sometimes I get frustrated

I saw this14 year old at LFHC with one of the Lao doctors, he had  had a swelling of his jaw for 3 months, X-rays indicated an aggressive bone tumour. Remarkably he came alone as his family were all busy on their farm as it's harvest time.

The German surgeons were in town so I asked them to assess him, they did and had the skill to perform the surgery he required (resection of most of his mandible and reconstruction with a fibula bone graft), however the intensive care facility in Luang Prabang is not currently geared up for this level of post operative care. I asked the German team if they could bring him to Germany for treatment, they said that was an option but we needed to consider the logistics of getting him there and the ethics of taking him from his home for complex surgery which he may not survive. 

The other option of seeking help in the capital Vientiane was discussed but the family could not afford to get there or for any treatment and we were unsure if there was a head and neck surgical team with the expertise required or the facilities to perform staging scans, chemo or radiotherapy.

So this boy will receive no treatment, his tumour will grow, ulcerate his jaw, tongue and skin of his face and he will either bleed to death, starve or die from infection. He lives 2-3 hours away from the hospital and we will visit him to offer pain relief and support him and his family.

I just wanted this boy to have a chance, I feel so helpless and frustrated, he seemed very brave, really this is not fair. We need to continue to help Laos to develop good healthcare for their people, there is a huge need. And I'm very grateful to be involved in a project that is focused on training and sustainability, I feel we are making a difference but there is still so much more need.