Bolivian woman gets life changing surgery in Detroit
Posted:
Updated:
By Deena Centofanti Fox 2 News
DETROIT (WJBK) -- Mariluz Arteaga speaks no English, but her smile spoke volumes. With help from her translator, she knew she was about to have surgery that would give her a life she never imagined.
Arteaga's painful journey began when she was just five years old living in extreme poverty in a Bolivian village. A cooking accident caused a serious burn on her left foot. It was especially traumatic because Arteaga was born with spina bifida, which caused her right foot to be deformed.
Her family had no money and no access to care, so for 17 long years she endured a chronic infection in her left foot, which left her virtually unable to walk.
Metro Detroit doctors Kim and Jeff Getzinger met Arteaga on a missionary trip.
"The day we met her, we saw how bad her foot was and what a sweet person she is, and I sort of put myself in her place and said if I was her in Bolivia, I would like some person to come and help me," said Kim Getzinger.
Help her they did. After months of wrangling, Arteaga came to the United States.
"This was a terrible, chronic infection that had been smoldering for 17 years, and two of the bones in her foot had totally disappeared as a result of the infection," said St. John orthopedic surgeon Christopher Lee.
Dr. Lee amputated her left leg below the knee. There was no other way to get rid of the enduring infection. The surgery took about half an hour and went well.
Just one day later, Arteaga was trying to smile through the pain as Ryan Filippis began the process of preparing her for her new leg. Raised in a dirt hut, she had never seen a prosthetic limb.
"We had one of our employees come in and kind of walk for her, and her eyes lit up," said Filippis.
"After she saw him be able to walk... she was amazed, and she knew she could do it," Kim Getzinger said.
The healing will take months, and for the orphan, who has fended for herself for so long, this is remarkable. She's living with the Getzingers and their three children, who have wasted no time in making her part of the family. She is even in their family Christmas card. Her translator, Beatrice, is always by her side, and she has a team rooting for her.
The goal is to help Arteaga realize her dream of one day being able to dance.
"I want to learn how to read and someday I want to dance, and that was her dream, so we want to get her up and walking and maybe get her dancing," said Kim Getzinger.
In Bolivia, education is seen as a luxury.
There are dozens of people who have made this happen for Arteaga, including St. John Providence Health System, Wright and Filippis and all of those involved with the mission. Right now she is in rehab and walking with a walker, so she is doing really well. We're going to track her progress in the upcoming weeks.
------
Those
wishing to make a donation to the Mari Luz Arteaga Pone Education and Medical
Fund can do so through the Keep the Faith Bolivia mission. Their website
is www.keepthefaithinbolivia.org.
Tuesday, December 4 2012 4:11 PM EST2012-12-04 21:11:01 GMT
You have one heart attack and then take medication to prevent another one, but there's new research that says what you eat is a very powerful tool in preventing another heart attack.
You have one heart attack and then take medication to prevent another one, but there's new research that says what you eat is a very powerful tool in preventing another heart attack.
Tuesday, May 7 2013 10:17 AM EDT2013-05-07 14:17:04 GMT
Making healthy choices at the grocery store can be difficult. With deceiving labels, and buzz words like 'organic,' 'all-natural' and 'heart-healthy,' it's tough to decide what to buy.
Making healthy choices at the grocery store can be difficult. With deceiving labels, and buzz words like 'organic,' 'all-natural' and 'heart-healthy,' it's tough to decide what to buy.
Friday, May 3 2013 5:27 PM EDT2013-05-03 21:27:05 GMT
She is the Flat Rock girl that has gained national attention for her battle with a rare, fatal disease. Now little Lindsay Ratcliffe has been given new hair and new hope.
She is the Flat Rock girl that has gained national attention for her battle with a rare, fatal disease. Now little Lindsay Ratcliffe has been given new hair and new hope.
Tuesday, April 23 2013 12:55 PM EDT2013-04-23 16:55:57 GMT
Living with autism is a challenge that as many as one in fifty families face everyday. One family says intensive therapy has not just helped their daughter, but changed their lives.
Living with autism is a challenge that as many as one in fifty families face everyday. One family says intensive therapy has not just helped their daughter, but changed their lives.
Wednesday, April 17 2013 8:10 AM EDT2013-04-17 12:10:45 GMT
An FBI-trained forensic artist worked with Dove to conduct social experiment to illustrate the ongoing struggle women have with recognizing their own beauty.
An FBI-trained forensic artist worked with Dove to conduct social experiment to illustrate the ongoing struggle women have with recognizing their own beauty.
Monday, April 15 2013 8:14 PM EDT2013-04-16 00:14:46 GMT
For some people, sugar is like a drug and kicking the sweet habit is hard. Desserts like cakes, cookies and ice cream can be irresistible because of the effect sugar has on the brain. "Sugar is a particularly
For some people, sugar is like a drug and kicking the sweet habit is hard. Desserts like cakes, cookies and ice cream can be irresistible because of the effect sugar has on the brain. "Sugar is a particularly
Monday, April 1 2013 8:14 AM EDT2013-04-01 12:14:05 GMT
Next week the American Heart Association celebrates National Walking Day. This means bring your sneakers to work on April 3 and plan to walk for 10, 20 or 30 minutes.
Next week the American Heart Association celebrates National Walking Day. This means bring your sneakers to work on April 3 and plan to walk for 10, 20 or 30 minutes.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:54 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:54:14 GMT
Prosecutors have now filed charges against Myron Williams, a next door neighbor to a woman found strangled in Grosse Pointe Park, but the counts do not include murder.
Prosecutors have now filed charges against Myron Williams, a next door neighbor to a woman found strangled in Grosse Pointe Park, but the counts do not include murder.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:46 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:46:26 GMT
Bugs are important to our environment and can even tell us about our water quality. That's why dozens on local students have been taking part in bug hunts.
Bugs are important to our environment and can even tell us about our water quality. That's why dozens on local students have been taking part in bug hunts.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 1:44 PM EDT2013-05-22 17:44:18 GMT
Today at 2 p.m. 100 community leaders, union officials, concerned residents and Northwestern High School Alumni will protest the closure of the high school.
Today at 2 p.m. 100 community leaders, union officials, concerned residents and Northwestern High School Alumni will protest the closure of the high school.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 1:36 PM EDT2013-05-22 17:36:39 GMT
Innuendo, sexual advances and an overnight stay in Lansing -- a politician's former aide claims he had to endure a nightmare on the job. Now a sexual harassment lawsuit has been filed against Rep. Brian Banks.
Innuendo, sexual advances and an overnight stay in Lansing -- a politician's former aide claims he had to endure a nightmare on the job. Now a sexual harassment lawsuit has been filed against Rep. Brian Banks.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:19 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:19:38 GMT
Police say a 1-year-old boy has died after being found unresponsive in a water-filled bathtub in Flint. Police are treating the child's death Monday night as suspicious.
Police say a 1-year-old boy has died after being found unresponsive in a water-filled bathtub in Flint. Police are treating the child's death Monday night as suspicious.
