Winning the Battle, Inch by Inch

Imagine losing feeling in one of your legs.

This is what happened to Juan Pablo, from Arandas, Jalisco, at the age of 4, as a result of an accident. A case of medical negligence during surgery caused nerve damage to his right leg, resulting in the child not feeling his leg, multiple fractures and growth problems in that limb.

Juan Pablo, now 19, and his family have been searching for the right care since the accident, but with no success. In a very long and costly process, the family visited many doctors but did not have positive results.

When Juan Pablo was 14, however, someone recommended that the family visit Shriners Children's Mexico, where they finally found the support they had been searching for.

Juan Pablo is currently undergoing a limb lengthening treatment. Over the past five years, he has undergone three major surgeries. The process began with lengthening of his femur and the professionals are now lengthening his tibia and fibula. These procedures helped turn Juan Pablo's initial 6.7-inch leg length difference into something much smaller, with only 2.75 inches left to correct, a more attainable goal.

Juan Pablo's story is not just about surgery and his medical journey. During this time, he has achieved important goals, marking his personal growth. He competed in volleyball in high school, a significant achievement that comes to show the 19-year-old not only has great physical ability, but also strong determination. He has gained invaluable personal confidence and is now able to live more independently than was ever thought possible.

Proud Patient Ambassador

With the recent opening of the Shriners Children's clinic in Guadalajara, Juan Pablo is proudly representing our mission as Patient Ambassador, where he inaugurated the new clinic during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Now, Juan Pablo will be able to receive the care he needs, closer to home, eliminating the need for a five-hour drive to Mexico City.