juices that we see for sale in the market?”

Marjeli Alvarado

“First of all, we don’t have any heat added to the process. Secondly, cold pressed is a process of blending fruits and veggies. So you’re actually extracting the juices. from a fruit and a vegetable and you have to have a ratio of sixty to forty. It all depends on what you want to select, right? So there’s no water or sugar added to the process and when I say no water, zero percent water, zero percent added sugars and zero percent preservatives. So it’s all just the way as nature intended it to be.”

The Juiced for Kids brand offers three flavours, all themed around superheroes. Each bottle includes a fun fact about the ingredient’s benefits. Alvarado says that her goal is to prevent diabetes in children in Belize and hopes that these juices will make it into schools with the help of the government.

Marjeli Alvarado

“So for now the brand only has three different flavors. I have a Captain Carrot’s Plant. That is carrots with orange juice. And I also have a Mister Cocopina. On each of my bottles, there’s a superhero in a vegetable form. Like a cartoon character to appeal to the children. And the third brand is actually a Misses Apple. Which is green apples, cucumber, and pineapple which I’m going to make on set today. And I came up with these brands. We were simply in where I was in, in San Pedro, those three juices were our top sellers. And so from ten, why not just narrow it down to three, which is the average juice that, consumers would purchase on a daily basis.”

Alvarado offers a variety of flavours, including activated charcoal, which is made from locally sourced coconut husk. She also offers custom juices.

Dr. Fernando Cuellar Diagnosed With Blood Cancer

Well-known Belizean Doctor Fernando Cuellar has been diagnosed with blood cancer. A statement from his family today said that the unfortunate discovery was made while Doctor Cuellar was in the process of seeking medical attention for a back fracture. He is currently in the U.S.A., receiving treatment. The family says that it has been a devastating blow to them and that his thoughts are with his family, patients, and the people of Belize. The release also notes that Doctor Cuellar longs for his return to his patients and the country he loves. The family is requesting privacy but asks for prayers at this time.

Autism Awareness Starts At Home

April second is internationally recognized as World Autism Awareness Day. A day meant to serve as a platform to foster appreciation for and honor individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as bring awareness to some of the challenges people with autism and their families may face so that communities may extend acceptance and support for the individuals. News Five spoke with executive chair and founder of Autism Belize to learn more about the day’s significance. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Autism is a neurological and developmental condition related to brain development that impacts the way individuals perceive, socialize, and interact with others and their surroundings. Signs of autism can usually be observed in the early childhood years, with it affecting one in every fifty-eight children born worldwide, according to the CDC. Executive chair and founder of Autism Belize, Christy Castillo Almeida, explained their mission.

Christy Castillo Almeida, Executive Chair and Founder, Autism Belize

“Autism Beliefs started in 2020. We’re parents, we’re all volunteers, and we have four goals. We want to teach about autism, we want to promote awareness, we want to provide support for parents, and we want to show acceptance. So everything we do is about that. It’s all parent driven, and it’s about that support and creating that network for our families, and then educating Belize.”

Almeida said that Autism Belize was started in the midst of the COVID lockdown to spread the word about Autism Awareness Month and offer support to parents who were struggling to adequately support their children and their needs during the lockdown. It began with thirteen online sessions covering various autism-related therapies. She explained that Autism Belize is not meant to diagnose individuals; it is a community that helps others gain support, advice, and understanding.

Christy Castillo Almeida

“I’d never done a live before, but we were trying to get the word out there. And we had so many parents that came back to us like was coming in and saying, Oh my gosh, I thought it was alone. I don’t know where to go. I don’t know what to do. And so I NGO. It was definitely parent driven. It just people kept coming and we grew very rapidly, very fast during the COVID time when everybody was at home, struggling on how to deal with their children. And then coming out of COVID we had a lot of kids with developmental delays might not have been autism, but just because they were at home for those very instrumental years and not at preschool not getting that simulation. We had even more families coming and see. What can we do? And ever since then, we provide trainings every single month for parents.”

While April second is recognised as World Autism Day, Almeida said that the entire month is dedicated to autism awareness. Every Friday throughout the month, people are encouraged to wear blue as a sign of support.

Christy Castillo Almeida

“It’s really to start to get the world talking. A lot of times in the past, a lot of people go, Oh my gosh, I don’t know where it’s all coming from. We didn’t hear about autism and now everybody has an autistic child. It really isn’t that a lot of it was we would keep them hidden. These were the kids that they pull out in infant two and keep at home because they figured they can never learn. Spoiler alert, they can always learn. And we kept it hidden. And what we’re trying to do is take these kids, these invisible children and bring them out in the spotlight and say, Hey world, it’s time for you to adjust to us. Let them come live in our dynamic, vivid world, and so it is about the conversation. So worldwide, buildings light up blue. We’re talking Empire State Building, the Opera Center the Taj Mahal, all around the world go blue. Because of Easter and how we go, we actually do the whole month. And what we ask is for people to go blue for the month and also to wear blue on Fridays.”

Autism Belize will be partnering with several organizations throughout the month to host activities that draw the public out and encourage participation in events alongside neurodivergent individuals and their families.

Christy Castillo Almeida

“We partnered with Special Olympics. So the walk run Special Olympics is coming out and they’re bringing all their people to come out and support as well. And then every year we partner with Belize City Council, and we go in the Friday before and we do multiple sessions like an hour. so much. Every hour they send in like fifteen people from traffic, from court, from all over. And then we do these sensitization talks all throughout the day. So the same talk over and over again to different people. special needs families. So not just autism. We invite families of similar merits and we’re inviting special Olympics. And we have an event just for them in the park in the mornings. Afterwards they have for the general population, but they do that for us. And so we’re always really grateful. So we have that sort of event where families can feel comfortable to bring their children.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Ten Years Later, KHMH Introduces New CT Scanner

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital recently received a new CT Scan machine after ten years without that critical service being offered at the facility. Now that it has the machine, K.H.M.H. is providing that service at a much lower cost than at the various private medical institutions, but it’s not without criticism. Earlier today, C.E.O. Chandra Cansino gave the media access to the diagnostic X-ray scanner and briefly discussed its acquisition.

Chandra Cansino, Chief Executive Officer, K.H.M.H.

“As you know, we have officially received and started to operate the new CT Scan machine and we are extremely elated, particularly from the perspective of the patient and the doctors, because we are now able to perform that level of service that we needed to do a long time ago. This is a big win for the patients and the staff because now the patients don’t need to go outside of the hospital to get tested and also the doctors now have an additional diagnostic tool that is at a very high level that would enable them to make better diagnosis, prescribe better treatment and we have better results.”

Reporter

“Can you talk about the cost of the new service to patients?”

Chandra Cansino

“The new service varies. I think if you’re ever, which I hope you will never, do a CT Scan, it varies from a simple CT to this machine can do some very high tech operations and so right now what we call a basic CT would be between three hundred and three hundred and fifty dollars, depending on where you are doing the CT. That’s without contrast, and then with contrast which is with a dye that enables the doctor to see a little bit more, would be between three hundred and fifty and four hundred dollars.”

K.H.M.H. Responds to Criticism Over New CT Scanner

During our time with her, Chief Executive Officer Chandra Cansino also responded to criticism about the acquisition of the machine, as well as its placement at the K.H.M.H., here in Belize City.

Isani Cayetano

“How do you respond to the comments that were made by another medical practitioner to another media house yesterday regarding the CT-Scan and its placement here at the KHMH?”

Chandra Cansino, C.E.O., K.H.M.H.

“For us, our perspective is from a public service perspective. Access to quality healthcare is actually a part of poverty alleviation and so why not? Why shouldn’t the regular, normal man and woman off the streets of Belize City have access to such a superior service. And so, maybe that’s a private sector perspective. From a public sector perspective, we are extremely happy that everybody in Belize will have access to these services at an extremely affordable price.”

Reporter

“Their argument was also that while this CT-Scan here, the other public hospitals don‘t have one and that those persons from Corozal, Toledo and Dangriga, they have to travel all the way here to be able to get this service, as opposed to getting a less expensive CT Scan and placing them in all of the public hospitals.

Chandra Cansino

“Well remember, Karl Heusner is the only tertiary institution in Belize and so we, our concern is the provision of care from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Indeed, the ministry can explore options that were suggested but there are many things that go along with purchasing a CT.”

Kidney Association of Belize Invites Everyone to Get Tested

As today is internationally recognized as World Kidney Day, the Kidney Association of Belize is reminding you to take care of your kidneys. To ensure that Belizeans are taking preventative measures to combat kidney disease, the association will be holding its annual health fair, on March fifteenth in Belize City. There, visitors will have access to doctors and healthcare providers to conduct several checkups and tests for conditions that affect the kidney, free of cost. We spoke with former president of the association, Ruby Nicholas, for more information. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Diabetes and hypertension are two of the most common conditions that affect Belizeans, and both are leading causes of death in the country. As part of International Kidney Awareness Month and World Kidney Day, the Kidney Association of Belize is hosting its annual health fair in order to ensure that Belizeans are taking steps to ensure kidney health before it becomes too late.

Ruby Nicholas, Treasurer, Kidney Association of Belize

“Today is World Kidney Day and tomorrow we’re planning our health fair on March fifteenth. It will be at the Lions parking lot, KHMH, and there we will be allowing persons to come in and we’re inviting the entire public. Everything that we present there will be free of cost, and we want to, the public to become aware of their health status. We’ll be having their blood pressure check, their diabetes check your urinalysis check, and then those who are showing high readings or concerns in whatever the test may be showing, we will also be having them doing their blood tests, the kidney function blood tests.”

Ruby Nicholas says that this annual event is a crucial part of kidney care, as it allows for people to detect anomalies in their health and combat any underlying issues early on.

Ruby Nicholas

“We will be having doctors there, nurses, nutritionists, we will even invite for HIV rapid tests. and then as well as having invitation from BCVI to give appointments for them to check their eyes. So everything will be holistically being checked for the individual and that is going to be associated with the kidney area to see where your status is. Those who will be having issues with their health, we will try to advise them to do referral and for them to seek further attention. Our main focus will be on patients or persons who may be diabetic, hypertensive, even yourself you’re unaware of where you are with your health, we’re inviting you out there tomorrow.”

Doctor Natasha Gongora of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, explained the eight golden rules of kidney health.

Natasha Gongora, Internal Medicine & Nephrology Specialist , K.H.M.H.

“Eight golden rules to take care of your kidneys include one, keeping a fit and active life. Two, controlling your sugar levels. Controlling your blood pressure. Four, controlling a good weight. Having a good weight by eating healthy. Five, if you smoke, no smoking. Six, drink plenty of water. Seven, if you have pain, for example, no over the counter painkillers, they can cause more damage to your kidneys. And eight, most importantly, if you know you have diabetes, if you know you have high blood pressure or heart disease in your family, kidney stones, just get that check up. That’s the number one thing we want patients to do.”

The event will be held in the Lions parking lot near the K.H.M.H. and will occur between nine a.m. and four p.m. on March fifteenth.

Ruby Nicholas

“We know that kidney disease is on the rise. This is evidently shown by the amount of people. Who are calling and asking for assistance through the Kidney Association of Belize. We’re trying to ensure that educational awareness become an important aspect of the association to try to ring the alarm out there for people to know that this kidney disease is not slowing down.It’s, as a matter of fact, we are having too many people with dialysis, doing dialysis, too many people causing to pass away. because of the lack of funds. So prevention for us is an important aspect of it. And tomorrow will be a revelation of what it is to do a preventative care using it as a health fair.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Daughter Still In Dire Need Of Kidney Transplant

The month of March is globally recognized as International Women’s Month, but it is also the month of Kidney Awareness. During this time, various health organizations host campaigns to share information regarding kidney health and shed light on those suffering from various conditions that affect the kidney. Last year, we told you the story of Vicky Samos, a fourteen-year-old student battling Lupus and End Stage Renal Disease, hoping to get a kidney transplant soon. One year later, Vicky is still on dialysis and still holding out hope for that transplant. News Five’s Britney Gordon visited Vicky and her family today, for an update on her condition. Here’s that story.

Vicky Samos, Kidney Patient

“Well, there is some days I wake up not feeling good, like tired and without energy, but I try my best to stay strong.”

Britney Gordon, Reporting

It’s been one year since fifteen-year-old Vicky Samos started dialysis. According to the teenager, her body has been responding well to the treatment but there are still days when she feels tired and in pain. For the past two days, the second form student has had to miss classes due to her condition and rising blood pressure and throughout it all, her parents have been there to support her.

Diego Samos, Father of Patient

“I have been doing my best to get Vicky well. We’re aiming to get her a kidney transplant. She has been diagnosed with lupus, which is an autoimmune disease that attacks its own body. In her case, it attacked her, it attacked her, both of her kidneys. Yes and that eventually led to the kidney failure.”

Last year, her father, Diego Samos, said that he would be the one to donate a kidney to save his daughter’s life if the doctors found that he was a match. Luckily, they did.

Diego Samos

“We have made tremendous progress. We went to Merida last year in December. We went and we did a compatibility test, a cross match test, and I came out that I am a match for her. So we have been following up the kidney transplant protocol, which entails different doctors. We have seen the cardiologists, the dentists, different doctors, and all of them have cleared us. Just a couple of them we have to see but in other words, we are quite ready for a kidney transplant.”

While Vicky and her family are ready to go ahead with the procedure, they have encountered some roadblocks, such as the unavailability of the procedure here in Belize. The biggest challenge, however, is money.

Diego Samos

“It has never been done here in Belize but there is a team from Virginia that is willing to come to Belize to do the transplant. If we do have the facilities. However, we are still awaiting from the Ministry of Health and from the CEO of Karl Heusner to give us a letter of invitation so the team from Virginia could proceed. I guess because of legal issues and other stuff, you know, they need an official letter from Belize.”

Vicky’s mother, Yarheli, said that she’s taken on the role of a personal nurse for her daughter, delivering medication and caring for Vicky when she needs it.

Yarheli Samos, Mother of Patient

“Well, it’s a hard process, but we try every day to do well and good, I try to make she eat healthy. Her diet is the most important. And, yes, just keep her, make she be strong every day. Get up and go to school and give her the motivation.”

Kidney awareness month not only brings awareness to the patients, but also the families doing their work to support them as well. In this case, Vicky’s parents just want to see their daughter happy and healthy.

Diego Samos

“As a parent, it has a very tremendous impact I guess for both of us. It has changed our life completely. We have me personally, now I dedicate my time fully to my, especially to my daughter. And in making sure that she gets well, I make sure that I have the medication, even though it’s very costly. We still do manage to get the medication for her. And like I said, we are doing our best to get this transplant done. And but it’s very hard, but we have people that are assisting us. I don’t know, so we’re coping. And hoping that we get this kidney transplant done as soon as possible.”

Vicky’s biggest hope is for her life to return to normal. Since her diagnosis, she has had to give up playing basketball and has been held back a year from school due to the number of classes she misses. However, she is still retaining her drive towards her dream career.

Vicky Samos
“Have a normal life again, like before, go to school normal again, that’s the most Important thing. “I want to major in science in third form. “

Britney Gordon

“Why do you want to be a pediatrician?”

Vicky Samos

“Because I love children.”

As a preventative measure, Samos advises all parents to get their children tested early for these conditions even if they show no symptoms.

Diego Samos

“I would just like to tell the Belizean people to pay keen attention to their children, if you’re feeling ill, if you’re feeling bad, to make sure that they have a doctor check them. Also for all of us adults, children, everyone, we should be taking care of ourselves and if we do have any symptoms, to, to follow it up and not just let time go by because sometimes it’s late, sometimes you could catch things at an early stage.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.