Irish Toddler in Urgent Need of Life Saving Op

Let me ask you a question, and before you answer I want you to look at your own child or if you don't have any, think of the first toddler that you know and think about my question. How much is the life of a 2 year old worth today? Thats it. Thats my question, its not a trick question. What is the reason for such a question you might ask?

Well here's the reason:

While routinely reading the on-line newspaper of my home town of Omagh, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland I noticed a story about a child and his "Ray of hope", the child's name is Billy and his parents are Charlotte and Andy Caldwell. I have never met either Billy or his parents so I clicked and read the story, I won't try and look smart and use big fancy words to describe how I felt reading it as the simple truth is this, as a parent, reading the story of another parent's fear, heartache and worry about their child's condition not only ripped at my own heart, but it also made me realize that Billy's parents, Andy and Charlotte are indeed facing a possible nightmare that no parent on Earth ever wants to face-the possibility of out living their child.

According to the town newspaper, the Ulster Herald, Billy has a severe intractable epilepsy condition and there is a surgery that can hopefully cure it but there is also a problem with that, the specialists at the Great Western University Hospital in Chicago will not treat Billy until the total of the medical bill is put into their account prior to treatment, even though a 2 year old toddler's life is currently hanging in the balance. After doing a currency conversion on XE.com the price of the life saving operation is going to cost $505,448.74 USD (£250,000 GBP).

Currently everyone is helping as much as they can, donating and holding special events such as for example the Omagh Celtic supporters club have offered all of their proceeds from their Super Celtic Sunday event to Billy's Ray of Hope fund. Another event which is scheduled for September 8th 2007 at 9:30pm is the Rock 4 Billy band night where 10 bands will appear on 2 stages and perform, the event was arranged by another Omagh town citizen William Convey. At the moment everyone has been able to raise $169,582.33 USD (£85,000 GBP, converted by XE.com at time of press)so far but alot more is needed, to some people that is alot of money, but to the specialists who have the ability to save this defenseless child's life and end one set of parent's worse yet very real nightmare, it is not enough.

Louis Lasagna, Academic Dean of the School of Medicine at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts wrote in 1964 what's been called a 'modern version' of the Hippocratic Oath and is used still to this day in medical schools throughout. Below is a copy of that oath.

"I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of over treatment and therapeutic nihilism.

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help."

Let me say that while I do understand that the surgery can't be done for free and that people whether they are doctors or even a pizza delivery man have to make a living, the possible life saving treatment of a child should not be put on hold until the bank account of a hospital has been fattened regardless of where that child is from. By law, if you are in the United States of America, standing on American soil, you cannot be turned away from a hospital in an emergency situation. But if you are from another country and you are seeking medical treatment in the United States, doctors can (and in this case, do) refuse to do anything until you pay them.

While this may be a law, I can not help but ask is it morally correct, especially when it involves the life of a child? Put yourself in the shoes of parents Andy and Charlotte Caldwell and think, what would you do? Billy is only 2 years of age and there's only 4 months left until Christmas, if you can help make sure Billy will see many more by reaching the amount required or you would like more info please click on one of the links below.

Billys Ray of Hope Fund

Ulster Herald

Rock 4 Billy

..."please don't give up on our son."
- - Charlotte Caldwell