We have great news! Lorena Guiselle’s surgeries have been a great success. Let’s bring you up to speed on her story.
About a month ago, when they were consulting plastic surgeons at Shriner’s hospital, Elsa Lorena was faced with a difficult decision: proceed with surgery and risk a painful but potentially unsuccessful procedure or amputate Lorena Guiselle’s right arm and replace it with a prosthetic.
After much thought and consultation with the physicians, on July 2 a team of two surgeons performed the operation to repair her arm. The surgery lasted several hours, but the doctors are pleased with the results. Lorena Guiselle stayed a few nights in the hospital and then returned to the home of Lindsay and Marcus Blackburn.
We are all so thankful for the Blackburns hosting the Sacuj family, because Dr. Marcus Blackburn is a pediatrician and Lindsay has experience as a nurse caring for burn victims. In addition, Amy Duke has been supporting the Sacuj and the Blackburns. These amazing volunteers have been so supportive, caring for the needs of both Lorena Guiselle and her mother Elsa Lorena who is expecting.
Elsa Lorena told us that Lorena Guiselle is very happy as she sees that her arm is recuperating and becoming “normal”, now recognizing what that surgery has done for her.
On August 2, Lorena Guiselle will have another surgery and we wish her the best. We hope that following recovery she can return home where her two little siblings and her father are anxiously awaiting her return. The father has been staying home from work since they stayed home in June, since the mother has been away in the U.S. He returns to work tomorrow, and they are getting some help in childcare from a local young woman. When Elsa Lorena returns, she hopes to return to work, but it is uncertain that they will restore her job at the local high school. They have sacrificed a lot (and will likely have to make more sacrifices to come), but Elsa Lorena says that the help that she has received is so amazing and as she sees her daughter recovers, she feels that it’s been very worth the sacrifice. She is very grateful for all the volunteers and doctors and everyone who in one way or another has made this possible.
We are so glad that the Shriner’s Hospital has committed to see through Lorena Guiselle’s care until her 21st birthday. If the doctors see a need in the future for a follow up procedure, they will provide it, so long as she can arrange for her travel to Utah and family host. We hope that if such a need arises, we can continue to count on the generosity and support of our many volunteers.