Minnesota Doctors Perform Rare Surgery
Posted on: Friday, 24 February 2006, 15:00 CST
ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- A 35-year-old woman from Africa is recovering from a rare double-leg lengthening surgery. Her surgery was performed at Woodwinds Health Campus in Woodbury by world-renown orthopedic surgeon, Mark Dahl, MD.
Due to a childhood injury, Almaz Terefa Meshesha's right leg was 9 inches shorter than her left leg. Thanks to the surgery, her thigh and shin bones are now growing. Since her surgery three weeks ago on January 31 her leg has already grown two inches.
Before her surgery, she lived in constant debilitating pain. Just walking or standing was difficult. She's currently undergoing daily physical therapy at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul, but she's expected to leave the hospital to stay with a host family, Rev. Francis Stephanos Beko of Apple Valley and his family.
HealthEast hospitals, Woodwinds and Bethesda, Optimum Rehabilitation, HealthEast Home Care, and Dr. Dahl are providing her medical care as part an international humanitarian effort.
Her anesthesiology, radiology and orthopedic medical devices were also donated. Good Will/Easter Seals is providing a wheelchair and home care medical equipment. An international group, Hope in View, provided her primary medical care.
Dr. Dahl has helped other patients from Third World countries. Last year Dr. Dahl also lengthened, by four inches, the leg of a 25-year-old U.S. soldier, James Vandenheuvel, whose leg was shattered by a road side bomb explosion in Iraq two years ago this month.
HealthEast Care System is a community-focused, non-profit health care system that provides innovative technology, compassionate care and a full spectrum of family health services. HealthEast includes Bethesda Hospital, St. John's Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital and Woodwinds Health Campus as well as outpatient services, clinics, pharmacies and transportation services. Practicing financial responsibility, HealthEast is the largest, locally-owned health care organization in the Twin Cities' East Metro with 6,700 employees and 1,400 physicians on staff.
First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact:
HealthEast Care System
CONTACT: Jodi Ritacca, HealthEast Communications, +1-651-232-6410, orpage +1-651-864-3547
Source: PRNewswire
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