At One, Steven Gets a Second Chance

One-year-old Steven Amo has been given a second chance after a two-hour operation at Paradise Private Hospital repaired a large abdominal hernia that had troubled him after birth.

Steven was born with an abdominal wall defect, a condition that occurs while a baby is developing in the womb.

For his parents, Jefferson and Meania Amo, the condition was frightening.

They described looking at their newborn son as being like looking through glass into his stomach, with his intestines and other organs visible because the normal abdominal wall had not developed properly to protect them.

Steven’s mother stayed with him at Kerema General Hospital, caring for her baby while doctors tried to manage his condition.

But the specialist equipment and treatment he needed were not available in Kerema.

Steven was therefore referred to Port Moresby General Hospital in 2025.

Doctors treated him and, over time, the skin around his abdomen slowly developed.

However, as Steven grew, he developed a large abdominal hernia through the weakened abdominal wall.

The hernia required specialist pediatric surgery.

The opportunity came during the recent visit of renowned pediatric surgeon Professor Paddy Dewan, under the partnership involving Paradise Private Hospital and Kind Cuts for Kids.

Steven was one of four children operated on at PPH during the specialist surgical visit.

His operation lasted two hours.

Professor Dewan worked with Dr Kennedy James and the Paradise Private Hospital medical team to repair the large hernia.

The operation was successful, and Steven was discharged on Tuesday.

Dr James described Steven’s recovery as a “miracle.”

For Jefferson and Meania, the successful operation brought an end to a year of fear, hospital treatment and uncertainty.

The parents thanked Professor Dewan, Dr James, Paradise Private Hospital, Kind Cuts for Kids and the medical staff who cared for their son.

Jefferson said watching his young son suffer had been unbearable, but the family was now happy to see Steven recovering.

He said the family was grateful to God for bringing them through the difficult period and giving their son another chance at life.

Steven’s operation was part of a wider specialist surgical visit that saw four children receive surgery at Paradise Private Hospital.

The programme is being supported through the partnership between Paradise Private Hospital and Kind Cuts for Kids, with the aim of providing specialist treatment to children while strengthening local surgical capacity.

The programme also allows local doctors and surgeons to work alongside visiting specialists, gain experience and share knowledge during complex operations.

PPH co-owner Janet Sios has been central to the partnership and its efforts to expand access to specialist pediatric surgery in Papua New Guinea.

The focus is not only on treating children during specialist visits, but also on building local capacity so more children can receive complex surgical care in the future.

For Steven’s parents, however, the biggest result is personal.

Their little boy, who began life with a serious condition and spent his first year facing medical challenges, is now home after successful surgery.

For the Amo family, Steven’s recovery is a blessing.

They believe God’s grace, together with the skills and dedication of the medical teams, has given their son a new beginning.

After a year of struggle, Steven is finally home.