Abington Hospital Donates Surgery to Haitian Girl

A nearly two-year-old toddler from Haiti is getting lifesaving surgery to correct a rare digestive abnormality at no cost, thanks to the kindness of the staff at Abington Memorial Hospital.

KYW's Brad Segall reports that Mirlande Felime is living with a condition that occurs in about one of every 4,500 children.

If she had been born in the United States, her condition would have been corrected at birth, but the surgery is not available in her home country.

Without the surgery, pediatric surgeon Dr. Ala Frey says, over time bacteria would attack her vital organs:

"Essentially since the source of her infection would not be treated, because ultimately she would need the surgery for that, it would just be a vicious cycle and she wouldn't get better from it and she would succumb."

The cost of the family's airfare, hospital bills, and accommodations are all being taken care of by the hospital, its staff, and the local Haitian community.

Mirlande will have at least one more surgery later this year.

(photo courtesy of Abington Memorial Hospital)