Here is a recap
of our pre-op trip as we get ready to embark on our fall 2015 surgical trip to
Veracruz.
Our time in Mexico was very rewarding! We saw 27 patients
for their pre-surgical evaluations. Dr.'s Holliday and Norton reviewed their
medical histories and physical exams to make sure they were ready for surgery.
Several patients were referred for cardiac consultation. Dr.'s Amador and Vidal
are organizing these evaluations.
Sheila Gaffney RPT and I saw them for their orthopedic
exams. Most of these patients are having second side surgery and are over a
year from their first knee replacements, so we reviewed the result of their
first surgery as well. They are doing fantastic. They have great knee range of
motion, excellent relief of pain and restoration of quality of life. They are
ecstatic about getting their second knee done so they can walk distance without
pain. They are grateful and enthusiastic.
Our clinic ran
smoothly and efficiently thanks to the hard work done by Dr Octavio Amador
before our arrival and the help of the members of the Safire Rotary Chapter
from Veracruz.
We had a successful meeting with the new hospital
director, Dr. AVELINO GUARDADO SANCHEZ
and established a strong foundation for our future trips to Veracruz.
We are still waiting on the final paperwork so we can
import the knee implants (donated by Exactech to Project Cure for this mission)
into Mexico. Our airline tickets have been purchased and hotel reservations
made. Our equipment has been checked by Donna, Carlos, and MaryBetty and is in
order. We are ready to go!!!!
A major goal of WalkStrong has been to work with the
local hospital surgeons and to be involved in their Orthopedic residency
training program. As you know, part of our program was to invite a recently
graduated orthopedic surgeon to spend a year of specialty training in total
joint replacement as one of our fellows at Southern Joint Replacement Institute
in Nashville. Dr Octavio Amador is the first Veracruz orthopedic resident to
have completed our fellowship. He has returned to Veracruz and is an attending
surgeon at the Specialty Hospital of Veracruz where we work. Our plan was for
him to run the Veracruz side of the program, teach the residents about joint
replacement and to become the best joint replacement surgeon in Mexico. He just
sent us the X-rays of his first knee replacement as an attending surgeon and
they look great!!! Well done Octavio!!
Lastly, I want to introduce a new patient that we met on
our recent trip. Her name is Erika X , and she is 25 years old. She has
debilitating and aggressive rheumatoid arthritis which has destroyed her knees.
She needs both knees replaced. She has very small bones and this trip we don't
have the size implant to fit her. Hopefully we have the appropriate sizes and
will be able to replace her knees in the spring. She is a great reminder of why
this mission project is so important. It has been through the generous support
of so many of you that we are able to care for patients like Erika, relieving
their pain and restoring their quality of life.
THANK YOU!!!!
More updates to come when we return to Veracruz later this fall!
M J Christie MD
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