Nico Miño Salas

/in /by CAMTA

Nico Miños Salas was born with Down Syndrome. Individuals living with Down Syndrome can be pre-disposed to patellar instability and ligament laxity which can lead to patellar dislocation. The patella is the small bone covering your kneecap; it is supported by two tendons – the quadricep tendon and the patellar ligament. When you have ligament laxity this means that the ligaments are loose and don't do a good job holding the patella over the kneecap and thus you can get a dislocation. Nico presented with both patellas dislocated.

An illustration of a corrected patellar dislocation (left) and an uncorrected patellar dislocation (right). Picture taken from the Indian Journal of Orthopedics.

Image Credit: Designua / Shutterstock

Nico's mom and dad (Miriam Lucia and Fausto Ramiro) accompanied him to the hospital yesterday from Nanegal, a small rural village 4 hours NW of Quito. Fausto told me this surgery was truly a miracle for their family, “We had lost all hope. We had exhausted all possible options, and no one would operate. The doctors here said our last chance would be with CAMTA.”

Nico gets out of surgery!

Patient becomes doctor.

When Nico was 8 months old he started therapy at a foundation 1.5 hours away from his home. Here he received physiotherapy, speech therapy and equestrian therapy; while the foundation helped to cover costs, his family still had to pay $20/session (3 times a week). This was incredibly difficult for the family as they already had a small income, but Nico's parents were determined to get their son all the help he deserved. 

 
At one and a half, Nico started walking but he was very unstable and constantly tripped and fell – ripping his pants and scarring his knees regularly. When he was 5, Nico entered public school but had to be withdrawn because he wasn't getting adequate support. His parents enrolled him in a special school 40 minutes away from their home and again had to pay out of pocket. Both of Nico's parents are currently unemployed and do not receive any support from the government. They get by with help from their family.
 
Miriam Lucia, Nico and Fausto Ramiro leaving the hospital earlier today.
 
Yesterday, Nico had surgery on one leg to ensure that his patella remains stable and in place. We hope that he can have the other patella corrected next year. Nico was nothing but smiles when he walked out of the hospital today – eager to get going. The Salas' wanted to extend their gratitude to every member of the CAMTA team and let them know that they are valued.