Trinidad and Tobago
Sustainability achieved!
Dr Lesley Roberts with TLC nephrologist Dr Paul Cockwell
TLC has been working with the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Centre since 2008, when our Medical Director Mr Ready was already working there to develop their surgical skills. Since then, under the direction of Dr Lesley Roberts and her team at the National Organ Transplant Unit(NOTU), the centre has gone from strength to strength. TLC has provided support in a variety of ways but in particular for the development of a service for the children.
The first ever paediatric transplant in the Caribbean was carried out by NOTU and TLC in 2008. Since then the whole programme has continued to develop to a point of sustainability, with the training of surgeon Dr Malcolm Samuel in the UK as a key step. In 2011 Dr Samuel came to the UK to train under the supervision of TLC surgeons Mr Ready, Mr Mellor and Mr Inston. Now that he has returned to NOTU the adult programme is fully sustainable, and TLC continues to offer support for the paediatric and more complicated cases.
Since the beginning of our partnership, the EWMSC can now boast their 160th transplant as a result of the teaching and advice that TLC have been able to give them. We are also excited that as a result of this successful relationship with Trinidad, Dr Samuels is now a part of the teaching TLC team.
Below is a video of the three most recent children to receive transplants in Trinidad with the help of TLC.
Case Study: Alana - a transformation!
Alana had been struggling with kidney failure for years. She was weak, tired, and unable to go to school because of her heavy dialysis treatment - a common story amongst children suffering from this cruel disease. In 2009 her brother was able to give her one of his healthy kidneys, which turned her life around. Now she is a bright and happy young lady, living a life without dialysis and working at her favourite restaurant!
Below: Alana before her transplant, 1 day after her transplant, and 5 years after transplant!
