By Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter
Board member of the New Hope Children's Home in Manchester, Carolee Mayne Watson poses with Christopher Bandoo, 5, just before he underwent surgery at the Glendale Adventist Medical Center in California on January 6. - Contributed
HE LOVES to sing and is learning to read but there is one other thing that five-year-old Christopher Bandoo has always dreamed about - being able to walk.
He has never done so, halted by the debilitating effects of a mild form of Cerebral Palsy, an illness which mostly affects areas of the brain which control motor functions/body movement.
But Christopher, described by those who know him as a bright and happy child, may get his wish in the near future.
Help has come to the five-year-old, who has lived at the New Hope Children's Home in Manchester since he was a baby.
On December 10, Christopher left the island for the United States, flown courtesy of Air Jamaica, where he underwent surgery at Glendale Adventist Medical Center in California on January 6.
"God answered my prayers, I'm excited to walk, run and play and not have to crawl any more," said the five year old.
According to a report from Air Jamaica officials, orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. William Stetson and his team performed the bilateral Achilles tendon lengthening surgery on both ankles which, it is hoped, will help Christopher to walk.
Dr. Stetson recently told Ms. Watson that the operation was successful and Christopher was recovering well, following the surgery.
"His legs will be in casts for six weeks and then in braces for an additional six weeks with outpatient physical therapy to commence as soon as he can bear weight on his feet," he said.
Little Christopher's journey to walking began last year when a New Hope board member, Carolee Mayne Watson, of Eagle Rock California, met Christopher and decided to help improve his condition.
She approached Dr. Stet-son about little Christopher's case, outlining the boy's need for an operation which would help him to walk.
AIR JAMAICA
It was a task readily accepted by Dr. Stetson and the medical team he assembled, facilitated by the national airline, Air Jamaica.
Air Jamaica provided tickets for little Christopher and two volunteers from the home who would provide guardianship for him in the United States during his six-month recovery period.
"What a joy it will be to see him take his first steps unassisted!" said Ms. Watson at a briefing, prior to Christopher's departure last year. "The acts of kindness from Air Jamaica and the hospital have far exceeded all our expectations for Chris. We are thrilled and so is he!"
Little Christopher, one of hundreds of children helped by Air Jamaica's medical assistance programme, will return to Jamaica courtesy of the airline when his visa expires in June.
