| Sports |
Every breath she takes
By MARGARET DAURE
Roslyn Kewap knows how precious
life's breath is.
For the past four years she has struggled to do the one thing that
many people take for granted, breathe.
Roslyn, a patient in bed 32 in Ward 4 of the Port Moresby General
hospital has a condition called bronchiectasis which ensued as a
complication of chronic tuberculosis (TB) infection she had three
years ago.
She now has an end stage lung disease that has complicated her
heart to fail.
While doctors have done everything they possibly can, her life now
lies in the hands of friends, relatives, business houses, church
groups and anyone who can donate towards medical costs for her to
have a heart/lung transplant overseas.
"I need help, I don't want to be this way, doctors here have done
everything they possibly can. I need assistance for medical
treatment overseas," she said from her hospital bed this week.
Roslyn, 38 from Chimbu said she began feeling ill in April 2003.
It started with dizzy spells, and coughing.
She was at that time employed with Collins and Leahy in Lae,
Morobe province.
She resigned in June and came across to Port Moresby to work at
the Granville Motel.
"I started getting very ill, so I went to St Mary's hospital where
I was diagnosed as having pulmonary tuberculosis and referred to
the TB clinic at Three Mile hospital,"
Roslyn was put on TB treatment for six months, which she took
faithfully. After six months there was not improvement, so she was
put another six month treatment. This did not seem to cure her so
she was put on a further six month treatment.
She was at that time employed with Steamships Hardware at Waigani.
By 2006 she felt her health deteriorating so she asked her boss
for a two week break.
"After a year and six months on TB treatment, I felt that my body
just could not take any more medication, it started rejecting the
medicine, I kept throwing up, I suffered from shortness of breath
and I was always so tired, some days I couldn't walk," she said.
Some friends took her to Pacific International Hospital where
x-rays showed she had cavities in both lungs. She was admitted to
ward 4 for two months.
In May 2006 she was discharged and went to stay with relatives at
Bomana. She started getting ill again and was admitted back into
Ward 4B. She is now on antibiotics because the TB treatment does
not seem to be effective.
Roslyn's feet, calves and stomach are swelling caused by excess
fluids coming from her lungs. A heart scan in January this year
showed that the conditions of her lungs have affected her heart.
She was told that they can not drain the excess fluids out of her
feet because this would affect her heart.
Roslyn wanted to appeal for help earlier but could not do so
because the bank had frozen her account.
She recently got her account reactivated and is now appealing for
help.
"I really need help, I have been told that my body is resistant to
all TB treatment drugs," she said.
According to a medical status letter from Medical Registrar Cathy
Timothy, in PNG nothing much can be done for Roslyn except
symptomatic treatment.
Her only hope is to seek overseas treatment for heart-lung
transplant, the letter stated.
Roslyn will need about K100,000 to cover medical costs.
"I don't have anything, I am alone here, except for a handful of
very close friends who visit, I am basically helpless,
"Many days I can't get out of bed, I struggle to breathe, it's
such an effort to just sit up, I don't like being this way, I want
to live," she said.
Anyone willing to give towards Roslyn's medical costs can deposit
into this account: Roslyn Kewap, account no 1000544563 at BSP
Waigani.
For further details or confirmation contact Joyce Kama on 3211033
or Peter Korugl at the National in Lae, 4722833.
"I can't sleep at night, my body feels hot, I struggle to breathe,
my feet are swollen, it is so painful to walk. I can't go on this
way, I need your help, please," Roslyn says.
"I'm hanging on, I don't want to give up the will to live," she
said
As Roslyn waits for help, she is thankful to God, with every
breath she takes, for keeping her this long, despite all else.
 
|
