In late April 2025, Ken, a gravely ill infant boy from Vanuatu, needed surgery to repair a cardiac defect within four to five weeks or he would die.
Volunteer New Zealand Operations Manager Sue Smith worked hard to get Ken and his mother Bernadette to Starship Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand as quickly as possible.
She arranged a Medevac flight from Luganville, Santo, to Port Vila and then urgent visa applications for them on a medically-assisted flight, accompanied by volunteer Vanuatu paramedic Michael Benjamin.
On arrival at Auckland Airport on 5 June Ken and Bernadette were transferred by ambulance to hospital. After a period of stabilisation and work-up, Ken finally underwent his surgery on 10 June.
It was a joy to the ROMAC team of volunteers to witness Ken’s health rebound more quickly than expected after surgery. A very grateful and relieved Bernadette flew home with her son on 15 July.
Mothers of patients from two different countries met recently as one headed home through Brisbane Airport following treatment.
After five weeks in Sydney, we recently said goodbye to Vanessa and her dad Ino as they began their journey home to Timor-Leste.
Brenden, aged 12, is recovering at Auckland’s Starship Children’s Hospital from successful heart surgery to repair damage caused by rheumatic fever.
Any donation you can make will help make treatment like this possible.
