A heart-warming Christmas

For years, his small seed of faith bore no fruit until the day of November 17, 2022, when his nine-year-old daughter was being wheeled into an operating theatre at the Bustamante Hospital for Children in St Andrew for open-heart surgery.

Then the memories all rushed back, and with it a flood of faith that doused the father’s fears.

The moment was ethereal, even for the Christian who had backslidden. However, as Ian Smith waved to his ailing gem as the doors closed, his anxiety dissipated, the mustard seed given to him by his pastor at the New Testament Church of God in St Ann, seemingly blooming inside him.

Smith’s daughter, Demoya, was one of seven ailing children who benefited from open-heart surgery in November, through the ‘Mend a Heart Programme’ offered by Chain of Hope at the Cardiac Unit inside the Bustamante Hospital for Children. Cumulatively, this was at a cost of more than US$40,000, according to representatives from the Cardiac Unit.

DEMOYA’S CASE WAS UNIQUE AND CHALLENGING

Demoya Smith was not only born with two holes in her heart, but she also suffers from sickle cell disease, which drastically increased the risks associated with the open-heart surgery.

Hence, her case was particularly unique, challenging, and more expensive than the others.

More than 50 per cent of her blood had to be drained from her body, and the operating team had to maintain precise temperatures as they laboured for four hours on her little heart.

“I remembered she going into surgery, and I was just very afraid because it’s surgery, and you know you can’t rule out death,” Ian shared with The Sunday Gleaner last week from their home in May Pen, Clarendon, recalling the fretful evening that he nearly opted out of going ahead with Demoya doing the complicated procedure due to fear.

“But then it came to me: 15 years ago my pastor passed out some mustard seeds at church to myself and others in the congregation. I was thinking where to plant it, and then I ended up swallowing mine,” he said, with a smile.

“I never remembered that I did that until the day of the surgery. Believe me! And the minute I remembered that, I just felt all fears just leave my body,” he said. “As my mother told me, I sowed the seed from that day. That is the day that I was supposed to reap. From that, there was no fear.”

The father said, “I told her I was waiting for her in the waiting area, and I just sat out there and waited.”

‘THIS IS THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS GIFT!’

That fateful day in the waiting room at the Bustamante Hospital was the longest four hours for the first-time parents, especially for Demoya’s mother, Dian Smith.

For days leading up to the surgery she had not eaten, sleep was elusive, and worry sat rent-free in her mind.

Seeing her baby girl emerge from the operating theatre was a blessing. With eyes still closed, the bright child used her right hand to faintly answer “yes” and “no” to her parent’s queries and messages of love.

Now just over a month later, nine-year-old Demoya is at home quickly recovering, “eating up more food than we can afford”, the parents joked.

Their demeanours were now a stark contrast to the disappointment felt after being rejected when they went to the Cayman Islands for the same surgery months ago. Doctors in that Caribbean country had initially agreed to do the operation, the parents said, but declined after a child with the same complications died under surgery.

“This is the greatest Christmas gift! If I don’t get anything else for my Christmas, this has covered everything. This is really life-changing. This is the gift of a lifetime,” smiled Dian.

“I want to say a big, big thank you to Chain of Hope, Dr Little, and all of his team at Bustamante.”

“You have done a great thing for my daughter, and I really love and appreciate what you have done. I pray God will continue to strengthen and to keep them and that other people will continue to donate,” declared the elated mom.

Her equally happy husband added, “I think they need to recognise doctors more in Jamaica, because they are the ones preparing kids with illnesses for the future. Words can’t explain, but I really appreciate everything that they did for my daughter. They did a great job with the preparation and everything.”

Last week, Demoya smiled shyly at The Sunday Gleaner team as she cited mathematics and spelling as her favourite subjects in grade four. She wants to be a police officer in the future; however, for now, her parents are keeping her away from all strenuous activities.

DEMOYA’S SURGERY A FIRST FOR THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Dr Sherard Little, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and clinical director at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, explained that preparation for Demoya’s surgery took months, starting with medication to mitigate the sickle cell.

“Her surgery required the services of several medical teams, who had to ensure that her body temperature was properly regulated throughout the open-heart procedure to avoid serious problems,” he said.

“When you have a successful operation such as this one, it is really a good feeling,” Dr Little told The Sunday Gleaner last week, noting that the surgery is a testament to the capabilities of medical practitioners locally.

It was the first of its kind for the children’s hospital.

“I think it shows that we are well able to manage patients and children with complex diseases, and it bodes well for persons with other illnesses,” said the leading cardiothoracic surgeon, adding that there were between 10 and 12 persons in the operating room during Demoya’s surgery; and that overall, about 20-25 persons were involved in her management.

“I definitely have to give a Christmas shout-out to all members of the cardiac surgery team and the wider Bustamante staff and family. As you know, hospitals never close, so we will be working through the holidays, and I just want everybody to have a merry Christmas,” expressed Dr Little.

corey.robinson@gleanerjm.com