Parents overjoyed, filled with hope after children’s heart procedures
/ Our Today
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Parents Oneika Gentles and Shermott Facey are ecstatic that their children have been able to overcome life-threatening heart conditions and live a normal life, after the youngsters received free cardiac operations this week.
The daughters of Gentles and Facey, Khalisi and Charlotte respectively, were both born with heart defects that affected their ability to function properly, making the last two years a tumultuous period for the parents.
Khalisi and Charlotte are just two of the 11 children who received free cardiac operations at the dedicated paediatric cardiac centre at the Bustamante Hospital for Children this week.
Their operations were done by a volunteer medical team from the United Kingdom and United States and funded by Gift of Life International, Rotary clubs, Chain of Hope and other partners.
According to Gentles, two-year-old Khalisi was born with an extra vessel that resulted in pressure on one side of her heart and significant swelling. Charlotte, meanwhile, was born with a small closing of the valve from the artery, Facey shared. This affected blood flow between her heart and the lungs.
Both Khalisi and Charlotte received corrective procedures done early Wednesday morning (November 10) and by mid-day they had recovered and were up and about. According to Gentles, who is unemployed, she was somewhat hesitant about allowing Khalisi to do the procedure after being told of the possibility of death because of the anaesthesia.
She said that Khalisi’s father, who is overseas, was also sceptical about the surgery.
“I never wanted to sign the paper but I made up my mind and do it and I am grateful,” Gentles said.
“She came to the hospital this morning, admitted about nine o’clock and come out of operation after 10 and she is already awake. Yeah, she is up now and alright and doing pretty good.”
“I am overwhelmed, because even the doctors said that I was the only person that was crying,” Gentles added some time after midday.
Gentles said she became emotional after the procedure had to be delayed from Tuesday as Khalisi was suffering from a fever.
For Shermott Facey, who is a security guard, it has also been an emotional week leading up to the surgery. The life-saving procedure will allow Charlotte to eat and play without restrictions.
Before this operation, Charlotte had to be observed constantly.
“I don’t have to be looking over my shoulder and stop her from playing. I think she can enjoy life a lot better now because, from birth it has been a challenge,” Facey said.
“Even while she is feeding, we have to keep monitoring. If she plays, we have to monitor her. At this moment, I can say the surgery is truly a blessing. I feel wonderful because now I can watch my daughter grow, play and have fun.
“Before, we allowed her to do activities for 15 minutes at a time, give her a break, take her up and put her under the fan to cool down. Now, thanks to the doctors, I can give her a chance to grow as she should. I am so relieved.”
According to Gentles, she had to convince Khalisi’s father to allow her to do the procedure, while Facey said his partner and Charlotte’s mother, Tianne Smith was the firm partner. Smith, who is an accounting technician, also expressed joy that Charlotte can now overcome the challenges that the heart conditions caused.
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