April 15, 2016
Venanzio is a 53-year-old man from Kenya. He used to work in an abattoir (slaughter house) before establishing his own butchery. He relied on his butchery business to provide for his family. He has 4 children, two in university and two in primary school. Venanzio’s wife has no job and they all rely on him to provide. Frequent visits to the hospital, and having undergone three surgeries previously, the treatment has left him in financial difficulties. He has to rely on friends and loans to support his treatment and educate his children.
Since suffering a motor bike accident in February 2014, he has not been able to operate his butchery on a daily basis, as he currently lives with a fractured ankle which has become infected. And since Venanzi was the sole provider of the family, this has left his family in many financial difficulties. Venanzio experiences a lot of pain and numbness on his left leg.
If not treated, Venanzio will continue experiencing the pain and numbness on his left leg. The infection may spread and Venenzio may lose his leg. He will not be able to consistently attend to his butchery business.
After the treatment, Venanzio’s pain will be alleviated and the infection managed. Venanzio will be able to walk more comfortably, be able to work and provide for his family.
“I would like to get well soon,” Venanzio shares, “and provide for my family, especially to educate my children.”
Venanzio is a 53-year-old man from Kenya. He used to work in an abattoir (slaughter house) before establishing his own butchery. He relied o...
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July 12, 2016
Venanzio received successful ankle surgery.
Though the original plan was to do an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery with an antibiotics coated nail, the surgeons decided to instead first remove the infected bone and hardware that had been placed before putting in an antibiotic bone spacer and an external fixator in preparation for a later bone transport.
This decision was guided by the fact that Venanzio had undergone unsuccessful ORIFs twice before in earlier treatments and the infection had persisted. With a wound that refused to heal and his status as a diabetic, the surgeon decided not to risk the entire leg and instead just remove the infected bone.
Although the treatment plan changed slightly from what doctors originally intended, the outcome was as successful as hoped. Venanzio is recovering well and is no longer at risk for life-threatening infection.
With the restored ability to walk, Venanzio is eager to return to his butchery business, the sole source of income for his family. “Thank you all,” he said. “I am confident that after the procedure I will be able to walk much better and work harder for my family. God bless you all.”
Though the original plan was to do an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery with an antibiotics coated nail, the surgeons deci...
Read more
