Empezó a tener un desconcertante dolor de rodilla en abril de 2021, lo que desencadenó un ciclo de frustración: Los pediatras la mandaron a ponerse hielo, los ortopedistas diagnosticaron tendinitis, los reumatólogos no encontraron respuestas y la acupuntura no servía para nada. Se sometió a años de fisioterapia, cirugías innecesarias y tratamientos costosos, y terminaron diciéndole que tal vez, el dolor estaba solamente en su cabeza.
Cuando comenzó a dolerle la cadera derecha, se reveló un pequeño desgarro de tejido que nuevamente fue descartado por los médicos a los que iba siempre. Amelia y su madre, Debbi, estaban frustradas y desesperadas por respuestas.
Cuando llegó a la clínica de medicina deportiva del Hospital Shriners para Niños del Norte de California, el asistente médico Darvin Foo, PAC, PT, MMS, revisó la historia de Amelia con una nueva perspectiva. En una hora, identificó la causa raíz: displasia límite de cadera.
La cadera es una articulación de bola y cavidad. La displasia de cadera se produce cuando la cavidad es demasiado superficial y la cabeza de la articulación se desplaza hacia afuera de forma parcial o total. Aunque a menudo no causa dolor en los bebés, de no ser tratada, la displasia puede provocar artritis precoz y dolor de por vida. La detección rápida es fundamental, pero casos leves como el de Amelia es normal que pacen desapercibidos si no se cuenta con experiencia pediátrica.
Darvin explicó cómo los cambios posteriores a la pubertad amplificaron el sutil desplazamiento de la cadera y provocaron un desgarro en el labrum, que es el anillo de cartílago que amortigua la articulación de la cadera, la causa de su dolor irradiado en la rodilla.
“Nos mostró la resonancia magnética y explicó la fórmula matemática que se utilizaba para calcular su displasia de cadera”, dijo Debbi. “No tengo palabras para describir cómo me sentí al finalmente obtener una respuesta para mi hija, que llevaba años sufriendo”.
Amelia recuerda con todo detalle aquella primera cita. “Lloré con mi mamá”, dijo. “Fue un enorme alivio tener una respuesta”.
Cada persona con la que hemos tratado – enfermeros, médicos – ha sido tan increíble.
Orthopedic surgeon Brian Haus, M.D., performed the delicate surgery to repair Amelia’s torn labrum and lengthen her tendon. After surgery, her nurse, Megan, stayed by her side to make sure she recovered. Her inpatient nurse, Wesley, kept her laughing and smiling while she healed.
“I felt like I had my best friends taking care of me,” she said.
“Every single person we have ever dealt with – the nurses, the doctors – has been so amazing,” said Debbi. “There is not one person I can think of that I’ve had a negative experience with.”
After six weeks on crutches and personalized physical therapy, Amelia felt immense improvement.
Once she was approved to be active, Amelia went on a bike ride with her brother, who she said is like her best friend. “He would always ask [to ride together], and I would have to say no,” she said. “For the first time, I could finally say yes.”
Debbi remembers how priceless this was to her, and that she was prepared to pay whatever the hospital bill turned out to be.
“Our HMO insurance doesn’t cover care outside [their network],” she said. “I got the bill after surgery and was dreading calling about it because I anticipated having to work five years to pay it off. I kept putting it off, and when I called, I was told, ‘We took care of you.’ I immediately started crying.”
Today, 18-year-old Amelia is pain-free and goes to the gym, bakes and is able to work on her feet. She enjoys science classes in school and wants to go into the healthcare field.
Her medical journey reshaped her dreams: “My experience made me want to be like my Shriners Children’s providers. I want to make it my mission to be the person to make a positive difference in someone’s life.” For her, this means taking the steps to become a pediatric orthopedic surgeon.
During follow-up appointments, Darvin learned about her aspirations and made it his mission to help her achieve them.
“Guidance counselors at school would typically help you with college planning, but for me, it’s Darvin,” said Amelia.
During her junior and senior years, she participated in Shriners Children’s Northern California Summer Youth Academy, learning about different healthcare positions within the hospital, and The Perry initiative, which gives high school-aged girls hands-on experience in orthopedic surgery.
With Darvin’s mentorship, she’ll be attending American River College and then pursuing human biology at UC Davis. Last June, she graduated from high school with honors, and now she’s graduating from care at Shriners Children’s.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the people at this place,” said Debbi.
Amelia y varios participantes de la Academia de Verano para Jóvenes asisten a la Caminata Walk for Love del Hospital Shriners para Niños del Norte de California.
Amelia muestra su yeso de práctica durante una demostración de enyesado en The Perry Initiative.
Amelia practica la aplicación de suturas en The Perry Initiative
Amelia celebra su graduación de la escuela secundaria con su madre y su hermano.
