Reaching hearts
For 23 years, Ruth Arceo Margely Escalante, a young girl from Buctzotz, Yucatán, led a normal life like all girls her age.
She never imagined that a fall on a wet floor two years ago, would change her life "in a blink" as she defines it.
She fractured her right knee and was taken to the ER for treatment. The accident was on January 26, 2011. Four days later Ruth was submitted to surgery; the doctors thought it was a simple fracture: but there was something more serious hidden.
A year after surgery Ruth went desperate to see doctor Margely because the pain in the knee was very intense, so painful that almost prevented her from breathing. She prayed that the plate and screws placed because of the fracture had been misplaced and removing them would ease the pain.
Ruth had to go under surgery one more time. It was then that doctors discovered that the cause was a tumor, a very aggressive tumor that ate the bone and the reason why the knee pains were unbearable.
After several studies diagnosis was a giant cell tumor, benign, non-cancerous but very aggressive, which is more common in women between 20 and 40 years old. To date, it is unknown the cause from which it originates, explains Dr. Carlos Reyes De Caceres, Medical Star orthopedic specializing in Articulate and Bone Tumor Surgery.
Ruth has not been alone in this painful episode in her life. Since the beginning, she has had the support of the Institute of Public Charities of Yucatan, directed by Miguel Cabrera Palma; a noble institution that offers social support, functioning under the state government.
Dr. Reyes De Caceres indicates that she should undergo a bone graft. The first step is to remove the affected area, apply liquid nitrogen and then place the cadaver bone in surgery several hours in which three orthopedists intervene and an anesthesiologist with specialized nursing care.
In Mexico there are two banks of Bones, one in Monterrey and one in Mexico City. It would be required to acquire the material, bring it to Yucatan and do the surgery.
The whole process and the treatment has a cost of 280,000 pesos (about $ 22,000). The Public Charity can manage to get a bone to be donated or out at a lower cost, but we need more help, says Miguel Cabrera.
We need to knock on doors, touch hearts to raise money and help Ruth. We need the support of the community to give back to this young woman the opportunity to redirect her life, to help her get ahead.
If Ruth is not operated and the tumor continues to grow, it could eat the whole femur (mean losing the right leg) and metastasize to lungs and other soft tissues, threatening her life, warns Dr . Reyes. Urgent surgery is required.
Miguel Cabrera is calling on the community to join this cause and provide resources to save this young woman, who wants to live and continue working. She works at successful bakery business, which also willing to help.
Those wishing to provide assistance may contact Miguel Cabrera phone 9999 006369
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