Wladimir has high hopes and wants to become a veterinarian

Wladimir is a fourteen year-old boy from Quito who as captured the hearts of many CAMTA volunteers. He loves animals especially dogs, horses, and rabbits. He has two brothers, one of which is his twin and two dogs, Mike and Loly. Wladimir wants to become a veterinarian and would like to go to the United States or Canada for veterinary school because they are not offered in Ecuador.

Wladimir suffers from knock knees and walks on his tip toes. Sometimes he loses balance while standing and experiences pain when he walks. Pediatric surgeons performed bilateral rotational osteotomies and lengthened his hamstrings to fix how he walks. Bilateral rotational osteotomy is a procedure where surgeons rotate the femur outwards, on both sides. By lengthening his hamstrings, Wladimir would be able to walk with his heels on the ground, rather than on tip toes.

He was actually turned down last year because CAMTA was not able to fit him in so he has waited 2 years for the procedure and is super excited!

In the Operating Room, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeons Dr. Marc Moreau and Dr. Megan Cashin work on lengthening Wladimir's hamstrings.

Wladimir takes it easy in the Ward post-surgery. He will be his cast for 4 weeks and return to the hospital to remove the cast. Once his cast is off, he will go into physiotherapy, which will significantly improve the way he walks.

Wladimir's grandmother and Translator Alexandra Cabral keep him company in the Ward.

Wladimir was curious about snow so Volunteer Jenn Kitzan showed him a picture of what winter is like in Canada and he was absolutely astounded!

Wladimir is very popular with the ladies! He is looking very well post-surgery and will be returning home later today.