Troppodoc & Island Aid Support Emergency Operation

Troppodoc and Island Aid have completed their first joint mission.... to save 10 year old Mardiana's life buy funding a time critical operation to remove a huge abdominal tumor that was compressing her heart and lungs.

Mardiana has been in pain and great discomfort for the past 6 months. A tumor developed in her left ovary and started to fill her abdominal cavity. It became so large that she could not eat properly and her breathing was becoming very restricted.

The tumor was pushing up and pressing on her lungs. Her heart was working overtime to get blood to her lower abdomen and legs with enlarged veins visible under the skin on her thorax. Mardiana did not have long to live and her family were far to poor to afford the operation that was her only chance of survival.

Her family are from Nias, forced to move by the extreme poverty of their home town and they now occupy a hovel near Island Aid's Padang headquarters.

Our staff heard about her problem and asked her mother to bring her to meet Dr Derek Allen during his visit to Padang. After reviewing her x-rays and consulting with the local hospital doctors, the path was very clear to all of us. Mardiana needed help urgently so Dr Derek and Bron McBain committed to raising the funds needed. Island Aid agreed to share the costs and to sign for the hospital bills.

Rp 9,000,000 and a week later, Mardiana was back home and smiling for the first time in many months. The tumor is not malignant but Mardiana will be monitored for several months to ensure that there is no relapse. She is receiving food and vitamin supplements from Island Aid and as soon as she is strong enough, she will start swimming lessons in our pool to help her rebuild her lower body strength.



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