Darleene Barrientos
A Jamaican orphan whose most fervent prayer was to be able to walk
normally will begin the journey of having that wish granted today,
beginning with surgery on his ankles.
Mild cerebral palsy has prevented 5-year-old Christopher Bandoo
from walking normally. But with the help of a few local good
Samaritans, Christopher will undergo the surgery at Glendale
Adventist Medical Center today to lengthen his Achilles' tendons and
receive proper rehabilitation after his ankles have healed.
Christopher always talked about being able to walk, said
14-year-old Sara Davis, who has visited Jamaica during the past two
summers as a part of a Christian mission. Sara and her family are
caring for Christopher during his stay in the United States.
"He always talked about walking and playing with the other kids,"
Sara said. "He would have to crawl."
Eagle Rock resident Carolee Mayne Watson met Christopher when he
was a baby, when his cerebral palsy had not been diagnosed. Watson,
who regularly travels to Jamaica on Christian missions and is
Christopher's guardian during his stay, searched across Jamaica and
with nonprofit organizations in the United States for a doctor who
would perform the surgery pro bono and provide his rehabilitation.
After Christopher's surgery today, he will wear a cast on each leg
for six weeks. Christopher will undergo about two or three months of
physical therapy to build the muscles of his legs and is scheduled to
return to Jamaica in June.
"We'd been hoping and praying," Watson said. "Chris would be in
his crib and would say at night, 'Lord, I want to walk,' before he
would sleep."
Then Watson met William Stetson, a surgeon at Glendale Adventist
Medical Center. She invited him to lunch and mentioned Christopher's
plight.
Stetson was happy to help and spoke with the medical center
officials, who donated the operating room, a small wheelchair and
lots of toys.
"I've just got a small part in this," Stetson said Monday after
receiving a big hug from Christopher. "We just want to get him back
on his feet."
