GMA Extra: Checking in with Operation Healing Hands week 1 patient, Calvin Maapeya.

GMA EXTRA 30 JANUARY 2017 (CALVIN/OP HEALING HANDS 6 JULY 2016)

Checking in with Operation Healing Hands week 1 patient, Calvin Maapeya.

BACKGROUND:

Operation Healing Hands for Mandela Day saw 14 needy patients get life changing operations for free over two weeks.

The first patient to undergo life surgery, was 18-year old Calvin Maapeya. 

Calvin is one of three children. He was born with a degree of cerebral palsy, in his hands and legs. His dad, Frank has been very supportive to make sure he goes to school. Calvin finished school last year. His teachers praised him as bright, hardworking student with the intellectual ability to make it far in life. His condition however made its difficult for him to take care of himself and do the basics like bathing, getting dressed, and eating. The tendons in his arms and legs were in permanent spasm, which made walking difficult, with virtually no use of his hands. 

Calvin received a bilateral hip flexor release, bilateral Achilles tendon lengthening and right hand flexor tendon release. The operation was a great success and will improve his quality of life tremendously. The operation relaxed his hands and he can now hold a tooth brush, work a mouse on a computer, feed and wash himself, get dressed. Calvin will now start work at a facility that takes his physical condition into account.   

OPERATION HEALING HANDS: www.operationhealinghands.org

Operation Healing Hands is the idea of a Pretoria orthopaedic surgeon, to get her colleges, friends and medical supply companies, to give of their time, skill, services and products in the private medical field, to help 10 people who cannot afford private health care, with life saving and changing surgeries. She had no difficulty convincing others in her field to participate and the result is an NPO, supported by more than 20 medical practitioners, support skills and two hospitals: Life Eugene Marais and Life Groenkloof.

All the patients are people in need, who have been waiting on lists for years. The operations include hip and knee replacements, ports for four children with cancer, reconstructive surgery for a cancer survivor who had a double mastectomy, tonsil removal and the removal of a cancerous vocal chord tumour. All medical treatment, surgery, aftercare for three months and medication are provided to these patients free of charge!