On August 5, 2020 in a batey near San Pedro de Macorís, the Light A Candle team arrived and became acquainted with a boy named Johnny and learned of his situation. He had suffered an accident two years before when he was on the way to his school and a tractor ran over him. The trauma destroyed his urinary tract. Our foundation was distributing food aid in this batey, and we found him malnourished, scratched, and in pain. He had a suprapubic catheter in place since he could not urinate normally. His mother related to us that the catheter needed to be changed periodically in the hospital, but due to lack of resources, it had not been changed for a long while.

We presented this case to our international collaborators. A good friend of LAC referred us to a doctor at a private hospital in Santo Domingo, but he then referred us to a pediatrician at Robert Reid Cabral Pediatric Hospital because this hospital specializes in working with children and Johnny had received previous care there. At the Robert Reid Cabral Hospital we met with three doctors. One of the doctors had placed the catheter directly into the bladder at the time of the accident. She said that because two years had already passed, the tissue had already lost strength and therefore a reconstruction could not be done.

But we were also advised that the child should go through a process to be able to opt for the operation. This process would involve ensuring that the child was well nourished, with better blood work results. Since he had a compressed bladder from the injury, another part of the process was for him to learn to control fluids. With the fluid control, he had to drink liquids and try to retain the urine for as long as possible so that the bladder would expand. We were told that this would improve the likelihood for an option of surgery, and our team was motivated to provide this care that the doctors suggested.

We decided to bring Johnny to the dorm facilities of LAC since in each batey visit when we would pick him up for his evaluation at the hospital, there was no improvement. And he was always dirty and malnourished despite the help that we were bringing to him. Johnny was placed in our dorm with a person in charge of his care, Mrs. Osana Nylon. She was responsible for monitoring his nutrition, ensuring compliance with the liquids, keeping records about the fluid control as required by the doctors. We also arranged for a teacher to come and work with him on reading and writing since he was very behind in his education. Johnny brought joy to our team since many saw him as a family member and he brought childhood joy to our headquarters. Johnny had dedicated care and attention around the clock. 24-hour care periodically and religiously. After Osana's care during the day, Nurse Yoselin Alexander continued with his care at night.

He was taken faithfully to all his medical consultations in Santo Domingo. For every appointment, Cesar Adrien and Osana Nylon accompanied him so that the child would always have their care. We noticed amazing progress with the child while he was in our care. The hospital personnel were surprised by the change and his healthy appearance. He had been a stooped child, but now he walked upright. His blood levels had improved and by taking his medications rigorously, his urinary infections were controlled.

In La Romana, he was also evaluated by Dr. Febles and Dr. Jean Baptist who are recognized urologists. During one workup, a study was carried out that indicated Johnny would not be able to urinate normally. As we got closer to achieving the goals set out by the doctors in terms for Johnny to be considered for possible surgery, his doctors in Santo Domingo became impossible to contact. They stopped answering messages and calls.