Help youth in the Eastern Caribbean region walk!

Casey is a long-time World Pediatric Project patient who suffers from spina bifida, a condition that prevents many children from ever learning how to walk . . . but Casey has never been one to take no for an answer!

We first met Casey in 2007 when he and his mother traveled to Richmond for emergency neurosurgery a few weeks after he was born. Since then, Casey has been followed closely by World Pediatric Project teams that travel to the Eastern Caribbean. Last year, thanks to the generosity of friends like you, WPP physiotherapist Kim Wesdock was able to create small leg braces for Casey to help stabilize his ankles and calves, allowing him to stand on his own for the first time ever! Kim hoped that with physical therapy Casey would eventually be able to walk on his own.

In June, when a World Pediatric Project team arrived in St. Vincent, they were greeted with a beautiful sight… Casey was not only standing on his own, but was walking as well! Thank you for making this truly life-changing miracle possible for Casey, his family, and for our medical volunteers!

International Hospital for Children is now World Pediatric Project! Our mission of providing critical pediatric care to children in developing countries remains the same, but our new name reflects our action-oriented mission. Visit our new website to learn more: www.worldpediatricproject.org

Recently, one more child benefited from your generosity!  

The largest, most complicated case completed on World Pediatric Project's recent surgical and diagnostic trip to St. Vincent & the Grenadines was a complete hip disarticulation performed by Drs. Woods and Tuten on 15-year-old Kamara. Kamara and her mother first traveled to the U.S. in 2006 for treatment of a neurofibromatosis growth on her leg. In 2010 the tumor returned aggressively and was threatening her life. After seeking consult from all of her Richmond physicians, amputation was the consensus.

 On Monday of the mission, Dr. Woods and Dr. Tuten performed a long procedure to remove Kamara’s leg at the hip joint and do their best to remove the tumor that had spread into her pelvis.  After only 2 days in recovery, Kamara was up, moving around, and learning how to maneuver on one leg with her crutches. Past World Pediatric Project patient Aaron spent time visiting with Kamara and providing encouragement and words of support.  Kamara continues to recover in the hospital and inspires all around her with her strength, optimism and determination.