Fourteen-year-old Alejandro is receiving world-class care for his leg and hip more than 2,660 miles from home.
As the pain persisted, his mom, Jill, sought medical attention in their home country of Trinidad and Tobago.
A visit to their local provider revealed the cause. Diagnosed with Blount’s disease, Alejandro has a growth disorder causing his leg to bow outward, giving him a bowlegged appearance. The condition affects the growth plate around the knee.
Treatment options in the Caribbean were limited, and Jill was determined to find a better solution for her son. She contacted her brother, who happened to know a Shriners Children’s patient with the same condition.
Little Alejandro smiles while wearing his backpack and school uniform in his home country of Trinidad and Tobago.
Alejandro points to his recent X-rays while discussing the results with Dr. Gordon.
The Grinch brought smiles to Alejandro during his physical therapy appointment.
During his stay at Shriners Children's St. Louis, Alejandro became very fond of therapy dog Toula. The two are all smiles while sitting on a patient bed in the clinic.
I was reluctant until I heard about Shriners and the remarkable work that they do.
Requesting care at Shriners Children’s remains a vivid memory for their family. Jill emailed our international care team at 11:47 p.m. and received a reply before midnight. The speedy response spoke volumes to this concerned mother. “The mere fact that they acknowledged me immediately showed that Shriners isn’t just for children. They’re for parents as well,” Jill said.
Upon arrival to St. Louis, physicians discovered a second condition on his other leg: slipped capital femoral epiphysis, causing the top part of Alejandro’s femur bone to slip at the growth plate. A team of Shriners Children’s St. Louis providers including John Clohisy, M.D., Perry Schoenecker, M.D., and Jeffrey Nepple, M.D., combined efforts to form a comprehensive treatment plan for his hip.
Alejandro had surgery to place the ball portion of his hip back in the correct position. However, his next appointment revealed yet another setback. His left hip had dislocated, forcing his femur out of the socket. Physicians repositioned Alejandro’s thigh bone and applied a body cast to both of his legs for two months to keep them in the correct position while they could heal.
After surgery, one of the physicians called to check on Alejandro late at night. Jill was touched, once again, by this deep level of compassionate care.
As his hip began to recover and the casts were removed, Alejandro was forced to conquer a new challenge – learning to walk again.
Throughout his treatment, Alejandro has demonstrated incredible resilience. Determined, he has worked hard to regain his mobility. His physical therapy sessions were often demanding, but he was grateful for the stern and loving guidance of his therapist, Katie Jaschek, PT, D.P.T.
“He first had to regain the strength to move his legs without assistance, then the ability to stand up with support, and finally the ability to take steps,” said Katie.
“He did not show any signs of weakness,” Jill recalled with pride. "He was so focused, so determined."
Months later, the team shifted focus to Alejandro’s knee – the original reason for their travel to St. Louis. Due to the complex nature of the bone deformity, J. Eric Gordon, M.D., concluded he needed a months-long device attached to his leg called an external fixator.
“In very severe deformities or deformities where they are in multiple planes like his, an external fixator is the best way to treat it,” said Dr. Gordon.
In addition to physical therapy, Alejandro took up swimming at the YMCA on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It became an essential part of his rehabilitation, helping in the recovery process for his knee.
“Here he is away from home for a year, so we get him out doing some things that are actually really good for him. It gets the kids active. It also helps with their range of motion, and their strength,” Dr. Gordon said.
Throughout Alejandro’s healing journey, Jill’s unwavering support for her son has remained evident. Through the ups and downs, she has remained focused on her son’s well-being. "My focus is on Alejandro,” Jill emphasized. “I have to stay focused for him – I cannot stray. I cannot be worried.”
Jill continues to look on the bright side. She’s grateful for this opportunity to get to know her son on a much deeper level. She beams with pride when speaking about her son and their time here. The two have been able to experience snow for the first time and even celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving and St. Patrick’s Day – three holidays not typically observed in Trinidad and Tobago.
“[On Thanksgiving] We gave thanks for Shriners Children’s for helping us a lot,” said Jill.
Alejandro will head home fully healed in just a few short months. While they’ve been away from home for nearly a year, they are simply grateful Alejandro is receiving the most amazing care anywhere.
“We would not get this extensive treatment back home,” said Jill.
