| 2004-01 January |
HVO Story of the Month - January 2004Yuso ToketonJanuary, 2004 By Jeff Maudlin, MD We admitted Yuso to Hospital Vozandes about a week ago. He came in on a Saturday morning with a couple named Marcos and Leticia. He was about 8 months old and sick with pneumonia, cellulitis, dehydration and malnutrition. He was a pretty sick little guy! He came from a Quichua community in the jungle named Pacayacu, on the Rio Bobonaza. His town was about 50 kilometers from Shell, but the only access is by canoe or plane. He came by plane. Marcos explained that Yuso’s mother had been raped at the age of 14, and she left Yuso with her mother on his second day of life. He was being raised by his grandmother, but she had another baby of the same age, and she left Yuso to his own devices. The father/rapist was arrested and charged, but he still remains free in a neighboring community. Yuso’s grandmother had 7 children of her own, so he never received appropriate milk, cleaning, or even the love so important to an infant. 
Marco works for a petroleum company in community development. He visits up to 28
different towns, trying to help communities develop their resources and solve their own
problems, including health and social issues. He is also a Christian, and has
demonstrated God’s love by his devotion to Yuso.When Yuso was admitted, we found him to be an irritable baby with a high fever and severe skin rashes. Nobody knew how old he was; we guessed he was about 8 months old. His laboratory tests showed that he had severe anemia, infection, pneumonia, and parasites. He was very dehydrated, and we started IV fluids with antibiotics. Over the next week he slowly got better, but it was always two steps forward and one step back. We struggled with his nutrition, because he vomited almost all of the formulas we gave him. Eventually his intestines were able to handle watered down soy formula. He slowly recovered from the combination of virus and bacteria in his lungs. His skin slowly improved, with treatment for scabies and simple baths with a washcloth. The remarkable thing about Yuso was his eyes. He was always looking around to see people’s faces. His worst suffering was to be alone. I walked in to his room one day, and he lifted his body as if to say “hold me.” I found myself picking him up often, and becoming more attached to this little guy who was fighting for his new life. He craved contact with anyone. Despite his severe neglect, he had inner strength and a winning personality. He began to smile a little when I played with him and his only toy, a little toy tiger. He babbled a little, but didn’t have any words. We got him to start sitting up. Marco and Leticia had some ideas on who could care for him. Marco’s brother is a pastor in Quito. Unfortunately this brother, Cesar, was unable to take over the care of Yuso. So, Marco came in every day to monitor the boy’s progress, and arrange for different visitors to stay with Yuso. His dedication to the boy, while he did his business calls from his cell phone, was wonderful. He could see the boy’s potential. 
The story has a wonderful next chapter. He was adopted by one of our nurses and her
husband. They are a wonderful family who cannot have biological children, but have
already adopted a baby girl from our hospital last year. He is now named Diego. He
almost has more love than he can handle, and a family who wants him.Not all of our stories at Hospital Vozandes have such happy endings, but we meet people filled with faith and love when we least expect to find them. It is a privilege to work at Hospital Vozandes. |
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