Kuek Biar
Dr. Barry Efron and Kuek Biar
While living in Africa, Lost Boy Kuek Biar, like most children in Southern Sudan , had no shoes to protect his feet. While walking hundreds of hundreds of miles across the wilds of Africa , a stick became lodged in Kuek’s foot. “There were no doctors or medicine at that time,” says Kuek. “So I pulled the stick out by myself. But some of the stick remained. The bleeding would not stop, so I filled the wound with pebbles and dirt.” The stick remained in Kuek’s foot for over ten years, a painful reminder of the constant suffering he endured following separation from his family during the Civil War. On December 20th, 2006 Dr. Barry Efron, a local Podiatry surgeon, generously agreed to remove the stick from Kuek’s foot, at no charge to Kuek. Private sponsors paid his expensive deductible for the hospital and anesthesiologist. For the first time in many years, Kuek is hopeful that he can leave behind the many painful memories of his past and build new memories for the future. Dr. Vic Micolucci also provided minor surgery for another local Lost Boy at no charge. Thank you both for your generous hearts and compassionate spirits.
We provided medicine ($200 per month) to one local Lost Boy who suffers from severe Hepatitis. With no job and no insurance, he was unable to pay for the expensive prescription. He is now employed and we are working with his doctor to find an affordable prescription plan for him.
We have also taken the initial steps to provide treatment to local Lost Boys and their families for a potentially fatal parasite, which they were at risk of contracting while living in Africa. We treated them last year for a similar parasite and hope that this round of treatment will bring renewed health to many of them, who continue to suffer from unexplained abdominal distress. The Alliance will cover the cost of this treatment.
