Brave youngster survives five-hour operation
Primary school learner recovering well after operation.
Coleen Gardiner (8), who was diagnosed with Wilms’ Tumor in June, is doing well after her recent operation at the Netcare Clinton Hospital in Alberton.
The five-hour operation included a nephrectomy (removal of the left kidney), a hepatectomy (a resection of the liver) and a trisegmentectomy which is the removal of the right lobe of the liver.
The operation was done by Dr Charles Carapinha.
Her mother Natasha Gardiner says she recovered well enough to be discharged within five days after the operation.
“The lesion – the tissue that has been damaged by the disease – is too deep in and would cause more damage to the liver, therefore the liver biopsy wasn’t done,” she says.
The family is happy that the doctor removed everything they could.
Natasha says the large tumor pushed through the fat at the colon, but didn’t enter the colon.
Colleen will need radiation treatment in that area.
She visited the pediatric oncologist on Tuesday, but the results were not available at the time of going to print.
“It basically means we will be informed about the future treatment plan,” says Natasha.
Coleen was diagnosed with this rare kidney cancer, also called nephroblastoma, on June 23 after she suffered severe abdominal pain.
She went for several chemo treatments which started on July 11.
“The results of the chemo were devastating for us, as we couldn’t bear watching our child going through so much pain and suffering,” she says.
She believes God is good and would like to thank everyone for their prayers.
“May Coleen’s story be a testimony to you, that we serve a great God,” says Natasha.
