Child without anus

He and his mother will soon be travelling to Canada in order to have this defect corrected. His surgery is scheduled for Friday, October 27.

According to one medical website, an “imperforate anus is a birth defect that occurs in about one of every 5,000 newborns. It is somewhat more common in boys than girls and may include a single abnormality or a combination of abnormalities of the rectum and anus.

“The rectum is the end of intestine that connects with the anus and the anus is the body’s opening to dispel solid waste.

“Although there is no known cause for this condition, there are many forms of this birth defect, including:

“*The absence of an anal opening.

*An anal opening in the wrong position, usually a very small opening.

* An abnormal connection or opening, called a fistula, between the rectum and the urethra, bladder or vagina.

“In girls, the rectum, urethra and vagina can join together to form a single opening. This is called a cloaca and is very rare.”

In the case of two-and-a-half-year-old Roshan, he has no natural opening for the passage of stool.

Salisha and Siewnarine were sent to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) for treatment where the doctors promised to correct their son’s condition.

There, as is usually done in such cases, an incision was made onto Roshan’s abdomen — above the pelvic bone and below the hip — creating a temporary opening of the colon to allow passage of stool.

He was then supposed to be allowed to grow for several months before attempting the more complex anal repair. Roshan and his parents have been visiting the children’s clinic for check-ups every three weeks ever since.

After more than a year and a half of check-ups and constant questioning, Salisha realised that her child’s doctor could not help her and so she made a change. Her current doctor was willing to perform the operation but warned that, since EWMSC does not have the proper equipment, the results would not be perfect. This idea was rejected.

Around the same time, on one of her visits to the clinic, Salisha met a woman whose child had the same condition as Roshan. The child was sent to “The Hospital for Sick Children” in Toronto, Canada where the condition was surgically repaired.

She contacted the hospital immediately and in two weeks, received a favourable response.

The surgery itself, which costs $267,000, will be covered by the hospital’s “Herbie Fund.” The Herbie Fund was established to meet the needs of sick children from around the world and to provide treatment not available in their homelands.

Since receiving the good news, Salisha and Siewnarine have been trying to raise funds by organising barbecues and donation sheets but they are nowhere near their target of $135,000.

Most of the money will go towards Roshan’s post operation care costs while in Toronto.

It will also cover airfare for both mother and child, meals and accommodation near to the hospital.

At two years and four months Roshan is a very active, relatively healthy boy who loves to play with his two older brothers. However, the artificial anus in his abdomen needs to be cleaned almost five times a day.

This is because, in normal cases, closure of the anus is controlled by muscles. Since he does not have an anus, faeces simply come out.

According to Salisha, because the intestine is sensitive, they have to use the softest, most expensive disposable diapers.

Under the disposables, cloth diapers are also necessary to prevent chaffing.

Even with the use of towels, it is necessary to use the smoother side and that is only if they were washed in fabric softener.

If these precautions are not taken, the intestine will blister and bleed.

Anyone wishing to contribute to Roshan’s post-operation care, can do so by making a deposit to account number 320 460 093 001 at the San Juan branch of Republic Bank.