ABBIE Almost Healed

Correspondent | Monday February 22, 2016 16:11

 

Allow us to take a moment to give a brief summary of the history. Abbie went through an incredible life-saving operation in March 2015 to remove tumors over eight kilogrammes in her tummy.

In total she has undergone eight surgeries, four in Botswana and four in the UK. Mandatory to this operations was weekly check ups to monitor the possibility of recurrence and the damage caused by them.

You will also recall that Abbie had to keep a chest drain in. This chest drain was meant to remain insitu for 12 months as part of the monitoring programme. As you may be aware, Abbie had a CT scan on February 16. The scan revealed no tumour recurrence in 12 months. As much as this may not necessarily mean the end of the road, this in medical terms is the greatest news we have all been waiting for. The scans have further revealed that Abbie’s lung has re-expanded and the chest problem appears to be resolved within six months and Abbie was taken to theatre for the removal of the chest drain on the February 18. As a matter of fact, the doctors confidently stated that we are OUT OF THE RED!!!. As a sign of their medical confidence, Abbie’s previous monitoring programme has been changed to longer intervals.

She now only needs to be followed up by the chest team every sixweeks and followed up every six months for five years by the oncology team.

Our little princess can now focus on schooling and get back to being a child as other ‘normal kids’.

It may not be over, but ITS OFFICIAL- we all have the constitutional right to do joyful and undignified cartwheels…IN PUBLIC! To God be all the glory!

We are overwhelmed with sincere gratitude for your continued support. We still appeal for funds as the bills are still outstanding and still to come.  Our “red tape” battle with the Ministry of Health’s obligation to assist in these unique conditions still continues.  We hope they will come to the table and clear the unbearable bills once and for all and Say “sorry we got it wrong”(MOH Botswana) The Ntshabele family is filled with gratitude for all the prayers, words of encouragement, critics, spreading of the word for financial assistance, awareness and everything that has been contributed.

Words cannot express our gratitude. Thank you, thank you, thank you!, May God’s blessings overwhelm all of you and bring you to tears of joy. Kindest of regards.

*The author is Abbie Ntshabele’s mother