University of Virginia Health System

BOLIVIAN BABY WHO GOT LIFE-SAVING SURGERY AT U.VA. HEALTH SYSTEM CELEBRATES FIRST BIRTHDAY

Jordan Morales Almanza is the picture of good health since her life-saving surgery at the University of Virginia Health System. After two months of follow-up appointments, the little girl and her mother, Maria Almanza de Morales, are almost ready to go home. However, before the pair returns to their Central Bolivian home in Santa Cruz, they will share baby Jordan's first birthday with their newfound Charlottesville family. The party will take place on Wednesday, November 21, at 11 a.m., in the U.Va. Health System Children's Health Museum, first floor, Primary Care Center.

Jordan had a condition called imperforate anus, meaning she was born with an abnormal opening leading from her rectum. This condition is seen in one out of every 4,000 to 5,000 births worldwide. A tract of skin covered the area where Jordan's anus should have been. On Friday, September 21, all of that changed. Jordan's hour-long surgery performed at U.Va. was successful.

What we did was remove the abnormal tract of skin then reroute the rectal tissue through Jordan's muscle complex, leading to a normal position, said Dr. Eugene McGahren, U.Va. pediatric surgeon who performed Jordan's surgery. Then we closed the skin and tissue in front so that after a period of time it should look and function normally.

Jordan's road to health was a harrowing one at first. She and her mother were on their plane from Bolivia when the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked. Their flight was redirected, delaying Jordan's procedure. However, Almanza de Morales was determined to get her daughter to U.Va. Health System and never feared for her safety. Now she enjoys seeing Jordan's progress.

Before she couldn't lay down on her stomach because she was always full and she couldn't eat certain foods, said Almanza de Morales. Now she can lie on her tummy, she crawls around better and can even eat Cheerios.

Almanza de Morales and Jordan were able to get to the United States with the help of Mission of Hope Bolivia, a small hospital founded by Cindy Thacker, a Charlottesville woman. They obtained medical visas for Jordan and Almanza de Morales, and American Airlines provided them with free transportation.

Jordan is recovering well, but will require many follow-up visits once back in Bolivia to make sure her repaired anorectal area continues developing normally. In the meantime, Jordan is growing fast and may be walking when she returns to Bolivia at the end of November, said Almanza de Morales.

November 8, 2001