Michael Lubangakene 4 months, was born with a heart defect that was never diagnosed at birth and now threatens his livelihood and survival.

Mr Philip Odoch Lubangakene’s father says that at the age of four months the child started showing complications in his breathing that prompted them to take him for treatment at Lacor Hospital in Gulu only to be told that their child had a heart defect.

 

“I was surprised when the doctors announced to us that the child was born with a heart problem because he never showed signs of any problem at birth,” said Mr Odoch.

 

According to him the disease is a mystery because no one in their family has suffered from it, “I feel like doing something to save him especially at moments when he starts gasping for breath but I’m always overwhelmed that I can’t do anything due to financial difficulties for an operation to correct his problem.”

 

Doctors at Lacor hospital have now referred the child to Khartoum Sudan for a free operation but estimate that the parents will need at least at least $1800 (about Ugx 4,320,000) for transport, accommodation and other basic needs.

 

Being a peasant family Mr Odoch reveals that raising the required sum of money required for the mission is a hard task that they can’t afford to raise.

 

“I urge any well-wisher out there to come to the rescue of our baby so that he can live and do other things like other babies,” he said.  

  

Gulu Regional Referral Hospital Specialist on communicable diseases Dr Alice Lamwaka says Lubangakene was born with a defective heart valve also referred to as Congenital Heart Disease that needs an operation to put an artificial valve.

 

She says the disease is mostly genetical that result from defect in fertilization or organ development of the child before birth.

 

Congenital heart defects can disrupt the normal flow of blood through the heartas the blood flow can slow down, go in the wrong direction or to the wrong place or be blocked completely.

 

In the case of Lubangakene the problem is causing blood flow in wrong direction.

 

“Even though the disease is rare in the region, it’s difficult to detect at birth unless relevant tests are done after birth,” said Dr Lamwaka.

 

Some of the first symptoms according to Dr Lamwaka involve stunted growth and difficulty in breathing.

 

She says treatment for the defect can include medicines, surgery and other medical procedures and heart transplants. The treatment depends on the type and severity of the defect and a child's age, size and general health

 

However she says once the operation is done the child will be able to grow up normally and with good care catch up to other children of his age.

 

To Help Michael Lubangakene:

Contact, Pamela Adong (Michael’s Mother)

0711233653

Philip Odoch (Michael’s Father)

0713646823

 

Or send money to

Barclays Bank Account Name: Philip Odoch

Account Number 60016699158