Meet Maria Rosa

Maria Rosa with her daughter Erlinda in pre-op.

 

Maria Rosa is a tenacious 71 year old Ecuadorian woman. For most of her life she worked hand washing clothing to provide for her family. Maria Rosa had 10 children – 9 at home and only 1 in the hospital. About 1 year ago, Maria Rosa started feeling pain in both her hips. Two months after she started feeling pain she became restricted to bed and began using a walker or wheelchair to move short distances. Maria Rosa lives in Machachi, a small city an hour away from Quito.

 

All smiles from Maria Rosa before she heads into the OR with CAMTA Blogger Manisha Bharadia.

 

Her daughter, Erlinda, brought her here after a family member had an operation done by the CAMTA team and recommended that she seek treatment. Today I asked Maria Rosa what she hoped she could do again after surgery. She told me she has 8 grandchildren and she would love to play with them again and hopefully take them to the park to play. Ultimately she said, “I only want peace and to live a better life without pain.”

Maria Rosa was the first patient to have bilateral total hip replacements this year. Before surgery, Maria Rosa's son said that he knew she would get through this surgery because she made it through 10 children. Maria Rosa says “I have god on my side, I have been very blessed.” Drs. Paulose Paul, Ed Masson, and Aljarrah Aleidan completed the 4 hour operation (pictured below).