By ODETTE LONEY Saturday, August 8 2009

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STRONG FAITH: Maureen Davis holds her daughter Faith after a skin graft surgery was done on the baby yesterday. ...

BABY Faith Davis had a second skin graft surgery on her tiny right wrist yesterday at the Wendy Fitzwilliam Paediatric Hospital of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), Mt Hope.

It was only last week, that one-month-old Faith had surgery to treat serious burns on her hand.

Parents Earl and Maureen Davis told Newsday that Faith entered the operating theatre at 8 am and left shortly after 12.15 pm yesterday.

Although doctors said the procedure was minor, it was much like the first where skin was taken from Faith’s right leg and grafted to the right wrist to treat extravasation injuries, or cellular damage.

Maureen, 37, told Newsday that doctors informed her minutes before yesterday’s procedure that one of the serious burns was infected, and not healing the way it should, which was why she needed the second skin graft.

In addition, doctors told the parents that Faith will not be sent home anytime soon and must be monitored for the next few days until surgeons are satisfied with her progress.

The couple, of Brothers Road, New Grant, expressed concern that the surgeons were not communicating with them on Faith’s condition, although they were satisfied overall with the treatment that the EWMSC staff provided on the ward.

After yesterday’s skin graft, Faith’s right hand was heavily bandaged and doctors called for an electroencephalogram (EEG) to check her brain for abnormalities.

Faith was just six days old when she was rushed to San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) suffering from seizures and doctors administered intravenous medication to treat her condition.

However two days later, Faith developed burns to her right wrist and hand where intravenous fluid leaked out of her tiny veins and into the surrounding tissue.

Doctors transferred Faith to the EWMSC for her first skin graft surgery to treat the serious burns, which might hinder her use of her right hand for life. Her parents still plan to pursue legal action against the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) and the San Fernando General Hospital for negligence.

Meanwhile, Earl, 39, continues to appeal to the public for financial assistance since caring for Faith is a full time job and as vegetable farmers the couple, who have five other children, do not have a steady income. Donations can be made to Faith’s account 3417058751 at any RBTT Bank branch.