Shaun’s unlucky break led to 8,000-mile trip
MEET the 14-year-old boy who travelled 8,000 miles across the world for surgery... in Wigan.
Shaun East, who lives in the Falkland Islands, broke his collarbone in four places playing football.
Doctors said he needed an operation on his shoulder, but his local hospital in Stanley, the Falkland Islands capital, were unable to do it.
Instead, they contacted Wrightington Hospital – which specialises in orthopaedic surgery – and arranged for Shaun to have his surgery in England.
The teenager flew from the Falkland Islands to Chile, followed by a transfer in Brazil that took him to Heathrow, before a final car journey to Wigan. He had the operation at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary and was cared for on the Rainbow Ward.
Shaun’s dad Justin, who was born in the UK, said he wasn’t even sure where Wigan was and had to Google it.
He said: “When the doctors said we were going to Wigan I had to have a bit of a Google, because, even though I was born in the UK, I have lived on the Falkland Islands for 30 years, so I didn’t know exactly where it was – I just knew it was up north.”
Puneet Monga, an orthopaedic consultant who specialises in sports injuries and shoulder surgery at the orthopaedic centre of excellence at Wrightington Hospital, carried out the surgery.
He said: “It has been our privilege to help Shaun recover from the recent injury to his shoulder.
“It is indeed incredible to see how well Shaun is recovering from surgery after such a circuitous journey.
“As the world is getting smaller with the advances in communication, technology and air transport, we are able to provide levels of care to patients far beyond what would have been possible in the past.
“It provides unique opportunities for centres of excellence such as Wrightington Hospital to offer our services on an international stage.
Mr Monga added: “Shaun’s case is illustrative of such potential in future and also highlights the logistic challenges of being able to offer such services to the future surgical patient.”
The schoolboy added: “Mr Monga went through everything that would happen during my surgery and all of the staff have been brilliant, they have really looked after me and my dad.
“The hospital is a bit bigger than the one at home, and there are a lot more people, but everyone has been lovely and accommodating.”