Nathalie Oliva

Nathalie is a girl in my class who many of you have heard us talk about and have been praying for. She has one leg shorter than the other due to an infection when she was three days old and she does not have a hip socket on one side. The options for helping her in Honduras are very limited. Nathalie has been seen by the best hospital here in Honduras and they are unable to perform the services that she requires.

So since October I have been trying to find a doctor to help her in the United States. We began by applying to the Scottish Rite Hospital. The process took several months but they told us last month that they would like to do surgery (several of them) on Nathalie but not until she is around 9, at which time they will reconsider her case.

She is only 5 now and this leaves about 3 or 4 years without medical treatment and Nathalie is in a lot pain. I have talked to Dr. Evans, an Orthopedic surgeon in Stephenville. Dr. Evans also has volunteered with the Scottish Rite Hospital, is fluent in Spanish and has a heart for kids. He has agreed to see her after reading the Scottish Rite’s report. This is not to get a second opinion or to have the surgery, as he agrees with the report he read but it is to explore options until she is old enough for surgery. What the doctor is thinking without having seen her is that a crutch or a shoe lift might would help alleviate some of the pain. She will hopefully be seeing him in July and staying for several weeks with my parents in Bluff Dale in case she needs to see paraprofessionals to learn how to use the crutches, etc.

As you well know, even with insurance seeing a private doctor is going to be really expensive and their insurance does not work outside of Honduras. I am praying that God will lay Nathalie on the hearts of the medical professionals and they see her at a reduce cost. Of course I will also be applying/ have applied for grants to help with the flight cost and extra expenses that will occur. Please pray that God will lay the pathway for the cost of her treatment and for the medical professionals that she will need to see. Please also pray for her parents, that they would have peace in the care that Nathalie receives. They are very nervous because the U.S. is a foreign country to them, but they are also so excited and thankful that she will be receiving the care that she needs. Please continue to pray for Nathalie as I try to organize her trip. I have not ever done something like this so please pray for wisdom for me to know where to look for grants and fundraising. Thank you so much for those who have already lifted up prayers, please continue to do so.