Yerlin’s Journey to Recovery Fueled by Global Collaboration
“My problem began in 2014 with slight pain in my knees. One day I fell with so much pain in my knees and started crying because I couldn’t get up or support the weight of my body.”
After visiting a public hospital for testing, Yerlin, a humble young woman from Honduras, was confronted with a devastating diagnosis: a debilitating giant cell bone tumor that ultimately left her unable to walk for eighteen months. After three surgeries, the tumor and the bottom half of her femur were gone. Her hip was attached to her tibia utilizing an external fixator. With limited resources in Honduras, she was offered a grim prognosis — amputation. But Yerlin refused to accept this as her only option.
This hope led her to One World Surgery’s Holy Family Surgery Center in Honduras. It was here that she met Dr. Merlin Antúnez, director of the Holy Family Surgery Center and a former resident of the adjacent Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH).
“I remember the day we arrived at the appointment,” Yerlin said, “Everyone was waiting with open arms. From that moment I felt that there was a very, very bright light at the end of the tunnel.”
Dr. Antúnez, along with his dedicated staff, removed the external fixator that Yerlin had been using, leaving her with a non-functional leg, but creating a sterile environment for eventual definitive reconstruction. Understanding the complexity of Yerlin’s condition, Dr. Antúnez sought the assistance of his colleagues in the United States, including Dr. David Evanich of Flower Mound’s Orthopedic Associates.
“I called my colleagues, doctors, the hospital, the anesthesiologists,” said Dr. Evanich, “And said, ‘I have this young woman who is missing half of her femur. We need to make her leg functional again to give her a chance at a normal life. Would you be willing to help?’ And everyone said ‘Absolutely.’ I think people have this innate desire to help. They just need the opportunity.”
Recognizing the importance of Yerlin’s case, Zimmer Biomet, a leader in medical technology, generously donated a custom tumor prosthesis that would give Yerlin a new chance at walking.
Thanks to the exceptional work and collaboration at One World Surgery, Yerlin’s surgery was successfully performed at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Flower Mound in April 2017. There, Dr. Evanich, in collaboration with orthopedic oncologist Dr. Allaaddin Mollabashy and anesthesiologist Dr. Bob Egan, successfully filled the gap in Yerlin’s leg, recreating a fully functional knee joint.
Preparation for her surgery revealed an unexpected challenge — a large mass was discovered on her neck, causing deviation of the trachea and compression on the esophagus. Final pathology showed that Yerlin was facing parathyroid cancer, an extremely rare condition with fewer than 100 cases reported annually in the United States. Doctors believed the parathyroid cancer caused her original lower extremity tumor. After the curative resection of her parathyroid cancer by endocrine surgeon Dr. Carolyn Garner and implantation of her new knee prosthesis, Yerlin remained in Flower Mound for a few weeks after her surgery.
“My wife Meaghan and I decided to take a page out of Dr. Daly and Lulu’s playbook, and asked Yerlin to stay with us and heal up until she was ready to go home. She moved into our house and stayed for about three weeks,” said Dr. Evanich.
An incredible team of nurses, physical therapists, and caretakers, many of whom later volunteered through One World Surgery in Honduras, played a crucial role in Yerlin’s recovery process. Their diligent care and dedication not only contributed to her remarkable recovery but also led to the formation of a lasting friendship that transcends borders and cultures.
“But we realized that the biggest issue was not nursing care,” said Meaghan Evanich, “It was the language barrier. So, we were blessed that an angel named Maria Diaz was available to translate, do physical therapy, or just hang out. We had bilingual nurses, physical therapists, and friends bringing food and checking in after work. So many people helped, it was truly amazing.”
Now, in 2023, Yerlin is thriving in Honduras, living a life unburdened by pain and lack of mobility. Yerlin is not just walking; she is working and flourishing at the Holy Family Surgery Center’s ophthalmology clinic, the same place that once offered her a lifeline. Each step she takes is a tangible embodiment of One World Surgery’s commitment to changing lives. Yerlin and her husband, Mario, welcomed now-3-year-old Jose to the world in 2019. She is immensely grateful as she contemplates the two greatest “miracles” in her life — her new knee and her beautiful son, for the latter would not have been possible without the former.
“I feel so privileged and blessed, and for this reason I put myself in the shoes of each patient who comes to the center, looking for one more opportunity to change their life. I feel that I am in the right place to be able to help these people and be a part of their stories.”
“My problem began in 2014 with slight pain in my knees. One day I fell with so much pain in my knees and started crying because I couldn’t get up or support the weight of my body.” After visiting a public hospital for testing, Yerlin, a humble young woman from Honduras, was confronted with a Read More