Amandala visited the Orellano family on Monday, but unfortunately, in an attempt to get some assistance, her husband, Daniel Orellano, had taken her to see an America couple in the hope that she would get the financial help needed. She was out for the day. The help needed was not found that day, but her family is still optimistic that they will get the $5,000.00, (Quetzal $15,000) urgently needed for the MRI. And as Yesenia clings to life as she lay in bed, unable to help herself, all she has is hope, said her brother-in-law, Victor Orellano, who Amandala spoke with on Tuesday of this week. According to Victor, Yesenia was in good health and never complained of pain before, until one day she began feeling pain in her left foot, but uncertain as to what it was, she ignored it, and it was not until the pain moved to her other foot that she went to see doctors in Belmopan. But because doctors do not know what is wrong with her, they are unable to help her recover to take care of her three children, ages 8, 4 and 2. According to a letter dated September 29, 2004, from Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital neurologist, Dr. John Sosa, who has seen Yesenia, said that ?The 22-year-old female patient has a six-month history of suffering from progressive weakness of the lower limbs that started initially suddenly. The weakness has now progressed to the upper limbs?? Dr. Sosa further said in the letter that he believed then that ?This patient ?is in need of a complete study to delineate her diagnosis and treatment plan, as well as prognosis.? But according to Victor, they had already taken her to Guatemala some six months ago to do an MRI, but according to Dr. Sosa?s letter, the MRI conducted on Yesenia was ?inadequate.? Today, her illness had prevented her husband, Daniel, from working, and they even had to place their youngest child in an institution for care because he is unable to take care of all three and at the same time care for his wife, who needs 24-hour service, as she cannot do anything without the assistance of an adult. Anyone wishing to help the family is asked to call Victor Orellano at 600-5359, or make donations to the family account at Belize Bank account #3104. Yesenia?s case is somewhat similar to that of John Augustine, 14, a student and resident of Seine Bight who suddenly collapsed one day and became paralyzed from the shoulder downwards. He needed an MRI, but by the time he finally took one, he succumbed to his injuries before the result was received. (The article is in the Sunday, March 20, 2005, issue #1942 of Amandala – ?Puzzling collapse of John Augustine, 14.?)
