Medical Care
"Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security."
- Jeremiah 33:6
- Jeremiah 33:6
LUCY'S JOURNEY VIDEO
Lucy’s Story
As many know, Lucy is a 2 year old girl from Kawete, Uganda. We met Lucy during the April 2024 visit to CCLS-Uganda when her mother, Sharon, brought her to see Dr. Killian at the CCLS-Uganda Medical Clinic. Sharon knew Lucy had a heart condition but wanted to learn what we could do to support her. After a year of supporting them in Uganda and working to get them a VISA, Lucy and her Mother Sharon arrived in St. Louis to receive the heart surgery she needed on the 5th of September.
After a weekend of adjusting, Lucy needed to have a Cardiac Catheterization to determine if she would need extra support for the blood pressure in her lungs after surgery. Her heart condition could cause too much blood flow to her lungs and the resulting higher pressure could make recovery from surgery difficult. During the Cardiac Catheterization, Lucy needed to be given general anesthesia and have a breathing tube in her trachea to take care of her breathing. When attempting to place the tube in her lungs, it was discovered that her trachea was very small. It also looked like the cartilage of the trachea had no room to grow as it formed complete rings around the trachea. An ENT (Otolaryngologist) Specialist was called to check and confirm the problem. This was not a problem she could outgrow and would not be survivable. Lucy needs a second surgery now.
We had hoped for heart surgery to be completed and for Lucy to recover and return to Uganda with CCI during the October 7th through 19th visit to Kawete. This plan is changing. Lucy will now have surgery on Thursday, September 18th. The surgery and recovery will be more challenging. She will have complete tracheal reconstruction and repair of her Congenital Heart Disease on that day. It will be a long surgery and Lucy will need all our prayers for the team at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, her mother and all who are helping to care for Lucy during her recovery.
As many know, Lucy is a 2 year old girl from Kawete, Uganda. We met Lucy during the April 2024 visit to CCLS-Uganda when her mother, Sharon, brought her to see Dr. Killian at the CCLS-Uganda Medical Clinic. Sharon knew Lucy had a heart condition but wanted to learn what we could do to support her. After a year of supporting them in Uganda and working to get them a VISA, Lucy and her Mother Sharon arrived in St. Louis to receive the heart surgery she needed on the 5th of September.
After a weekend of adjusting, Lucy needed to have a Cardiac Catheterization to determine if she would need extra support for the blood pressure in her lungs after surgery. Her heart condition could cause too much blood flow to her lungs and the resulting higher pressure could make recovery from surgery difficult. During the Cardiac Catheterization, Lucy needed to be given general anesthesia and have a breathing tube in her trachea to take care of her breathing. When attempting to place the tube in her lungs, it was discovered that her trachea was very small. It also looked like the cartilage of the trachea had no room to grow as it formed complete rings around the trachea. An ENT (Otolaryngologist) Specialist was called to check and confirm the problem. This was not a problem she could outgrow and would not be survivable. Lucy needs a second surgery now.
We had hoped for heart surgery to be completed and for Lucy to recover and return to Uganda with CCI during the October 7th through 19th visit to Kawete. This plan is changing. Lucy will now have surgery on Thursday, September 18th. The surgery and recovery will be more challenging. She will have complete tracheal reconstruction and repair of her Congenital Heart Disease on that day. It will be a long surgery and Lucy will need all our prayers for the team at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, her mother and all who are helping to care for Lucy during her recovery.
