Team Leader: Dr. E. David Shaw, M.D.
Team Type: Children’s Orthopedics, Prosthetics, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy
Campaign Summary:
The Team was able to triage around 175 children and 51 surgical procedures were completed. There were 37 custom braces fabricated. Five walkers, four prosthetic legs, and several foot orthotics were also provided. There was a lot of Physical Therapy!
The Campaign was Financed by Team Members and their Supporters. Some Supplies, Services, and/or Funds were Donated by the Following:
Friends of Dr. Shaw — Salem, Oregon
Roger and Janet Olson — Salem, Oregon
Salem Health — Salem, Oregon
Bill and Margaret Walsh — Troutdale, Oregon
Team Members:
Katherine Bach, R.N., Prep & Recovery
Stephanie Brenden, R.N.
Dr. Matthew Budge, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon
Guy Farris, Prosthetist
Missy Farris, Administration
Roberto Garcia, Translator
Dr. Kim Geelan, M.D., Anesthesiologist
Madeleine Kraal, Physical Therapist
Olivia Nelson, R.N.
Todd Nelson, Prosthetist
Rachel Nola, R.N.
Samuel Perez, Orthotist Technician
Kristy Pfeifer, R.N.
Gabrielle Schmit, Assistant
Samantha Schmit, R.N.
Tabor Scrabeck, R.N.
Dr. E. David Shaw, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon
Trent Tompkins, Physical Therapist
Meredith Wiggers, R.N.
Dr. Jonathan Young, M.D., Anesthesiologist
Bilateral Club Foot Corrections
Camala Perez Flor Post Femoral Osteotomies
Family and Team Members at Casa Nancy
Missy Farris with Recouperating Patient
Patient in Hat Recouperating From Surgery
Post Bilateral Gastroc Recession Surgery for Patient with Cerebral Palsy
Sam Perez with Patient and Patient’s Mother
Camela Perez Flor’s X-rays Showing Osteogenesis Imperfecta Before and After Surgery
Narrative:
By Missy Farris Assisted by Dr. E. David Shaw, M.D.
It was a wonderful and very fruitful journey made a little bittersweet in the understanding that our Leader, Dr. E. David Shaw, may very likely retire soon. After many years leading the Team twice and at times three times each year to Central and South America, he finally (in his mid-80s), may elect to spend more time with his family, namely his beloved (and patient) wife Rita and his grown children and grandchildren. It has been a privilege and honor to work alongside the “Orthopedic Gladiator of the Operating Room” for the last 15 years!
There were a couple of kids we’d like to “cameo” from this trip.
Camela Perez Flor, a young girl about 11 years old presented with a rare condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta. The condition is highlighted in the x-ray with four before and after pictures of the same leg and the single leg with the rod in it. Osteogenesis Imperfecta is a birth defect which allows the bones to bend and fracture easily. It makes the patient extremely fragile. Camela’s left femur (thigh bone) was extremely “bowed” with the curve almost touching her skin. She would never walk safely and would most probably be non-ambulatory for life. The operation to minimize the deformity’s problems is called a “Shish Kabab”. The bone must be cut in multiple places with multiple short incisions, then a Rusch Rod is threaded down the bone. A body cast is applied and the bone heals in a straight position. Dr. Shaw also performed a needed hip replacement. The prosthetics team made a hip brace for her to wear to protect her new hip after removal of her cast until the hip heals completely.
Luis, an older boy who has painful spinal scoliosis, was severely limited in sitting and standing. This condition also prohibits normal sports activities. Luis was molded for a custom TLSO (thoracic-lumbar-sacral orthosis, also known as a body jacket) to retard the progression of his scoliosis until he has reached skeletal maturity. Then surgery may be able to address this condition.