When Every Door Closed, One Opened: Justa’s Journey with One World Surgery

At 75 years old, Justa, a devoted housewife in rural Honduras, began each day with a walk—greeting the morning with gratitude and movement. But one ordinary morning, everything changed. 

“I woke up and went for my walk like I always do,” Justa recalled. “But I fell outside my house. At first, I didn’t think it was serious, but I couldn’t stand up. The pain in my hip was unbearable.” 

What followed was a painful and frustrating journey that countless patients in underserved regions experience: seeking care, only to be turned away. The first hospital she visited couldn’t help and referred her to another. There, she was told she needed surgery but that no beds were available—she would have to return home. When her family sought help at a private hospital, the cost of surgery was far beyond their means. Still unable to walk and in escalating pain, Justa was left without options. 

But then, her family heard about One World Surgery (OWS). 

“They said I could come in for an evaluation,” she said. “That’s when they gave me the good news—I could receive my surgery at OWS.” 

Justa underwent a successful ORIF (open reduction internal fixation) with an intertrochanteric nail placement to treat a serious fracture in her hip. But the impact of the surgery extended far beyond the operating room. 

“I felt so much joy and relief. After being told there was nothing anyone could do, this was a blessing,” Justa said. “At my first appointment, the OWS staff treated me with such kindness—it gave me hope.” 

Recovery wasn’t easy. Learning to walk again after a major fracture requires physical and emotional resilience. But Justa leaned on her faith, her family, and the OWS team. 

“I had to be strong,” she said. “There were painful moments, but I never lost hope. I knew I had found a light in the darkness.” 

Now walking again and regaining her independence, Justa reflects on what this experience has taught her. 

“This changed my life,” she said. “I went from feeling hopeless to healing. I learned that even in the worst moments, you can find support. One World Surgery gave me that.” 

OWS is proud to support patients like Justa with life-changing surgical care that would otherwise be out of reach. In underserved communities, access to surgery can mean the difference between suffering and survival. 

Join us in building healthier tomorrows. Learn how you can support or volunteer at oneworldsurgery.org. 

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