ALELIGN

Alelign, 15, one of 8 children, came to our clinic  with his mom in 2008 at age 8. His spine was deforming since age 6. Believing this was caused by an evil spirit, they took him to holy water, but it seemed to worsen every day. 

They moved to Addis Ababa for better care. He went to FOCOS-Ghana for surgery at age 9. He returned once, due to an infection. 

Alelign missed some years of school, but is now in 3rd grade and #1 out of 66 kids. He wants to be a pilot, and to help kids with spine deformities.

BETSELOT

Betselot is an 18 year old from Addis Ababa. The family recently moved to Sendafa, an hour away, where housing is considerably cheaper. 

When her back began deforming at age 6, the family attributed this to the devil. Numerous trips to holy water failed to help. 

12 years ago, they came to us. Months later, she made her first trip to Ghana. She has had surgeries in Addis Ababa as well. 

Her dad is a retired soldier. She lives with her parents and 5 sibs in a 2 bedroom mud home which has no toilet, water, or electricity. She is quite happy, but asked us “how are we supposed to fight coronavirus without water?” A grade 10 student, she wants to be an architect. 

AHMED

Ahmed is a 16 year old Ethiopian who grew up in Yemen where his dad was a taxi driver. When his father was jailed (and never charged), the family returned to Ethiopia. 

Ahmed is in 9th grade at Ayer Tena school. He lives with his 3 sibs and mom. Watching American movies has given him amazing English skills. 

Ahmed’s moderate left scoliosis is complicated by spinal cord issues: he is developing a Chiari 1 malformation in which the lower part of the brain extends through the bottom of the skull. He also has a syrinx, a fluid-filled cavity inside the cord. This is complex, but treatable.

Ahmed is in the top ¼ of his class, and wants to be a spine surgeon. “Dr. Rick,” he said to me “Give me your place; I will take over.” 

AYNALEM

Aynalem is a 17 year old girl from Sululta, 1 hour outside Addis Ababa. 

She was taunted in school and called “gobata,” an insult meaning “hunchback.” Her deformity caused her pain, and she became isolated. The family concluded it is caused by evil spirit. Holy water did not help. 

A stranger did: someone on a bus told them “There is only 1 cure - a doctor named Rick.” Three days later, they were in our waiting room.  Our policy is to see every patient on the day they come. We saw her at age 12, did an exam and photos and X-rays, and concluded she is a good candidate for surgery. They could not believe when they were told that everything was free. “We were waiting for a bill, or a request for a bribe. Only now, after surgery, do we understand this is really free. “ 

Aynalem was complicated. While many patients have idiopathic scoliosis with normal bones, she has congenital disease with many poorly formed bones called hemi-vertebrae. Her spinal cord was split in 2 by a piece of bone (diasto). Some in America fear operating on these patients. The FOCOS team did not. 

She loved being with the Ghana staff. She is in 8th grade and ranks 3/60. She wants to be a doctor. 

HELINA

Helina is a 16-year-old from Hawasa, 180 miles south of Addis Ababa. When her famly saw her spine deforming as a child, they brought her to traditional healer, without success. A stranger recommended our clinic.

Seven years ago, we evaluated and pronounced her a good candidate for growing rods. Her first trip to Ghana was in 2014. She has returned once for broken rods – in addition to 3 surgeries in Addis Ababa.

Sadly, her mom died this year, and she lives with her dad, a university

lecturer. In the top 10% of her 9th grade class, she wants to be a spine doctor.

ERMIAS

Ermias is a 16-year-old from Debremarkos in Gojjam, 190 miles NW of Addis Ababa. He lives with his mom and sister in a 3 room mud home.

Like many of our patients, this was misattributed to a fall he had as a child. He suffered in school as classmates called him “gobata,”- hunchback. Trips to traditional bonesetters and traditional healers cost money but left no improvement.

We diagnosed adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. He underwent 3 months traction in Ghana, followed by MAGEC magnetic growing rods. Our patients are the first Africans to use this.

“How’s life now?,” we asked. “Great,” he replied, “nobody says
gobata, and I have the same posture as my friends. I want to be a football player.“

BIFTU

Biftu came to us at Mother Teresa’s Mission in 2008 in at the age of 5 with a right-sided, S-shape curve. Her spine had been deforming for 2 years. We diagnosed juvenile idiopathic scoliosis. Without intervention, this would worsen, which would limit her ability to breathe and shorten her lifespan. We’ve had patients who died because they came to us with this condition, too late for surgery.

She comes from a very supportive Oromo Moslem family. Her dad works in a private company, she has a brother and a sister. She has traveled to FOCOS Hospital in Ghana 4 times since late 2008. She had growing rods installed, which have had several iterations. In our hands, growing rods have a breakage rate of 46%, a better rate than the Los Angeles group.

When we asked Biftu what she wants to be when she grows up, she immediately said “A doctor. I want to be a doctor and help spine patients.” To which Dr. Rick always replies: “Can a girl be a doctor, or can only boys be doctors?” When she replies that both can go into medicine, we respond, “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t be a doctor because you’re a girl.” Biftu is a student in 10th grade.

MAHLET

Mahlet is a 16-year-old girl from Arsi, 150 miles south of Addis Ababa. Her spine began deforming at age 3.

At the age of 8, she found her way to us via 2 other hospitals. They were excited to hear that there is a good treatment available. And fortunately, she has an aunt in Addis Ababa to be closer to us.

She went to FOCOS at age 9 and got 4 “growing rods” installed. Over the years, she has had 2 surgeries in Ghana and 1 in Ethiopia. She has had 1 broken rod.

She lives in her aunt’s home, a mud house with electricity, water, and outdoor toilet.

A 9th grade student, she ranks at the top of her class. What does she want to be when she grows up? “I want to be a doctor and help Dr. Rick.”

ELDA

Elda presented to us in October, 2010 at age 28 months. She had a broad right spine curve, and had been referred to us by local doctors. Her family believed she was cursed by the devil. Multiple visits to healers did not help. They lost hope.

A few months later, we sent her to Ghana, with her mom, for her first surgery to install “growing rods.” At this point she has had 2 surgeries in Ghana, and 4 inside Ethiopia. She has broken her rods one time.

Her dad is a taxi driver. The family lives in a 1-room rented house, which has both electricity and running water.

Elda, now is a 4th grade student. She is at the top of her class – ranking
#2 out of 35 kids. Mom reports “She is happy with her life.” When we asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” She replied instantly: “A doctor. I want to help spine patients.”

“What else do you want to do?” we asked. “I want to meet Teddy Afro, our great singer.” Elda needs rod maintenance, correction of proximal junctional deformity, and final fusion.

“Say something to the people reading this,” we told her. “Long life to Rick. Thanks to the whole JDC medical team.”

WONDEMENEH

Wondemeneh came to us at the age of 5 in 2010. He and his single mom lived in a rented mud home outside Addis Ababa. As a baby, she noted that his spine was deforming.

The family believed he was cursed by the devil. They took him to holy water and Christian healers, but it kept getting worse.

One of our spine patients saw him and told him about us. They came to clinic, I evaluated and told them that he is a good candidate for surgery.

He went to Ghana twice, first at age 5. He has also had 3 procedures in Addis Ababa.

He is now living with his parents (mom has married, dad is a security guard), and

going to school. An 8th grade student, he is #1 in his class, out of 60 kids. His goal? “To be a doctor.” “Special thanks to Dr. Rick and his team,” Wondimeneh said to us, when we phoned to interview him.

MELAN

Melan is 14-year-old girl from Addis Ababa. Her family are Silte, a Moslem ethnic group making up 1.3% of the country.

Melan’s mom noticed her spine deforming as a baby. A doctor they consulted attributed the deformity to the use of suction during birth. (unlikely).

Melan’s aunt told them about Dr. Rick in Addis Ababa. They came to clinic the following day, at age 8 in 2014.

Dr. Rick informed them that she was a surgical candidate. She has been to Ghana twice, for traction and surgery. We’d like to point out the bravery here. This is an 8 year old, flying 2700 miles, without her parents, for months of medical care.

She has been to Ghana twice, as well as having rod adjustments in
Ethiopia. Her family reports “after surgery, she completely changed. She is physically safe, and emotionally safe.”

She lives with her parents in a small home constructed of concrete blocks. Her dad has a small business, mom is a housewife. She too wants to be a doctor.