Terence Panzu-Lema, a 19-year-old autistic teen from Wandsworth, struggled with extreme needle phobia that prevented him from receiving essential travel vaccinations to visit family in Congo. With his mother's advocacy, NHS teams from King's College Hospital and UCLH created an innovative solution, coordinating efforts to administer the vaccines while Terence was under general anaesthetic for dental work. This collaboration enabled Terence to receive the necessary yellow fever, rabies, and typhoid vaccines, making it possible for him to enjoy his first family holiday abroad.
"When we received the request from Terence's mum, who has always been very proactive in advocating for her son, we wanted to try and make it work," said Charlotte Curl, the consultant in special care dentistry at King's.
"Everyone we encountered on this journey, both from King's and UCLH, has been amazing. I can't thank them enough for enabling Terence to be able enjoy his first family holiday," said Terence's mother.
"The whole team is delighted that we were able to provide this service for Terence and reassurance for his family to be able to travel," said Sneha Baljekar, lead clinical nurse specialist.
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