Team Two – Late Arrival in Quito

At 3:00 am, Team Two arrived at the Radisson Hotel in Quito, travel weary but delighted by the bright, welcoming faces of the staff who graciously provided us with a lovely spread of fresh fruit, juices and goodies to enjoy in those wee hours as we were assigned to our rooms. Deep sleep came soon after.

 

Clinic Day at the Hospital – February 22

Team Two arrived in two groups at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm at the Hospital Un Canto a La Vida (under the umbrella of the Foundacion Tierra Nueva), to be greeted by rooms of hopeful patients­­­­­­­­­—adults, children and their families­­. The team quickly set to work to assess the patients' needs and assign surgery times.

Dr. Marc Moreau and Barb Moreau

 

 

 

Patient Faces

Six-Month Old Rafaela Benitez gets Help with Club Foot

Six-month old Rafaela and her mother, Carmen Benitez, have travelled many miles from Pedernales, near the Ecuadorian coast to Quito in hopes that CAMTA can help with her club foot and renew her prospects for a normal, active life. Rafaela's treatment began with Team One, who cast her left leg to help stretch the soft tissues in preparation for a minor tendon operation. The casting was redone every two days. Carmen says she can notice the difference in her daughter's foot already over the last 10 days. Today, Team Two takes over, and Dr. Marc Moreau applied another cast. Rafaela's final treatment by the end of our mission is to have her heal cord cut.

Six-month old Rafaela Benitez

 

 

Fernando Cunduri – Gets Hip Help

Accompanied by his son Jose and daughter-in-law Francesca, Fernando was assessed for a new hip by the medical team, which included Dr. Rejean Cloutier, Dr. David Saliken and medical student Jance McGale. At 77 years old, Fernando is relieved to quality for the life-changing surgery. Jose and Francesca have travelled about four hours from Chimborazo with Fernando, and will stay in Quito to support him during the surgery.

Fernando Cunduri, his son Jose and daughter-in-law Francesca

 

 

 

 

 

Not all Patients Get the Good News

Anny Vargas and her husband were relieved to pass the initial assessment for surgery, then waited anxiously for some of the team doctors, including Dr. Rejean Cloutier and Dr. Paul Moreau, to complete their examination and assessment. Disappointment was clear when Dr. Cloutier broke the news that Anny was young (40 years old) and her hip problems were not as severe as others being assessed. Dr. Cloutier and local translator Miluska Sanchez explained with regret that she should come back next year to apply. In the meantime, she was told to stay active, to keep walking and to take anti-inflammatories, none of which she has been doing. They shook hands and left, downcast, but with expectations to see us again in 2015.

Anny Vargas and her husband

 

 

 

Jorge Chulde is a Beacon for New Patients

In 2012, CAMTA provided Jorge with a new hip. Born with a malformed hip joint, he began limping badly by age 11. By age 25, the difference in his leg lengths was over 5 cm and his limp and pain were so severe he could no longer enjoy life. He lost his job and plunged into depression. In 2012, CAMTA performed three surgeries on him in one week. The first two ended with complications, but the surgical team came up with a plan for the third surgery that worked; it changed his life. In gratitude Jorge came to CAMTA last year and again this year to work with our physiotherapy team, Kristen Redhead, Lois Flackstad and Brenda Corie, to demonstrate exercises to patients who were slated for surgery and to act as a positive example. “I will be here every year because this is how my heart feels, how my soul feels, and it is good to help other people,” Jorge said and gave me a big hug.

Jorge Chulde

 

 

 

 

Brenda Corie and Kristen Redhead