Ugandan shepherd whose face was burned receives treatment in Ankara
Bernand Tuhumbısa was injured 10 years ago when hot food spilled on him at home. He suffered deep burns to his face and neck, and the left side of his lip was stuck to his left shoulder. Treatment was difficult due to limited resources. After his brother shared his story on social media, the Ala Hayat Little Innocents Association (AHİMDER), founded in 2021, brought him to Ankara. Tuhumbısa was treated by the association, which was established to support the poor and needy affected by disasters. Within two months, Tuhumbısa was brought back to life through operations performed at a private hospital. Bernand also reunited with other children treated by the association, giving them hope.
"WE FREED HIS NECK WITH A SKIN TRANSPLANTATION PROCEDURE"Ali Özdemir, the hospital's Medical Services Coordinator, explained that Bernand had serious problems with his quality of life when he first arrived. He said, "When he first arrived, he had a serious problem with his left lip adhering to his left shoulder. We overcame these problems with several surgeries. Then came physical therapy. There was a problem with his physical therapy and teeth, which was resolved. He's currently undergoing the finishing touches. A few cosmetic procedures remain regarding his eyebrows, the bridge of his nose, and the corner of his lips. After that, we'll send Bernand off. Bernand's lower left lip was adhering to his left shoulder. We completely freed this area with a skin graft. Now he can move his neck completely freely. We supported this with physical therapy. We've now achieved a significant improvement in his neck movement and quality of life. Of course, the lack of treatment for 10 years has caused us to encounter some challenges in performing the treatment as time goes by. But with the strength of our team and the support of the association, we've overcome this process easily."
AHİMDER President and health manager Ayşegül Aksu stated that the association has provided burn treatment to more than 6,000 children to date, saying, "Bernard's story truly touched me deeply, as it did for our other children. While he was working as a shepherd, an older brother named Solomon took a video of him and shared it. We saw it on social media. We contacted him immediately and applied for visa procedures. We were deeply saddened to see a child unable to move his neck or eat comfortably for 10 years. Therefore, we quickly brought him to Ankara. After two months of accelerated medical treatment, he regained his current appearance. He is very happy and now loves Turkey. Wherever there is a problem in the world, we are ready to go. It is our greatest source of happiness and pride that whenever there is a burn, Turkey is the first place that comes to mind."
"HE BECAME HOPE FOR CHILDREN"Aksu, stating that Bernand will return to his country after his discharge, said, “From now on, he will receive treatments that are entirely cosmetic, to help him feel better. I will be going to Uganda in six or seven months to check on my other patients. When I go to Uganda, I will also visit Bernand at his home. Many children have come to see Bernand after seeing him. We receive an average of 20 patients a day, and each child says, ‘Bernand was just like us, but he's gotten better. Can we see him?’ They visit Bernand and say, ‘You've gotten better, now it's my turn.’ He has given hope to children. Our children may experience a delay of one or two years in treatment, but Bernand, after a 10-year delay, has given hope not only to Turkish children but to everyone around the world. He will now move on with his life and smile.”
Habertürk
