Holy Name Press Releases

Chilean Girl's Leg Saved at Holy Name Medical Center

ospital helps youngster through Healing the Children

August 24, 2016

A 15-year-old Chilean girl with a rare genetic bone condition was in danger of losing her leg until an orthopedic surgeon physician at Holy Name Medical Center performed a difficult surgery that will protect the bone and avoid amputation. Aeleen Antonia Perez Pacheco, brought to the U.S. through the nonprofit, Healing the Children, underwent the procedure in June and will be returning to family and friends next month.

Dr. Brian Bauer, an orthopedic surgeon at Holy Name, shored up her leg with three titanium rods placed just below the knee that stretch down to her ankle. Physicians in Chile lacked the expertise and the equipment, mainly the rods, to do the surgery, Dr. Bauer said.

"Most doctors don't want to touch this because if they break the leg during the procedure they know chances are it won't heal and they'll have to eventually amputate," Dr. Bauer said. "If she was born in this country, she probably would have had the surgery done as a baby. Doing it when she's older was more risky."

Dr. Bauer and Holy Name donated their services at no cost to Aeleen or Healing the Children. Dr. Bauer has gone numerous times to Honduras, Haiti and the Dominican Republic during the last 25 years to perform surgeries on underprivileged children and operated on several youngsters at Holy Name through Healing the Children. Holy Name has partnered with the organization since the 1980's.

"Helping these children is part of Holy Name's mission - a ministry of healing," said Michael Maron, President and CEO of Holy Name. "And who better to receive assistance in recovery than innocent children facing challenges most adults can't even imagine."

Aeleen's condition, called fibrous dysplasia, causes fibrous tissue to grow inside the bone, making it fragile and bowed. Bending at this abnormal angle puts stress on the bone and sparks constant pain, which Aeleen has lived with for most of her life. The rods help straighten the bone, protect it from breaking and alleviate most, if not all, the pain.

"I would never have had all this in Chile," Aeleen said. "I can't wait to exercise again - I haven't been able to do that since I was eight. I'm so grateful to Dr. Bauer and Holy Name for all they've done for me." Aeleen also talked about her gratitude to Mary and John Silverberg, of Suffern, N.Y., who have been her host family since she arrived in the U.S. This is the fourth child the couple has taken in through Healing the Children.

"It's very fulfilling - they become part of the family," John Silverberg said. "It's hard when they leave, but Healing the Children sends us emails to keep us updated on how they're doing."

Aeleen comes from a large extended family that went to the airport in Chile to see her off when she came to the U.S. in June. A photograph of the clan gives comfort to Mary Silverberg, as she thinks about sending Aeleen back home.

"When you know they have a loving family that cares for them, it's so much easier," she said. "I know she's enjoying her stay but she misses her family."