患者さんのお母さんからお話を聞きました①
English follows Japanese
今回の第2例目は12歳の女子、2人姉妹の長女で、順調に回復されておられます。ルサカ近郊にお住まいの彼女のお母さんにお話をお伺いました。
＜昔からどのような症状があったのでしょうか？ また治療は？＞
娘が生後2ヶ月の時に、食べたものを戻したりして体重が増えなくなり、地元の診療所で診てもらい、大学教育病院（UTH）へ紹介を受けました。UTHでは心房中隔欠損（ASD）の診断を受け、入退院を繰り返してきました。肺の炎症を起こしやすく、また足の痛みも長年訴えており、先月には半身が麻痺するような状態も経験しました。（ザンビアでは今まで行われていなかった）心臓手術により治癒できることを知り、手術を受けることを大変楽しみにしてきました。
＜今回手術を受けて、お嬢さんのご様子はいかがでしょうか？＞
娘は日々元気になってきています。食欲が出てきてよく食べるようになりましたし、歩くこともできるようになり、よく眠れるようになってきました。
＜お母さんとしての願いは？＞
3歳下の次女は長女よりも背も高く健康に育っていますが、長女は病気のために、学校にもなかなか行けずに、Grade 2（小学2年）でストップしています。これからは、教育を受け続けてほしいと思っています。今回の件で治療に携わる方々と接して、娘は将来は看護師になりたいと申しております。娘の願いが叶えば良いと親として強く思っています。
＜日本の皆様へ＞
地元の診療所に初めて行った時には本当に絶望しました。まさか娘が今のような元気な状態になっていく姿は、その時には全く想像できませんでした。
TICOを支援いただいている日本の皆様、このような支援を娘にしていただきまして本当にありがとうございます。そして神様に感謝しています。
[Transfer of Heart Surgery Technology to Zambia: We interviewed the patient’s mother (1)]
The second case is a 12-year-old girl who is recovering well. We interviewed the mother. The patient lives near Lusaka and is the eldest of two sisters.
＜What kind of symptoms has she had for a long time? And what about treatment? >
When my daughter was 2 months old, she started putting back food she had eaten and stopped gaining weight. She was seen at a local clinic and referred to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), where she was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect (ASD) and has been in and out of the hospital. She is prone to lung inflammation and has long complained of pain in her legs, and in the last month has experienced a semi-paralyzing condition. We have learned that heart surgery can cure her and have been very excited about having the surgery.
＜How is your daughter doing after this surgery? >
My daughter is getting better day by day. She has developed an appetite and eats well, she is able to walk, and she is able to sleep well.
＜What are your wishes as a mother? >
My second daughter, who is three years younger than my eldest daughter, is growing up taller and healthier than my eldest daughter, and my eldest daughter has stopped at Grade 2 because of her illness and is unable to go to school easily. I hope that she will continue to receive an education from now on. After being in contact with people involved in the treatment of this case, my daughter has said that she wants to become a nurse in the future. As a parent, I strongly hope that my daughter’s wish will come true.
<To the people of Japan>
When we first went to the local clinic, we were in despair. At that time, I could not imagine that my daughter would be in such a healthy condition as she is now.
To the Japanese people who support TICO, thank you so much for giving my daughter this kind of support. And thank you God.