GAINESVILLE - When Maxey Ladd traveled to Uganda, Africa earlier this year on a mission trip, little did he realize one of the children he met would be coming to the United States and living with him on a temporary basis.
The children's pastor at Riverbend Baptist Church and his wife are among several families who have hosted Isa, 10, since his arrival in Gainesville nearly 6 weeks ago.
Isa came to the United States, to north Georgia specifically, in hopes of preventing the amputation of his left leg. According to Ladd, the boy was attacked by a group of teenage boys on the streets of Busia, Uganda in March of 2008. Isa was left for dead, but area villagers found him and took him to the hospital. He was hospitalized off and on for three months.
Doctors there did what they could with their limited resources, including placing a makeshift cast on Isa's leg. Underneath the cast, however, the wound on Isa's leg became terribly infected. When Isa's grandmother brought him to the medical mission tent set up by Helping Hands Foreign Missions, doctors found a gruesome sight when they removed the cast. As they examined him, missionary doctors knew they would have to get Isa to the United States if there was any hope of saving his leg.
"We just thought that [amputation] was somewhat of a drastic decision for a little boy who is 10-years-old," said Dr. Brenda Kowalske, one of the founders of Helping Hands. "And we also know that even the best medical care over there is not anywhere near what we can provide here in the United States."
Kowalske was quick to point out that bringing Isa to the U.S. was the result of the efforts of many. Families have opened their homes to him so that he has a place to stay, one teacher has been tutoring him so that he many enter school next month, others have donated funding for his continued care.
One thing that's certain...Isa has adapted quickly to American life. One of his favorite activities?
"Watching TV," said Ladd. "He loves to watch TV. He loves to play with electric gadgets, little computer games."
Isa's surgery, performed Monday by doctors at Egleston Children's Hospital at Emory University in Atlanta, went well, according to Kowalske. Infected bone was removed and surgical pins are holding the leg in place. Isa will undergo bone graft surgery and at least one more surgery in the next six months.
Isa communicates with his grandmother by phone when possible. She, along with seven siblings and his uncle, await his arrival back home in Uganda. At this point, no one is sure when he will be well enough to return to his native Busia, although his visa is valid for only 9 months.
Until then, his north Georgia family and friends will keep him in their care.
Watch for updates on Isa's medical progress on accessnorthga.com.
Friday
May 10th, 2024
10:06PM
