Here we go again....

[swazi]

This little girl's name Zamokuhle Matsebula. She is only seventeen months old.

She was bitten by a spitting cobra on 29th March but only came to see me today.

She walked out of the door as the snake was coming in to the house. She played with the snake and it bit her on the ankle. It did not spit at her at all. The mother thinks she may have put her foot out to kick it.

The rural clinic (same as Mduduzi went to), where she stayed for five days, gave her some orange-coloured suspension to drink and Panado for the pain.

I do not know if they will be able to save her foot as the infection seems very deep and the bone is clearly visible. She is in an incredible amount of pain and screamed most of the time I was with her.

The doctor I took her to called the police and wanted her arrested for negligence?

[fredsmith]

Zamokuhle Matsebula will be in my prayers and I'll have her placed onto our church's prayer chain as we did with Mduduzi.
Wish I could do more.

This is such a sad thing to happen to a child... truly breaks my heart.

[Wolf777]

How often does this happen around there? shame poor child.

[jka]

This really sickens me!!! I just don't understand how things like this can happen.

[Bushbaby]

OMG!!! How can a mother let her kid live like that???

I am glad they finally came to you. Atleast the wound looks clean.

I really wish we could get a venom centre in Swaziland. This really sucks!!!

[Rishaad]

OMG....This is so sad. This child will be in my prayers. At least they came to you now and not later as in Mduduzi's case.

[Pythonodipsas]

Thea, you should send bite photos like this; and venomous snake capture statistics to the correct government officials and ask them to subsidise your snake park. You are doing a huge community service at your cost and time and the community would support you. Imagine you weren't in Swaziland?

[kalvaer]

Oh now man... Thats just really sad

[swazi]

Update.....

Yes, unfortunately this happens far too often in Swaziland. We do not have antivenom or the education for the most basic snakebite treatment.

We went to visit Zamo this morning as I received a frantic call from her mother that she was being prepared for surgery. In Swazi culture to be maimed (by e.g. amputation) is devastating so we try everything to save the limb rather than cut it off -it costs quite a bit for the treatment, hospital etc so the doctors often have to do so as the parents do not have the funds for extensive treatment. So this is where the kind donations come in

We rushed up there ready to fight with the doctors only to find that Zamo was in a lot of pain so they decided to give her a light anesthetic in order to clean the wound.

Here she is - no child should have to endure what she has - those sad eyes..



After they had cleaned the wound the Sister got to work again! Zamo put up a brave fight


It already looks much better - think we are going to save her little leg (with luck and no infection)


All done at last. Clifton (my husband) had to leave the room, he just couldn't cope with her tears - even though he will never admit it I did see go outside and wipe away his own tears.

[Wolf777]

I hope her leg can be saved, best of luck with everything swazi.

[Rob]

What a brave little thing. In my opinion (albeit that I dont know much about it) that foot should be ok and not need to be removed, surely not.
Tell Clifton most of us would not be able to contain ourselves in that situation, I cant even look at these pics anymore. Since having my own child I have become very sensitive to this.

[Bjorn]

Shame that is terrible. I hope she makes a good recovery.

[insaniac]

Incredibly sad...

Swazi, my respect goes out to you and all the people involved with education and treatment, you guys are really making a difference.

Hope she recovers well.

Please keep us updated.

[Bushviper]

I cannot believe that they want to amputate. There is no medical reason for amputation !!!!! It is like pulling out a tooth because of toothache. That makes the problem go away but is not the best option.

The tissue on the photographs is healthy with a good blood supply. There is absolutely no reason that it should not regenerate especially in such a young patient. She will need surgery and a skin graft at a later stage but for the time being just keeping the would as sterile as possible is all she needs. That and pain medication as well as antibiotics at the first sign of infection should pull her through till the wound is stable enough to accept a graft.

That pus and dead flesh in the cente needs to be removed and this should be done under local with a high pressure water hose to gently debride the dead tissue without traumatising the healthy tissue. Even just intense pressure placed on a saline drip and a small needle inserted in the tubing so that it forms a fine spray would help to clean it up.

[WW]

Agree 100% with BV - that foot is entirely salvageable - keep fighting for her Swazi, and let's keep the donations rolling in - 97 members in the Facebook group at the moment!!!