Neurosurgery for Felix from Nigeria

From the August 1991 Rotarian:

Dick with Felix after his delicate neurosurgery –
and before corrective plastic surgery to repair his eye.

A mission continues at home

Dick Witmer's aid to Nigeria didn't end when he left the country. During a meeting of the Rotary Club of Mubi, he met Gabriel Olla, a Rotarian whose nine-year-old son Felix had suffered a severe head injury after being hit by an automobile at age five.

Although Felix was taken to a hospital, his skull was improperly repaired in a crudely-performed operation. Part of his brain protruded from his forehead, covered only by a thin layer of skin. This left the child vulnerable to infections or any accidental blows to the head. Gabriel was starting to give up hope. He asked Witmer and his team of surgeons if they could do anything to help his son.

Witmer knew that the delicate neurosurgery needed to treat the boy would be difficult with the limited facilities in Nigeria. He promised to seek aid upon his return to the U.S. and quickly found it.

Physicians at Lancaster General Hospital volunteered their services, including leading neurosurgeon Dr. James Peter Argires, plastic surgeon Dr. John Schantz, anesthesiologist Dr. Scott F. Stieber, and radiologist Dr. P. Noel Connaughton.

One of the main problems was contacting Gabriel with the good news. Correspondence with Nigeria, arduous even under the best of circumstances, was repeatedly blocked because of an attempted coup. Phone lines were jammed and telex messages went undelivered. Witmer finally managed to reach his Rotarian friend in late April of 1990 and made arrangements for Gabriel and Felix to travel to New York's JFK International Airport. Father and son were greeted there and brought to Lancaster.

A week later, Felix underwent a five-hour operation at Lancaster General Hospital. He and his father remained as the special guests of the Witmer family for five weeks. They returned safely to Nigeria in June.

Although Felix is out of danger, he still bears the scars of the original accident. At a meeting of the Lancaster Rotary Club, Gabriel said, "You see the scars and may feel sorry for him. But those scars are only the history of what happened. For us, history is not important. What is important is that my son now has a future. I don't think my language will permit me to describe my gladness. You have solved my problems. God will solve yours."

-R.G.

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