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| Four-year-old Elvis Hinds
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A local island boy
is in a desperate situation that requires immediate medical attention to
save his only kidney. The community is being called upon to assist young
Elvis Hinds with the money needed for him to obtain medical care
available only outside of Belize.
Four-year-old Elvis is the son of Edmund and Maria
Hinds of San Pedro. A normally happy, active child, he recently began
complaining of severe pain and becoming easily tired during play.
Elvis was taken to Dr. Teresa Damera at the SP Lions
Clinic. After examining the child, she recommended he be taken to Belize
City for further tests. Scans and X-rays revealed that little Elvis was
born with only one kidney. His radiology reports suggest moderate
hydronephrosis, an abnormal enlargement of the kidney. This is suspected
to be caused by a problem with the child's ureter, a duct or tube that
allows urine to flow from the kidney to the bladder. This malfunction in
the urinary tract is the probable cause of the boy's only kidney becoming
dysfunctional. Elvis will more than likely require surgery.
On Wednesday, September
17th, 2003, the
child's parents were instructed to take Elvis to Mexico because the
medical treatment required for his condition is not available in Belize.
Doctors stressed that the child needs to see a nephrologist (an expert in
the treatment of kidney disease and kidney failure) in Merida within the
next two weeks, to prevent permanent damage to Elvis's only remaining
kidney.
The Hinds' family has issued an appeal to
the community for their immediate assistance. Donations may be deposited
into a special account (#20001775) set up for Elvis Hinds at the Belize
Bank in San Pedro (phone: 226-2450; E-mail: [email protected]). The
little boy's family and friends raised nearly $500 at a barbecue held
last Sunday and the San Pedro Lions Club has provided $300, but
approximately $5,000 is needed for the operation alone.
The kidneys perform the vital function of filtering
waste products from the blood. If allowed to accumulate, the waste
products would be toxic to the human body. Blood is filtered through the
kidney and waste products are filtered out and excreted into the urine.
Renal failure occurs when the kidney has lost the ability to filter
wastes, excrete urine, and conserve electrolytes.
Any process that acutely compromises kidney blood flow
can cause renal failure. A sudden decline in kidney function is known as
acute renal failure. Humans are blessed with a surplus of kidney
function. Symptoms of kidney failure will not start until at least 90% of
the total kidney function is lost. Aggressive treatment of the underlying
problem can often be met with full or partial return of kidney
function.
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