Gabriella Fonseca

Gabriela first visited CAMTA in 2017 when she was referred for an operation on a single hip.  To improve her quality of life, it was decided that a bilateral hip surgery would allow her to sit and alleviate her pain.  Gabriela has cerebral palsy and is blind; she and her family face many challenges. The surgery that Gabriela underwent improved the quality of Gabriela's life.   

 

Gabriella returned to CAMTA this year to have the plates and screws removed from her hips as the hardware had served its purpose and the healing was not going to be benefitted any further with the plates in her legs. 

 

One of the CAMTA team established a very  special bond with Gabriela and her family last year and was very happy to be reunited with them.  As a parent of a child with special needs Karen Calhoun felt a connection with the Fonseca family.  She first met the family last year in the pre-operative area at the hospital and was immediately struck with the devotion Gabriel's family showed towards her and for how they advocated for her well being.  There is a certain level of support that Canadians are accustomed to.  Much of that is not available or not readily accessible in smaller centers in Ecuador.  Karen has kept in touch with the Fonseca family over the past year and renewed those ties this week.  

 

During the visit, Karen mentioned that she kept a picture that she and the Fonseca's took together last year (below) on her desk at work.  The Fonseca's proudly display the same picture in their home. 

 

We wish Gabriela and her family all the best.