US surgeon gives gift of life free, to Dominican girl on his birthday

Ciara Lee going back to school for the first time after undergoing lifesaving surgery in the US

It was all smiles for 12-year-old Ciara Lee on her first day back to class recently after undergoing a lifesaving brain surgery in the US, which, thanks to donors, a generous US hospital and a benevolent pediatric, did not cost her family a thing.

Lee, who is from Zicack, Portsmouth, is a student of the Portsmouth Secondary School (PSS). She is also a member of her school’s U19 basketball team and a former MVP in the U15 sports Division basketball league.

The 12-year-old had been diagnosed with a life-threatening rare brain condition and was flown to the US for medical attention.

Her surgeon, Dr. Paul Klimo, said that an arteriovenous malformation had ruptured in her brain, becoming a tangled collection of blood vessels, disrupting blood flow and oxygen circulation. According to him, if fast action was not taken, it would have erupted again and possibly caused her death.

Dr. Klimo had decided on the urgency of the situation after viewing Lee’s brain scan and discussing it with another doctor who was a friend of Lee’s basketball coach. The other doctor had sought Dr. Klimo’s thoughts on the scan.

“I said ‘hey she’s got most likely a ruptured AVM that needs to be treated,’ otherwise it’s probably going to rupture again, and she could die from it,” Dr. Klimo recalled.

He did the surgery on his birthday, free of charge at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, US, in February. The institution waived all operation fees.

As if giving the gift of life to the 12-year-old PSS student was not enough, Dr. Klimo even took special care to change the way he operated to preserve Lee’s hairstyle.

“It means the world to me,” he said adding, “That’s why I went into medicine.”

This story was adapted from a piece published on a Fox News website which can be found here: https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/local/life-saving-surgery-performed-memphis-after-girl-flown-caribbean-no-charges-family/J6DMHSJHE5H6TCM43BBQCAQ3TI/

Ciara after her surgery with Dr. Klimo and other hospital staff

 

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13 Comments

  1. Princess
    March 28, 2021

    God is good, that is what the caring professions is about…well done!!

    My niece also has similar blessings, about three years ago she was flown out to Massachusett by US medical team for open heart surgery, all expenses paid… she is doing well thanks to surgery.
    I wish the young lady all the best for the future career and health wise.

  2. Tobby
    March 26, 2021

    He is a God sent
    A kind white Doctor, it still have good people on earth.

  3. Sherma
    March 26, 2021

    God is in all this….Blessings doc and team.
    Sweetie continue to trust that God has a plan for you.

  4. Goodwill
    March 26, 2021

    Blessings on Dr Klimo. Such kindness and generosity. There are angels in our midst, have no doubt.

  5. %
    March 26, 2021

    Wow!!!!
    Very good gesture indeed!!!
    May God continue to bless all those involved!

  6. Child Of God
    March 26, 2021

    Awwwww this brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Doc for your unwavering support of this young girl God bless you!

  7. Roger Burnett
    March 26, 2021

    This story is heart warming and speaks good of mankind.

    Dr. Klimo and the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital deserve to be awarded special recognition from our Government.

  8. Let God Be Praised
    March 25, 2021

    Let God be praised for this surgeon.

    Hallelujah.

  9. March 25, 2021

    “It means the world to me,” he said adding, “That’s why I went into medicine.”–News Article

    This kind of service is the work of Love–not the fleshly feeling and demonstration of lust and passion motivated by the human or natural senses in the mind.

    There is no feeling in Love because it is spiritual, but it gives the one who is demonstrating it a mystical sense of being–according to that doctor who said “It means the world to me”

    It doesn’t matter who the person is, when God desires to put His Love to work for the sake of Life it will be done–blessings to that doctor and all people who are as lucky as him, to be chosen by God to work His Love in those who need it.

  10. Brenda
    March 25, 2021

    God Bless the doctor and his family.

  11. Watching
    March 25, 2021

    Aww God bless you dr. God bless Ciara..long life in Jesus serve him while you have life

  12. Fellow dominican
    March 25, 2021

    Great job to all persons involved.

    • Watching
      March 26, 2021

      True true he has a team..team work, congrats.

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