Nightmare In Hospital Escuela

Exactly one month ago on February 26, I posted a prayer request about a young lady that had been in an accident and without surgery, would lose her leg at the hip. Here a person missing a leg is usually treated as an outcast, uusally not by family, but by society. They cannot get a job and often have to resort to begging on the streets in order to survive.

As soon as we found out this need, Marc raced back to town. He went to Hospital Escuela, got the prescription for the hardware that was needed, raced across town in afternoon traffic and bought the hardware that was needed. He then had to drive back to the hospital and take the paid receipt to the parents. He came home saying this was a beautiful 19 year old young lady.

The next morning Gabriela had fever and surgery could not be performed. When her fever finally broke, the doctors went on strike and would not do the surgery. Then she had another fever. Marc asked our good friend who is an orthopedic surgeon if he would do the surgery rather than let this girl lose her leg. He said he would do the surgery, but he did not have surgery privileges at Hospital Escuela. I am not sure if doing surgery there is a privilege, but anyway, he could not do the surgery there. A place was found that would allow Gabriela the transfer in order to perform surgery on her. This place needed her paperwork and Hospital Escuela would not give the paperwork to her parents.

Immediately after the request for the paperwork that could not be released, the doctors began to say they would do the surgery tomorrow. Tomorrow came and it was tomorrow. This went on and on. Then they said there was not enough blood to do the surgery. Marc and I were tired that day and we were both williing to drive back to town and donate blood, but before we even left for town, they were saying there was another reason they could not operate. It really was not the lack of blood. The doctors began to try to charge the family "under the table", but were willing to amputate her leg for free.

I don't really know everything that has happened and all the reasons for delay. Marc and Dorian have worked on this for a month. Marc finally convinced someone to transfer this young lady to Vierra Hospital, a private hospital. It is also the hospital at which our friend works.

They took Gabriela by ambulance today. No one from Hospital Escuela would even help lift her onto the cart. Gabriela was in extreme pain.

The plan was to get her to Vierra, start antibiotics and do surgery Monday. After examining the x-rays and such, which Marc got to see, Dr. Zelaya did the first surgery this evening. She is going to need at least three more. She has been in a hospital bed for 44 days and her knee is locked. The rod cannot be put in the tibia with a locked knee. She is going to need a knee surgery and two more.

The leg is in such a mess. It appears it might have been easier for the doctors at Hospital Escuela to cut the whole leg off than to try to repair it. Thankfully,our friend, Mario is doing all the surgeries at no cost.

I think, and hope, that no one in the states would ever have to go through such a nightmare. I hope and pray that no one else in Honduras ever has to suffer through such a mess. I don't really think that will happen, but I can hope.

Please pray for Gabriela and her family as they endure three more surgeries. And thank God as well for our friend who is doing everything he can to save her leg.

Terri