FlyingSamaritans

Los Amigos Chapter

Here is the story of Reina.....

Reina, a 4 year old little girl, has  severe Blount's disease. Blount’s disease is a growth disorder of the tibia (shin bone) that causes the lower leg to angle inward, resembling a bowleg. Blount's disease occurs in young children and adolescents. The cause is unknown but is thought to be due to the effects of weight on the growth plate. The inner part of the tibia, just below the knee, fails to develop normally, causing angulation of the bone.Unlike bowlegs, which tend to straighten as the child develops, Blount's disease is progressive and the condition worsens. It can cause severe bowing of the legs and can affect one or both legs. It is painful as it progresses, and the child may be unable to weight bear and therefore refuse to walk. Failure to treat Blount's disease may lead to progressive deformity, severe pain, and an inability to walk.  Bowing of one or both legs can be rapidly progressive, appear asymmetric, and occurs primarily just below the knee. Children who develop severe bowing before the age of 3 may be treated with bracing. If bracing fails, or if bowing is not detected until the child is older, surgery is required. Surgery may involve cutting the shin bone (tibia) to realign it, and sometimes lengthen it as well. Other times, the growth of just the outer half of the tibia can be surgically restricted to allow the child’s natural growth to reverse the bowing process. This second, much smaller surgery is most effective in children with less severe bowing and significant growth remaining. In Reina’s case, she is past the age that casting would be effective, and she requires the more aggressive surgery of cutting the shin bone to realign it, and then casting her from the waist down for 4-6 weeks for healing to take place. Return to normal function and cosmetic appearance is expected if the knee can be properly aligned.

The Flying Samaritans have arranged to have the cost of the surgery, including the orthopedic surgeon, anesthesia, and most of the other services and equipment  donated.  But we still need to raise the $7500 to cover the surgical and other supplies needed.   

If you would like to help, you can make your check payable to the Flying Samaritans and mail it to our P. O. Box 13513, Mesa, AZ  85216.  Write on your check that the money should be used to help with the surgery on Reina Valenzuela.  Or you can donate using your credit card via the secure PayPal system by clicking on this button the "Donation" button below.

For your convenience, donations

may be made by credit card through PayPal ®

Just click on the Donation button on the Help Us Help

page of this website and follow the instructions

For more information regarding PayPal go to:  http://www.paypal.com

Thank You