The Lord listened to her prayers for full vision and sent her Vera and Bassel De Clarke, missionaries attached to the Organization of Belizean Missionaries, and owners of Turtle Beach Resort in Gales Point, Manatee.  The De Clarkes, Americans who have been doing work with the King?s Children?s Home in Belmopan and with people in Manatee and Mullins River, knew Adrianna and her family for quite some time and took a special interest in her.  They wanted to give Adrianna the chance to see with both eyes again, or at least, to look normal, so other kids would stop making fun of her.  They found out that all Adrianna needed was a simple cornea transplant, which could be done right here in Belize. 

   Vera De Clarke told Amandala that one of the people involved in her missionary group was able to get corneas donated.  After hearing about Adrianna?s case, he had agreed to send out one to the De Clarkes? for her surgery. 

   Vera said they spoke to Dr. Victoriano Valdez, an eye specialist in Belize City, who had attended to Adrianna after the accident, and he told them he would be able to perform the surgery, and would do it free of cost.

   Vera and her husband then negotiated with the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) to get the surgery done and hospital fees waived.  The entire project was free to the family, whereas, a transplant like this abroad would normally cost about BZ$20,000.00.

   Vera said her friend had gotten the cornea donated when a 25-year-old donor tragically lost his life.  The friend sent both of the corneas, one for Adrianna and the other, which was donated to an elderly woman, also in Belize.  That other surgery has not yet been conducted.  In the meantime, the second cornea is stored in a special solution and kept at a very low temperature.  It must be used within the next two weeks, or it will have to be thrown away.

   Adrianna was brought into Belize City on Tuesday, July 13, and underwent surgery that same night, just a little after 7:00.  Dr. Victoriano Valdez performed the surgery, along with Dr. Julio Tijado, who was the anesthesiologist.  The entire surgery lasted a little more than an hour and a half.  Yesterday, Adrianna was released from the hospital with a bandage over her eye.  She would soon be seeing shapes and movements, her doctor said, but the most critical time would be the next couple of months, which would determine if she would recover full sight in the eye.

   Amandala spoke with Dr. Valdez, who told us that the surgery was a normal procedure, just not done regularly in Belize.  Dr. Valdez pointed out that due to Belize?s legislation when it comes to transplants, maybe only one or two of these surgeries are performed in Belize each year, and the corneas used for transplants have to be flown in from the States.  Belize does not have a bank, where organs from donors could be stored for extended periods before being used.

   The cornea for Adrianna had been flown in the same day of the surgery.  This was the first time such a surgery was performed inside the KHMH, but Dr. Valdez points out that it went very well.  In his words ??the procedure was excellent??

   Dr. Valdez also pointed out, however, that as with all surgeries, Adrianna is vulnerable to infection, so the next six months would determine everything.  She could still reject the cornea, having either an early rejection during the next couple of days or weeks, or a late rejection that could occur in the next six months.  Adrianna will be seeing the eye doctor a lot over the next couple of months, as she progresses.

   Dr. Valdez says he would continue to perform these surgeries, and is more than willing to help people trying to have these surgeries performed.

   The child?s mother, Paulita Samuels, 29, is thankful for everything people have done for her daughter.  She said she was sure she would not have been able to afford such a surgery, and thanks God for her angels.  She is very thankful to the De Clarkes, KHMH, the Belize Missionaries, and especially Dr. Valdez and Dr. Julio Tijado for all their support and hard work.  Her daughter will be getting ready to start her final year of primary school in August.

   The company that does the cornea donations is the Lions Eye Bank in San Joaquin, California.  Interested persons wishing to find out more information can contact Thomas Goode, the executive director of that eye bank.