Post-surgery: Dr. Christopher Moir tracks the progress of Valeria's healing during a final visit before the mother and child returned home to Honduras.

ROCHESTER, Minn. – It was a miracle that Valeria was celebrating her 1-year birthday.

Born with Hirschsprung's disease, a rare congenital abnormality that prevents the colon and intestines from functioning normally, the Honduran infant had also battled colitis – or severe inflammation of the intestine – occurring in one out of 50,000 births and with a survival rate of less than a year if left untreated.

"Chances are she wouldn't have made it to her first birthday. She was truly failing," said Dr. Christopher Moir, Valeria's pediatric surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

Today, however, Valeria is the picture of health following a successful reconstructive surgery by renowned pediatric surgeon Dr. Christopher Moir, whose past medical achievements include separating 3 sets of conjoined twins.

"This is your job and you try to do as well as you can," Dr. Moir said. "You don't really think about the impact you've made until you start getting cards. I'm at a point where I'm getting some graduation cards – and I hope for Valeria – I'll get a card when she finishes school saying, 'I was able to go through, be a normal girl, play soccer and not have to worry about this disease.' That's when you think about it and that's when it's wonderfully satisfying."

Valeria celebrates her first birthday in the United States. Thanks to the successful surgery, she no longer has a restricted diet and can live life as a normal girl.

But Mayo Clinic's medical impact is not stopping there. This summer, OBI is now working with Mayo Clinic to help launch their global health initiative with the goal of developing greater medical opportunities for Mayo personnel as well as providing medical expertise and education for countries in need.

The partnership between Operation Blessing and Mayo Clinic began last year when Mayo medical teams volunteered for 5 months at OBI's medical clinic in New Orleans as part of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

"It worked out so well in New Orleans and we were so grateful for the experience, I wanted to have Operation Blessing as one of the front and center organizations that are able to take advantage of Mayo volunteers when needed," said Dr. Steve Adamson of the Department of Family Medicine for Mayo Clinic.

Operation Blessing and Mayo Clinic are currently planning an initial launch of the Mayo medical initiative in Honduras and El Salvador.

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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