Post-surgery: Emelda and daughter Valeria meet with Mayo Clinic pediatric surgeon, Dr. Christopher Moir, for a final visit before returning home to Honduras.

ROCHESTER, Minn. – The beginning of Emelda's suffering – and her miracles – began when she was just three months pregnant with Valeria.

"I was walking along, thinking about how badly I wanted to eat ice cream, when suddenly I fell down. I don't know how I fell, but I remember rolling and tumbling for a long time," Emelda said.

With her pants torn at both knees, Emelda immediately headed to the medical clinic where doctors assured her that her baby was fine.

"I could have easily lost the baby, but God wanted this child to be born," she said.

For the remaining 6 months of her term Emelda spent most of her time in the hospital due to complications with the pregnancy. Valeria was delivered by c-section on June 4, 2007.

"My doctor told me, ‘Your suffering will end on June 4,'" Emelda explained as she choked back the tears, "but it [suffering] was only ending for my doctor that day – mine was just beginning."

Valeria was born with Hirschsprung's disease, a rare congenital abnormality that prevents the colon and intestines from functioning normally. It would take weeks, however, before doctors would be able to correctly diagnose her illness.

"Valeria didn't present immediate symptoms of the disease," said Dr. Christopher Moir, pediatric surgeon at Mayo Clinic. "Her condition was one of gradual, slow failure."

Mayo Clinic, the world's largest integrated, not-for-profit group medical practice, partnered with OBI to take on Valeria's case.

The timely intervention for Valeria and ensuing partnership among OBI, Mayo Clinic and the First Lady of Honduras occurred while OBI President Bill Horan was in Honduras' capital city earlier this year to officially launch a nationwide anti-parasite treatment program with the First Lady.

Honduran surgeons had already conducted the first life-saving surgery for Valeria to stabilize her condition, but she would require another extensive reconstructive surgery to be able to thrive and live a normal life.

When the First Lady mentioned Valeria's case as an example of the country's large-scale medical needs, Horan immediately contacted the Department of Family Medicine at the Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic, the world's largest integrated, not-for-profit group medical practice.

Mayo Clinic quickly agreed to take her case and, within a few weeks, Valeria underwent a successful reconstructive surgery by renowned pediatric surgeon Dr. Christopher Moir, whose past medical achievements include separating 3 sets of conjoined twins.

"Out of the blue, I got a phone call – the most amazing phone call – because this was about a little child from Honduras who has a disease that I treat and I've been going there for almost 30 years to work with kids in that region," Dr. Moir said.

"Our job was to get her back and be a normal little girl," Moir continued, "and it's wonderfully satisfying."

Part 3: Saving Baby Valeria – Celebrating Valeria’s first birthday and a strong Mayo partnership

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be a part of OBI's ongoing medical relief efforts by making an online contribution to help those suffering from extreme poverty and sickness.

 

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