CRESTVIEW — A team of doctors can perform surgery that restores Julio Chi's ability to fight infection, eat and swallow food.
The 4-year-old toddler just needs the means of getting to them.
Julio and his mom live in Belize, where they met Crestview pediatrician Dr. Joseph Peter and his Operation Medical Care partners. Peter's annual missions provide free medical services to the Central American nation's impoverished residents.
“His mother walked a long way to come and see us,” Peter said. “This boy had no opportunity to see a doctor” in Orange Walk, his home community.
Julio has branchial cleft fistula, which results in a lump developing in one or both sides of a child’s neck. In cases like Julio’s, an opening can form on the side of the neck.
“The chances of this defect getting repeated infection is common, which might hinder his normal growth and development,” Peter said.
FREE SURGERY
A fistulectomy, the surgery Julio requires, is unavailable in the region, said Crestview pharmacist Dr. Michele Richard, a member of Peter's mission.
“His mother is a single parent who works hard to support the two of them and provide for his medical needs and care, but as you can imagine, this kind of treatment is far outside her reach,” Richard said.
Peter discussed the boy’s case with Dr. Joseph Siefker, of Emerald Coast Ear, Nose and Throat, who in turn consulted with Dr. Rich Barnett.
“Both these great men decided to perform the corrective surgery free of cost,” Peter said. “These two surgeons need to be commended. We still have great doctors like them in our community.”
Peter has agreed to provide free follow-up care after Julio’s surgery, Richard said.
A local host family will house the Chis and their translator for what could be up to two months' recuperation, she said. The Orange Walk Rotary Club is coordinating the family’s travel documents.
But one thing's missing: money.
Operation Medical Care needs donations to pay for the family’s airfare and other medical expenses, Richard said. Total costs are estimated to be $7,000, Peter said. Donations are tax-deductible.
WANT TO HELP?
Donations to bring Julio Chi, his mother and the family’s translator to Okaloosa County for corrective surgery may be made to Operation Medical Care, 332 Medcrest Drive, Crestview, FL 32536-6440. Donations to the 501(c)(3) organization are tax deductible.
Call Sharlene Cox, 682-6824, for more information.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview doctors to perform boy’s corrective surgery at no cost — if he can get here