Abbie continues long road to recovery
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday May 19, 2015 14:45
The mother and daughter are currently allowed two hours break from the ward to wander around the hospital, giving the young patient plenty of fresh air and sunshine. “We are still in the hospital and Abbie is off oxygen during the day but at night she breathes through it,” Ntshabele told Mmegi yesterday.
“This is because she still has very big wounds from the operation. Wounds on her tummy were disturbed a few times after the major surgery and they are still dressed three times a week.”
She said her daughter’s fungal infection levels had gone down and doctors had decided to give her a break from the antibiotics. Abbie’s breathing has also improved but her lungs still need help especially at night. Her right lung does appear to be weaker, Ntshabele said.
“Abbie is slowly recovering and can take a few steps now. She is doing daily exercises with physios.”
Ntshabele added that Abbie had chest drainages put in last week to drain fluid collections just under her diaphragm.
The young cancer patient’s mother also pointed out that doctors are currently pushing Abbie’s nutrition to help her body heal naturally. As the 14-year-old recovers, her mother has begun contemplating the financials of the near-tragic situation.
“We are waiting for the last bill and to know when she will be discharged.
“We are also waiting for the final findings and a plan from the doctors on the way forward as they monitor her condition,” she explained. Abbie recently underwent an operation in Belgium for a rare cancer, Metastatic Immature Teratoma, following a nationwide fundraising appeal, which raised hundreds of thousands of Pula last year. The Mochudi teenager was diagnosed with the disease last year in January and underwent an eight-hour operation on March 16. The operation was announced as successful with all the tumours removed and no damage to major organs.
However, Abbie subsequently underwent surgical procedures after fluid collected in her abdomen and has slowly been recovering since.