Saving Sofia

Providence Sofia A local mission group has saved a 14-year old girl from ridicule in her home country of Ecuador.
by Tiffany Craig
Published: Wed, January 21, 2009 - 4:58 pm CST Last Updated: Wed, January 21, 2009 - 6:16 pm CST
Sofia Guillen says it's painful being a teenager with scoliosis. "They would laugh at me and they would point at me and say look at that girl she looks like a tree trunk walking all stiff." Sofia wore a brace that went from her waist to her chin. She says it was squeezing the life out of her.

All of that changed when Bayside Medical Missions traveled to Sofia's hometown of Porto Viejo, Ecuador. Her family couldn't afford to pay for Sofia's surgery so the mission stepped in to help.

Dr. Paul Fellers and his wife/nurse Flor Fellers knew that Sofia's surgery couldn't be done in Ecuador. So, Sofia and her mom were flown to Alabama and the procedure was done at Providence Hospital in West Mobile. Flor Fellers said it was just meant to be. "This family really rallied around their daughter but in Ecuador, she had no chance. They don't do this kind of surgery there."

Last Tuesday, Dr. Fellers and another orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Tom Dempsey performed the two hours surgery with wires, screws and hooks to straighten Sofia's back.

Sofia finally feels like a regular girl again and believes she will never be the center of negative attention again. "They won't even be looking at me. I'll be a normal person."

We're told that Sofia's surgery, recovery, and therapy could cost as much as 100,000 dollars. The Bayside Medical Mission did it absolutely free.

If you would like to learn more about the mission group or would like to donate, click here.
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Sirk Says:
Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 6:26 pm

Next, time you have a procedure done or a hospitalization, ask for an itemized bill.  You will then see how much they charge you for an aspirin.  You think you are getting a coke free if you ask for it?  Not, just check your itemized bill. 

See how much it cost you to have lab done at your doctor’s office if you have insurance.  Then check it out if you do not have insurance.

Sirk Says:
Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 6:24 pm

Exactly.  Same as if you go into a doctors office and tell them you don’t have insurance they will “work it out” with you. 

It’s stupid enough to make me want to stop paying for insurance and see what I can get cheaper.

dougstech
dougstech Says:
Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 6:17 pm

Sirk, so just because someone has insurance, they raise the price 10x, therefore raising insurance costs?

Sirk Says:
Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 6:16 pm

The $100,000 is if you have insurance. If you don’t it would probably cost around $10,000 at the most.

dougstech
dougstech Says:
Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 6:13 pm

Normally costs $100,000? For TWO hours?

Thats $50,000 an HOUR!

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