Maria, the lovely lady with the heart of gold

Seventy-eight year-old Maria and her husband, Oswaldo heard about CAMTA on television and rushed to the clinic to talk to the director of the program. When they arrived at the clinic, there was a sea of people hoping to be qualified and selected for surgery. As a staff member counted down the clients who were accepted, she was the last one in. Everyone else who was waiting behind her were sadly sent home. 

“This was my miracle,” she said. In pre-op, the nurse placed the ID band on her wrist and it meant so much more to her than just going in for surgery. It symbolized the end to her pain.

In the Operating Room, Orthopedic Resident Dr. Khaled Almansoori focuses on the total hip replacement procedure on Maria's left hip.

Adult Operating Room (OR) Nurse Shelley McEachern means business in the OR. Maria is in good hands. 

Adult Recovery Room Nurse Erin Rezansoff greets Maria as soon as she wakes up from surgery.

Maria is then wheeled into the ward and is greeted by her loving husband. Oswaldo admitted to CAMTA members that Maria is such a strong woman and has so much strength. Before they came to CAMTA, Maria's husband says that you never see on her face that she's in pain.

Only one day after surgery, physiotherapists Brenda Corie and Judy Black have Maria standing and walking little by little. Her amazing strength and spirit continues to shine through. Maria is thrilled to have her dream come true and is so grateful to CAMTA. In a few weeks time, she will be able to walk freely with her husband and they can hardly wait!