This week many Orthopedic patients will begin to make their way back to Loma de Luz for follow up. While there are many differences between each patient (i.e. type of injury, length of time with disability, etc.) they all have at least two things in common. They came to our hospital seeking hope, despite all odds, that they could regain function in an extremity and they underwent surgery with our Ortho team this past month during Ortho week.
In reality, every week at Loma de Luz is “Ortho week” as people both locally and from all over Honduras seek care for both acute (i.e. recent fractures) and chronic (i.e. non union fractures) orthopedic conditions (in addition to every type of injury or infirmity under the sun). Through our year round multi talented medical team and God given resources we usually are able to provide definitive care whether that be bracing, casting or surgery. But we also commonly see patients with extraordinary orthopedic injuries who warrant the expertise of a full time Orthopedic surgeon.
Usually we have a visiting Orthopedic team come twice a year for one week to help take on these unique cases but last year with all the restrictions for Co-Vid, the team was only able to come once. Despite the continued obstacles of traveling, God made a way for the Ortho team to return to Honduras this past month and give many patients the hope of restored function.
The scope of surgeries varied greatly but all in all there were 18 Orthopedic operations performed and 30 scheduled patient consults completed during the week. The preparation and execution of these trips is a logistical challenge but we do the best we can and God does the rest. This trip was no exception with many challenges encountered, both pre and intraoperatively. I lightly joke that an Orthopedic trip is successful if no one dies (which would make this last trip for all intensive purposes a success!) but really the success is in the care given by our team that results in transformed lives.
One such transformation from this past trip is highlighted in Gabe. Gabe, who is in his mid 30’s, first came to our hospital in November of 2019 after already having several operations elsewhere for injuries sustained to his lower extremities from a bad electrical burn. He arrived at Loma with a right leg amputated below his knee and a left foot stuck in flexion from burn contractures that had signs of infection. He was wanting to save his foot so that he would at least have one leg to stand on even though everywhere else he had gone only gave him the option of an amputation.
While at first an amputation did seem like the best course, given the state of his foot and the option for prosthetics, Gabe persisted that he still wanted to avoid an amputation if possible. I told Gabe that the first order of business was to stop the infection in his foot and that as long as it did not compromise his overall health; we would fight with him and give God time to work. Thankfully, Gabe responded exceptionally well to antibiotic treatment and within a few months all signs of infection were gone. Yet there still remained the even bigger obstacle of repairing his deformed foot.
After much consultation and planning Gabe underwent ankle fusion surgery with our Orthopedic specialist to give him the ability to stand with his foot flat on the ground. While he still is just starting his road to complete recovery we are confident that God will complete the good work that he started in Gabe not only physically but spiritually. When Gabe first came to Loma he was obviously distraught and fearful of how he would provide for his young family bound to a wheelchair. After the surgery he was full of joy and thankfulness to God; contemplating how he would not only be more mobile but also able to play with his kids again.
Would you join us in praying for Gabe and all the other Orthopedic patients coming this week; that they would have extraordinary healing and that their faith in God to provide the means to heal their infirmities would be completed for his glory.
Geers in Honduras 