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### Amelie’s Triumph: How Modern Medicine & Kindness Rewrote Her Story I am very happy to be here to tell you that Amelie's surgery took place on Wednesday, and everything went very well.  **🌅 *From anxiety to relief: Dawn in the hospital*** Fortunately, she was the first one scheduled for surgery, and although we had to get up early, waking up before 5 a.m. to be at the hospital by 6:30, we're glad it worked out that way because that way she didn't have to wait so long, which would have been very uncomfortable since she was fasting. The reason she was selected for the first slot was that she was the youngest in the group that day. At that hospital, and perhaps at all hospitals, patients are often organized by age or other risk factors. We had a very positive experience from the moment we arrived at the Children's Orthopedic Hospital, from being greeted in the parking lot through admission and our meeting with the head nurse. Everyone is really well prepared to provide first-rate care. I love to say this and point out the good things we notice. I think there is planning and care behind the training for customer service for the entire team of hospital staff. While I'm on the subject, the only complaint I had was that visiting hours are very short and very strict. I understand the reasons why there are no visits before 3:00 p.m., but then to say that they are only until 5:00 p.m. and only two people is quite restrictive. When the head nurse came by the room to check on how everything had been going, that was the only negative thing I mentioned to her. I usually prefer to leave the negative points to others and not mention them myself, always, in all aspects of my life, because of a principle I have that I don't pay attention to those aspects. But on this occasion, it affected me quite a bit because they didn't even allow my husband to stay with us until at least 7 p.m. Anyway, I am pleased to say that the whole experience was very positive, from the medical professionalism, the talented and caring nursing team, and each and every member of the administrative and service team. 100 points for the Children's Orthopedic Hospital.     **🩺 *Heroes in white coats: The art of healing with science and heart*** Now, talking about Dr. Rafael Arcia, our doctor who is the head of the lower limb trauma team, is another story. I think I would have a lot of material for another post. I have been watching him work for about 12 years now, because Amelie is the third of my four children to have had leg surgery performed by him. Oscar, my eldest son, was the first when he was 7 years old. He also had bilateral tibial torsion, in addition to other issues such as Achilles tendon shortening, which are crucial for proper walking. And almost two years ago, I also shared some moments about [Isaac's surgery and recovery]( https://peakd.com/hive-110372/@alteramelia/the-most-important-thing-of-the-first-postoperative-week-of-my-son ). **🌈 *Castings that tell stories: When innovation brings smiles***     On the day of Amelie's surgery, we talked a little with the doctor about how I have observed the evolution of science and medical technology over all these years. When Oscar had his surgery, the recovery was very long and complicated. When Isaac had his surgery, the process was much simpler, but what made it complicated was that Isaac was much older, practically twice Oscar's age, and that was more complicated for us. Now, 12 years later, with Amelie, the recovery will be much simpler and shorter, you'll see. Each child is very different. In Amelie's case, she was very happy, understanding, excited, and curious about this procedure, but we could also see that she was very nervous. At times, we were even concerned because we noticed that she had some difficulty controlling those nerves. **😨 * Fear of needles: How to turn terror into confidence*** The most disturbing thing for her was not really that they were going to cut her bones because she knew that when that happened, she would be fast asleep. Her terror was the administration of the anesthesia. She was very afraid of having an IV inserted. But she was so lucky that the anesthesiologist asked her if they could insert the IV, as if it were optional, to which she replied no, of course, and without any further problem, the anesthesiologist decided to put her to sleep with a mask and then, once she was asleep, insert the IV. The doctor had discussed all these possibilities with her the day before, so it was very easy for them to understand each other and make the decision. I was with her until the pre-anesthesia stage, where they discussed all of this. We also spoke again with Dr. Arcia, who reviewed in great detail the explanation of the entire procedure he was going to perform. When it was time to proceed with the anesthesia, they asked me to leave the area. It was 8:30 in the morning, and I was also dressed in surgical attire. The medical team at this hospital includes several postgraduate residents who are studying in Venezuela but come from other countries, including Africa, and I have always greatly admired how they are taught to engage with cases, the way they are challenged, and how to apply methodology. These students are very fortunate because Dr. Arcia is a scientist who has designed and adapted cutting-edge technology in our country. The procedure lasted three hours, during which time my husband and I waited in the room that had been assigned to us. We had to stay there because that was where we would be found if they needed to communicate something to us. We received Amelie there when she came out of observation. She arrived in the room drowsy and complained a little about the pain. We were very surprised to see her arrive wearing what looked like knitted, decorated stockings, but they weren't stockings; they were casts. What a pleasant surprise that they can now be like that; there are no limits. I thought it was a nice motivator for children to have these options when they are going through such difficult times. Children's excitement and surprise are something that humanity must preserve forever. It was a very difficult afternoon with a very spoiled patient who, as we say in Venezuela, acted like a little girl, speaking a little spoiled and in a very low tone of voice.    **👨👩👧👦 *Long nights, eternal hugs: The power of a support network***  But she was very good, gentle, understanding, and calm. That afternoon, in the few hours available, she received many visitors, first her three brothers, then her aunt and two cousins, then her grandparents, and finally the best friend of one of her brothers, along with his mother, who is also our friend. They all came in pairs, or threes if I went to the door to let someone else in. As I mentioned earlier, my husband ended up being just another visitor and couldn't stay past 5:30 p.m. It was an almost tearful farewell; no argument could convince them to let him stay longer.  That night, the two of us alone and the army of nurses, male nurses, and orthopedic surgeons who came by every half hour to check on her, we ended up not getting any sleep. The pain was controlled by medication, but our sleep was very light, and we couldn't rest well. We only managed to give in between approximately 3:30 and 5 or 6 a.m. It was a night from which I have not yet recovered two days later, and on the contrary, after that, I faced an even worse night. But even so, my heart is deeply grateful to know that my little girl now has her legs straight and functionally adapted and corrected so that she can enjoy her artistic or athletic skills and passions without limitations. **💡 *Legacy of gratitude: Why correcting today prevents pain tomorrow*** I am very happy that as parents, we have managed to do everything possible to avoid problems for our children that in the future, when they are adults, they will not have to resort to prostheses in their knees or hips, which is much more painful for an adult than correcting the original problem in a child. If you have children with any type of orthopedic problem, do not hesitate to seek specialized help and do not settle for old and less effective methods. Turn to the latest technology developed in this area. You will be surprised to learn that it is most likely within everyone's reach, as it should be. ### Positive attitude and perseverance.
**🌅 *De la ansiedad al alivio: Un amanecer en el hospital*** Por fortuna ella fue la primera en la planificación del quirófano, y aunque tuvimos que madrugar, despertándonos antes de las 5 de la mañana para estar en el hospital a las 6:30, nos alegra que haya sido así porque de esa manera no tuvo que tener una espera tan larga, que encontrándose en ayuno sería muy incómoda. El motivo por el que ella estuvo seleccionada para entrar en el primer turno se debe a que era la más pequeña del grupo del día, y en ese hospital, tal vez en todos los organizan por orden de edad u otros riesgos. El reloj marcaba las 6:07 AM cuando Amelie apretó mi mano camino al hospital. **Ser el primer turno quirúrgico** no fue casualidad: - ✔️ Evita largas horas de ayuno - ✔️ Reduce la ansiedad por espera - ✔️ Permite máxima frescura del equipo médico Tenemos una experiencia muy positiva desde la llegada al Hospital Ortopédico Infantil, desde que fuimos recibidos en el estacionamiento, la admisión, el ingreso con la jefa de enfermeras, realmente todos están muy bien preparados para dar una atención de primera, me encanta decir esto y afirmar las cosas buenas que podemos notar, creo que hay planificación y esmero detrás de la capacitación para la atención al público de todo ese equipo de colaboradores del hospital.  Aprovechando que hablo sobre esto, la única queja que tuve fue que el horario para visitas es muy corto y muy estricto, entiendo bastante los motivos por los que no hay visitas antes de las tres de la tarde, pero luego, decir que solo son hasta las 5 de la tarde y solo 2 personas es bastante restringido. Imagen generada en Peakd con el modelo Qwen con el siguiente prompt: *"Watercolor illustration of a cheerful 8-year-old girl with curly hair, sitting on a hospital bed, wearing colorful knitted-pattern leg casts decorated with stars and rainbows. Beside her, a friendly female doctor in scrubs holds a stethoscope. Soft sunlight streams through a window, with medical symbols (hearts, plus signs) floating in the background. Style: Warm, hopeful, and whimsical, blending realism and fantasy.*" Cuando la jefa de enfermeras pasó por la habitación a verificar como había estado todo el servicio y la atención fue lo único negativo que le indiqué, por lo general prefiero dejarle los puntos negativos a la exposición de los demás y no por mi parte, siempre, en todos los aspectos de mi vida, por un principio mío según el cual no estoy pendiente de percibir esos aspectos, pero en esta ocasión me afectó bastante, porque ni siquiera permitieron que mi esposo nos acompañara al menos hasta las 7 de la noche. Bueno, de todas maneras, me complace afirmar que toda la experiencia fue muy positiva, desde los aspectos de profesionalismo médico, el equipo de enfermería talentoso y humano y todas y cada una de las personas del equipo administrativo y de servicio. 100 puntos para el Hospital Ortopédico Infantil.  **🩺 *Héroes de bata blanca: El arte de sanar con ciencia y corazón*** Ahora, hablar del Dr. Rafael Arcia, nuestro médico que es el jefe del equipo de traumatólogos de miembros inferiores, es otra liga. Creo que tendría mucho material para otro post. Tengo ya alrededor de 12 años viéndolo actuar, porque Amelie es la tercera de mis 4 hijos al que el mismo les ha practicado cirugía de sus piernas.  Oscar, mi hijo mayor, fue el primero, cuando tenía 7 años, también tenía torsión tibial bilateral, además de otros detalles como acortamiento del tendón de Aquiles que son determinantes para una correcta marcha. Y hace casi dos años les compartí también algunos momentos sobre [la intervención y la recuperación de Isaac](https://peakd.com/hive-110372/@alteramelia/the-most-important-thing-of-the-first-postoperative-week-of-my-son ) El día de la intervención de Amelie conversamos un poco con el Dr. sobre como he observado la evolución de la ciencia y la tecnología médica a través de todos estos años. 3 generaciones de avances ortopédicos en mi familia: + 2025: Recuperación en 3 semanas (Amelie) + 2018: 6 semanas (Isaac) - 2013: 12 semanas (Oscar)  Cuando operaron a Oscar la recuperación fue muy larga y complicada, al momento de operar a Isaac el proceso era mucho más sencillo, lo que lo volvió complicado fue que Isaac estaba mucho más grande, el doble de la edad de Oscar prácticamente y eso era más complicado para nosotros. Ahora, 12 años después, con Amelie, la recuperación será muchísimo más sencilla y corta, ya lo verán. En el equipo de médicos de este hospital hay varios médicos residentes de posgrados que están en Venezuela estudiando, pero vienen desde otros países, incluso de África, y siempre he admirado mucho cómo les enseñan a involucrarse con los casos, la forma en que les exigen y como aplicar la metodología. Estos estudiantes tienen mucha suerte, porque el Dr. Arcia es un científico que ha diseñado y adaptado tecnología de punta en nuestro país.  El Dr. Arcia llegó con su ejército de residentes internacionales. **12 años operando a mis hijos me han enseñado:** que la actualización constante, el apego al código de ética, la empatía y el humanismo con la actitud de excelencia y la pasión por lo que se hace representa un aporte invaluable para el mundo **😨 *El miedo a la aguja: Cómo convertir el terror en confianza*** Cada hijo es muy diferente, en el caso de Amelie, para esta intervención estuvo muy contenta, comprensiva, ilusionada y curiosa, pero también la pudimos ver muy nerviosa, incluso en ocasiones nos preocupamos porque notamos cierta dificultad para controlar esos nervios.  El foco más perturbador para ella realmente no era que iban a corta sus huesos porque ella sabía que cuando eso ocurriera estaría bien dormida. El terror para ella era la aplicación de la anestesia. Le daba mucho miedo que le tomaran una vía venosa. Pero tiene tanta suerte que el anestesiólogo le preguntó si le podían tomar la vía, como si se tratase de algo opcional, a lo cual, por supuesto que ella respondió que no, y sin mayor problema, el anestesiólogo decidió dormirla con una mascarilla y luego, ya dormida, tomarle la vía venosa. Todas estas posibilidades las había conversado el Dr. con ella el día anterior, así que fue muy fácil entre ellos entenderse y tomar la decisión.  Estuve junto a ella hasta la etapa de preanestesia donde conversaron todo esto, también conversamos nuevamente con el Dr. Arcia quien repasó con mucho detalle la explicación de todo el procedimiento que iba a ejecutar, para el momento de pasar a la anestesia me pidieron abandonar la zona, eran las 8:30 de la mañana, estaba trajeada con las prendas de quirófano yo también. **🌈 *Yesos que cuentan historias: Cuando la innovación viste sonrisas*** La intervención tuvo una duración de tres horas, durante todo ese tiempo mi esposo y yo aguardábamos en la habitación que ya le había sido asignada, teníamos que estar tranquilos allí, porque justo es donde seriamos buscados en caso de que nos tuvieran que comunicar algo. Allí recibimos a Amelie cuando salió de observación, llegó a la habitación adormecida y se quejó un poco del dolor.  Nuestra gran sorpresa fue verla llegar con lo que parecían unas medias tejidas y decoradas, pero no eran medias, eran los yesos, que agradable sorpresa que ahora puedan ser así, no hay límites. Me pareció una bonita motivación que los niños tengan esas opciones cuando pasan por momentos tan difíciles, la ilusión y sorpresa de los niños es algo que la humanidad debe preservar por siempre. Los y