One surgery away…..
Diagnosed at an early age with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Baltazar Arias has know a lifetime of pain. Arthritis had always limited him, his movements, his ability to play sports alongside his friends, his ability to sustain an income, and ultimately his ability to live independently.
He was determined to accomplish his dream of becoming the first person in his family to graduate college. He enrolled at San Carlos Universidad with the goal of becoming a lawyer, but his body was uncooperative. At the age of 27, his ability to participate in class and hold a job began to diminish until he was ultimately dependent on his sister to help him with simplest of daily tasks. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could go on.
Ten years ago there seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel. He heard the Hospital Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro hosted organizations that provided hip and knee replacements at no cost to qualifying applicants. He was selected for a bilateral hip replacement in 2012 and immediately felt relief. Pain was manageable, his mobility was improved, and he was able to return to school. Several years later, he received a knee replacement at Obras from the organization Faith in Practice. His goal of graduation and a life without pain seemed within reach.
In 2019 Baltazar was almost at the end of his journey. He was close to graduating from law school and was looking forward to surgery on his right knee, the final surgery to grant him full mobility and relieve the last of the pain that he’d experienced for a lifetime. But as with all of us, 2020 brought COVID-19, shut-downs, and travel restrictions. Classes were suspended, along with surgeries at Obras. Baltazar watched as his chances seemed to slip through his fingers.
Even as his pain increased, his belief in completing his degree and the last step In regaining full mobility grew stronger. Baltazar switched to online classes and began working online as a paralegal. As restrictions lifted ,he went back to school, willing himself to board the bus each day so he could complete his degree. He also reapplied for surgery with Obras and this year was given the good news that he had been placed on the screening list for August.
A quiet man but one of great composure, Baltazar met with our screening team and told of his long path to wellness. He reassured our surgeons that he would work hard during physical therapy and to complete this one last step. His case was not without complications. Baltazar is small-statured and the implants needed would have to be correctly sized. Our team came together, found solutions and he was scheduled to receive surgery in just two short days.
After surgery, you could see relief spread across his face. He was focused and calm as he did the exercises prescribed by our physical therapists, practiced walking along side them, and seemed delighted to have a chance to participate in our group PT session. A little more than 24 hours after surgery, Baltazar was ready to return home. With his sister by his side, he was sure that his recovery would be quick and he could look forward to a life unrestricted. When our volunteers asked what he was looking most forward to after this final surgery, he replied, “I want to do everything. To be able to play soccer, to walk to the bus unassisted, to simply move up and down the stairs without pain. I find myself very thankful for the surgery of my knee. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.”