Liam’s Rainbow Foundation   A beacon of support for young patients and families   By Laura Pillay   |04 November 2022

Ms Laporte leading the training course

Liam’s Rainbow Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) established in honour of Liam Rangasamy, yesterday kicked off its first activity with a training course in basic counselling for children undergoing medical treatments.

The charity was founded by Erica Rangasamy, mother to Liam, following his sad passing on August 23, 2022 at the age of seven after his battle with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare brain tumour that develops in the brainstem, affecting the nervous system.

With a vision to help other child patients who are undergoing hospital and medical treatments as well as their families, the foundation yesterday brought on board, in addition to some twenty-five members, retired teachers and nursing professionals for the training.

Facilitated by volunteer and nurse Gina Laporte, and Minister for Employment and Social Affairs Patricia Francourt, attendees were briefed, and engaged in a number of activities aimed at helping them to acquire and develop counselling skills, and the various means by which to comfort children through what they do and enjoy best, play.

As per Mrs Rangasamy, the foundation seeks to provide emotional support to children aged up to seventeen, and to help them to understand the processes and interventions within their medical journey, through play, to facilitate the difficult process for both themselves, and their families.

“I saw during the medical journey which we went through, various people who helped us through. Liam really enjoyed when he had a little reward at the end, and to have a distraction before treatment. He was already going through something so difficult, but these small distractions helped him to overcome the anxiety and the fear, so we would like to contribute in the same way towards other children who are going through a medical journey,” Mrs Rangasamy noted.

Fundraising activities were also of great help to Liam and family during his journey, something which Liam’s Rainbow Foundation wishes to replicate for other young patients.

The foundation will be working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health who is to inform patients and parents of the availability of the service. Parents will be required to sign a consent form to benefit from the services which the foundation provides.

“It is scientifically proven that when children are made to understand through play what is about to happen to them, their recovery is usually speedier, coupled with them needing less pain medication,” Ms Laporte stated.

“We also find that they are more cooperative when they understand. Children spend their time playing with toys, and even if it’s another type of toy, they feel more comfortable and are more cooperative.”

“I think it’s a very, very good initiative. I have had the opportunity to work in a number of countries where I have witnessed children driving themselves to the operating room, and they are smiling and calm in doing so. I have also seen children, being wheeled away on the stretcher as it is done traditionally, and they are frantic, crying out and in a distressed situation. As we have shown today, if their hearts are beating faster and they are in flight mode, the outcome is not as good, in comparison to when they are calm and relaxed, the outcome is better,” Ms Laporte added.

Those attending yesterday’s training were presented with a certificate of completion.

To date, the foundation has a number of members onboard, including psychologists, paediatricians, oncologists, nurses, early foundation stage teachers and special needs teachers who are to guide the team.  The executive committee comprises First Lady Linda Ramkalawan as patron, vice-chairperson Stella Afif, treasurer Annie Vidot, secretaries Veronique Chetty and Nelda Joubert, and members Sylvie Samy and Monica Valentin.

The foundation will officially be launched on December 2.

Liam was born on June 22, 2015. He together with mother Erica, father Billy and his sibling moved to Seychelles in 2020. Shortly after, he started experiencing motor difficulties and was upon having a check-up diagnosed with DIPG.

Liam and family left for treatment in the UAE immediately after his diagnosis, where he received his first 30-doses of radiation. Upon completing the round of treatments, the family travelled back to Seychelles, but unfortunately, the tumour flared up again six months after. Medical practitioners in the UAE couldn’t do much more for him, but doors opened at a medical facility in Canada, whereby Liam had another seventeen doses of radiation.

He returned to Seychelles and attended the Independent School for two months, while receiving full time home care by his parents, relatives, as well as a medical team.

To date, there are still no effective treatments and no chances of survival for children diagnosed with DIPG.

Photos by Laura Pillay