Esteban
|
||
Esteban before surgery on the left || Esteban after surgery on the right, 9/17/10 On September 17, 2010 Esteban returned to Ecuador. He will return to Miami in a year to receive his prosthetic eye, but in the meantime, he will have these specially made glasses to wear. These glasses have the appearance of Esteban having a prosthetic eye, but are merely a substitute until he comes back to Miami to be fitted for a prosthetic eye. Thank you to all the doctors, the donors, the wonderful team of Child Foundation Charity who worked together to improve the life of this wonderful young man. This delightful and optimistic young man has grand ambitions in life, one of them being to become an architectural engineer. Read below his story and updates of his journey while in Miami for surgery as a sponsored child with Child Foundation Charity. Esteban is a delightful and charming 18-year-old from Ecuador. At the age of 2 he was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a malignant tumor on the retina. He is now in remission, but due to the 27 surgical procedures, as well as the extensive radiation he received in Ecuador over the past 16 years, he was in need of craniofacial surgery for reconstruction of the left cheek, orbital, frontal and temporal areas. Additionally, a previously inserted distraction device (used to generate bone by stretching) was in urgent need of removal. This device was causing Esteban extreme pain and was in danger of protruding through his cheek. On January 15, 2010, Dr. Rafael Gottenger and his team of surgeons, including Drs. Garri, Wolfe and Ragheb, performed the surgery consisting of: cranioplasty, left orbital box reconstruction with bone graft, and the removal of a distraction device. This complex 8-hour surgery was performed at Miami Children’s Hospital. Two weeks later on February 1, Dr. Gottenger performed surgery (#29) in an effort to minimize the exposure of one of the transplanted bones in his eye. Esteban is now receiving V.A.C. (Vacuum Assisted Closure) Therapy to promote healing and is doing well. Donate to Esteban: |
Esteban with Dr. Rafael Gottenger after first surgery in Miami
|
 |
Esteban’s first surgery with Dr. Gottenger and his team on January 15th was a complex 8-hour surgery to correct all the damage done while treating his eye for cancer in Colombia since he was two years old. The plan was to reconstruct and prepare the eye socket for a prosthetic eye. However, on February 1st another surgery was performed in an effort to minimize the exposure of one of the transplanted bones. Then again, on Feb 22, expanders were inserted in his check in an effort to pump up enough stretched skin to pull over the still exposed bone. As you can see in the picture, the skin on Esteban’s cheek is pumped to the max and ready for his surgery in April.
Update: May 2010 The final portion on Esteban’s eye has finally healed to completely cover the small exposed bone that has been so troublesome over the past few months. After 9 months in the US he will be going home to Cuenca, Ecuador the end of May. The first stage of preparing his eye to accept his prosthetic eye is now complete. He will return to the US in 6 months to have his prosthetic eye inserted into the prepared socket. This young man has been through 31 surgeries since he was 2 years old and only one more to go…. In November he will return to the US for his new eye thanks to all of our donors and Dr. Rafael Gottenger who patiently and skillfully is making Esteban’s dream come true.
Mrs. Toni Garner, Executive Director Child Foundation Charity with Esteban and his Grandmother UPDATE -July 12, 2010: Although Esteban was originally scheduled to return to Ecuador July 7, during a follow-up doctor visit it was determined that the skin graft wasn't healing to the doctor's satisfation. Therefore, Esteban went in for yet another surgery to help the skin heal over the bone that was protruding from his cheek. Dr. Gottenger went in on Monday to file the bone in order to promote new growth from the skin graft. All parties involved are delighted with the results so far. Here is a photo from only 2 days post-op (July 14, 2010): |
