Week One – Friday's Blog

/in /by CAMTA

Monica's story

CAMTA surgeons performed surgery on both of Monica's club feet in 2013. Both operations were pretty extreme and required plastic surgery as well. Monica's surgery and recovery kept her in the hospital for more than a week. During that time Monica met and developed friendships with CAMTA staff from both the first and second week teams. This year she had surgery on one of her feet again as an infection had greatly hindered the results of the initial surgery in 2013.

My opportunity to meet Monica was delayed all week as her recovery was slower than expected. CAMTA surgeons adjusted her medication mid-week and Monica recovered well enough to go home. Late in the week I finally found a good time to meet Monica for the first time. It is easy to see why she has developed special friendships with so many CAMTA staff. Monica is very optimistic and excited to recover from her surgery. She will then see how CAMTA has really changed her life; instead of living her life with two severely clubbed feet, she will now have two normal feet.

As I got to know Monica better I learned more about her daily life. Monica lives in the jungle, an 8 hour bus trip away from the hospital. Because of her club feet and her inability to do what other children in the village were doing, Monica became an outcast. As her surgeries have almost eliminated her physical difference, many of the people of in her village have begun to accept her. Shortly after Monica's surgery in 2013 her fathersuddenly passed away suddenly; he was only in his early 30's. This was a very difficult time for Monica; she and her father had been very close and her father had been the main provider for the family. Monica seems to have healed from her past difficult times. She isas she smiling more and as she heals from her recent surgery, becoming more and more positive. 

Monica's story will always have a special place in my heart; Monica and her family have overcome so many challenges. Monica's story is the one that fully opened my eyes as to how the people of Ecuador live compared to those who live in Canada, how a physical condition in Ecuador affects a life even more in Ecuador than it would in Canada, and the very big difference that CAMTA makes in our patients and their families lives. I have now seen firsthand why CAMTA returns to Ecuador year after year to work their medical missions.

Back Row Left to Right: Translator Francisco Gallardo, G.P. Mary Hurlburt, Translator Hannah Turner, Physiotherapist Krystle Chilibecki, Blogger Larry Hermoso, Orthopedic Resident Dr. Andrew Tice, Pediatric Anesthetist Dr. Florian Rudolph, Translator Adam Petriw, Pediatric Recovery Room Nurse Rachael Cheechoo, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Jay Jarvis, Adult Anesthetist Mas Yakawa, Adult Ward Nurse Kayla Strickland, Adult O.R. Nurse Christine Lakhram, Pediatric O.R. Nurse Shaun Capicio

Front Row Left to Right: Monica's Mother, Monica, Pediatric LPN Norah McNaughton, Pediatric O.R. Nurse Karla Gambier, Pediatric O.R. Nurse Rae Lim-Cheung

Adult ward nurse Julie Cadrin and LPN Norah McNaughton enjoy a break by trying a local fruit called cherimoya, also spelled chirimoya.  The flavor is commonly described as a blend of banana, pineapple, papaya, peach, and strawberry.  Trying all of the different delicious traditional Ecuadorian food all week has definitely added to the CAMTA volunteer experience.  

CAMTA staff present the local hospital staff with a cake from the Swissotel as a sign of appreciation for their accommodation, cooperation and assistance all week.  Many photos are taken as souvenirs of the new friends that they have made and all of the experiences during the first week.

Shown here are flowers sent to CAMTA from our first discharged patient, Manuel. Thecard says: “I am so grateful for all of your help and for completely changing my life.” Giving flowers is a simple gesture but it shows how grateful each and every CAMTA patient is for the life changing surgery they have had.