Dora Cepeda's Baptism February 1, 2009

Dora's Surgery and Recovery

Much has happened in the last two months and Dora's story continues to unfold in a positive way. After spending a summer of fun attending day camp, living with the Thompson's, and swimming in the Martel's pool, Dora entered the first grade at Latimer Lane School in Simsbury, CT.

In late September, a few days before her surgery, Paul and Dora traveled to Maine where they had great fun visiting a game farm, picking apples and even swimming in the lake. Brrrr, it was cold but Dora loved it.Dora was admitted to Shriners Hospital on October 2nd. The staff did a superb job of preparing her for what was to happen and early in the morning on the 4th, she entered the OR for what was to be an 8 hour surgery.

Dr. John DeWeese and his residents removed part of her mishapen lower tibia, removed the growth plate of her lower fibula and then implanted the external fixator that would gradually staighten, turn and lengthen her leg over the next 6-9 months. Through a complex system of adjustable struts, Dora's leg would slowly be transformed.

Dora came out of surgery beautifully with her leg and fixator heavily bandaged and protected. Members of our three families were with Dora nearly round the clock over the next couple of weeks helping her to recover.

Dora's teacher visited her often and brought rememberances from Dora's classmates.

The day for the removal of her bandages finally came and, again, the Shriners staff could not have handled her more gently on this very difficult day. Dora did extremely well and never seemed phased by the apparatus that would be the focus of her life for many months. All three families received instruction in the critical care of her pins and posts and the adjustment of her struts that would have to be done 4 times a day. The initial weeks were painful for Dora and she had to adjust to a new life with her fixator, the use of a wheelchair and a walker.

At the same time, she was learning important lessons in socializing and sharing with other children she didn't know.

With the help of lots of Disney movies, her friends Marios, Josh and Kiki, the great Shriners playroom, and the nursing and child-life staff, the days passed and Dora got stronger. Soon came the day for Dora to return to the Martel's home and a new chapter opened in Dora's life.

Paul and Terry were understandably nervous about Dora's care. She was still experiencing pain and making her adjustments every four hours was a bit nerve wracking. She was still not able to shower and keeping her clean and caring for her pins and wounds took care and time. Slowly but surely, Dora progressed and everyone got into a routine. Her pain diminished and in a few weeks she was making her own strut adjustments. With the help of her music, her treasure trove of Barbies and clothes, walks with Paul, and Terry's patience, time passed. Finally, Dora was able to bathe and became more mobile. She began to use her walker more and after two more appointments at Shriners to check her progress and make adjustments, Dora was able to return to school.

Dora speaks of her family often, especially her mother. Every picture or craft she makes is for her mother. On an August trip to Ecuador, Paul made a video of her family which Dora enjoys immensely. Despite missing her family, Dora does not seem to like talking with them on the phone. When she does talk with them, she speaks in English only and they cannot undertsand her. This is probably because she is proud of her English and wants to show off a bit but also because she is forgetting her Spanish.

By mid-November, Dora was back at school for a full day, full of energy, enthusiasm and optimism. Dora's teacher, Deb Leach remains an important source of stability, direction and inspiration in her life and we are all grateful for the support of the Simsbury Board of Education, Deb, Mrs. Williams (special ed), Maryellen Leathe (school nurse) and all of her classmates who have supported her.

Dora participated in her first halloween in October and had great fun dressing up as Ariel from the Little Mermaid (her alter ego). Paul took her around in a stroller, it was a very comfortable night and after visiting many homes, they ended the night playing Barbies at the home of friends Paul and Marsha. What a fun night! Now Christmas is fast approaching, there is lots of excitement and Dora's leg continues to develop beautifully and without infection.

July 8, 2007 -- Dora settles in with La Familia Thompson--Tia Sue and Tio Allan

Unfortunately we have not yet received a surgery date, but we have had xrays, ct scans, and consultations with skin specialists. We are waiting to hear back from Dr. DeWeese after he has been in contact with a specialist in Boston Shriner's. We will keep you posted. Meanwhile, Dora is keeping Tia and Tio very, very busy! She loves playing with toys that were packed away from Sue and Allan's children who are now all grown up! She also loves to string beads and make necklaces as you will see in these pictures!

Explora Dora In The United States

Dora has adjusted well to her new surroundings in Connecticut. She has cried only once missing her mother and family. At all other times she has been friendly and cooperative and charms everyone she meets. She has her own beautiful room at the Thompson's and enough toys to keep her very busy. She loves to laugh, play and run in the yard and plays make believe with her dolls and anyone who plays with her. She has been very good at her doctor visits and never complains. She is a great eater, is not fussy and usually finishes everything on her plate. She loves to play in the Martel's pool and has already learned to swim over and under the water, to hold her breath and even dive on her own. Totally amazing! She has gotten to know the Thompsons, the Martels and the Owens and loves to play with Lindsay and Lauren who are like new sisters to her.

On June 19th Dora had her first appointment at Shriners Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts. Her doctor's name is Dr. DeWeese and he is kind, patient and very experienced. New, complete x-rays were taken and a CAT scan was completed on June 22nd at Bay State Medical Center to allow for a complete diagnosis. Dr. DeWeese's first diagnosis is that the lower growth plate of her left tibia was destroyed in the accident and that it is not capable of further growth. Therefore, one bone in her left leg is growing and the other is not. This has caused her current deformity which will continue to get worse. It appears that he will do surgery to correct and straighten her current deformity and attach a device called an external fixator to the bones in her leg. Over a period of 6-12 months, the fixator will be adjusted gradually to lengthen her bone until it is 2 inches longer than her other leg. She will then return home to Ecuador for two years while the other leg catches up. Then she will have to return to the US and go through the same process again and so on. On June 26, we will have a second meeting with Dr. DeWeese to finalize her course of treatment. This will be a long and difficult process for Dora and she will need lots of support.

Dora Travels To The United States

On June 11, 2007, after months of preparation, Dora left her family, traveled by car 6 hours to Guayaquil and the next morning boarded American Airlines Flight 952 to Miami and Hartford Connecticut. In the 14 months since Healing the Children treated her in Riobamba, Dora was cared for in Riobamba by an Ecuadorian organization named INNFA, Institution For Infants and Families. Principle in that care were Marliza Garcia, Patricia Paredes and Lourdes Penafiel. They provided Dora with a place to live during her recovery, supported her medical needs and watched over her with loving care. They helped prepare for her trip in many ways, providing clothes, a suitcase, the support of a psychologist to help with issues of separation, compassion and love. The three women supported Paul significantly in the final preparation and notarization of legal documents (a major task in Ecuador). The final legalization took 5 hours in the offices of Riobamba lawyer, Dr. Jacinto Mera Vela, Notaria Sexta del Canton Riobamba.

While Paul finished with the lawyer, Marliza and Patricia brought Dora back to INNFA where they bathed, packed and dressed her for her big trip. They all have our deepest gratitude. Below, Marliza, Patricia and Lourdes surround Dora before her departure.

Before Dora left, Marliza and Paul were interviewed by 2 Riobamba reporters and two local TV stations did interviews. It was extremely touching that, in spite of her poverty, Dora had the love and support of so many in her community.

After a tearful, heartful prayer spoken by her father at the door of their home, Paul and Dora left with good friend and driver Arturo Camacho for the long drive back to Guayaquil. They climbed out of the valley up the skirts of magnificent Chimborazo while Dora sang songs to comfort herself..... and Paul.

After a dinner of thanks and celebration with the staff of Fundacion el Cielo at the Oro Verde Hotel in Guayaquil, Dora was off to the home of Olga Zapata, the woman who escorted Dora and her parents to Quito a few weeks earlier.

The morning of her flight finally arrived but a serious problem had arisen. Despite the many US and Ecuadorian requirements that had been attended to, an important immigration form allowing Paul to leave the country with her had not been applied for. The issue of human trafficking, particularly with children, requires strict compliance. Fortunately, an official with the Ecuadorian immigration authorities agreed to meet with Paul and Fundacion El Cielo Director Zorayda Figueroa. Thanks to her generous help, Paul and Dora were able to complete the forms and were soon on their way.

Soon, Dora and Paul were on the plane and ready to go. Dora's friendly, curious and playful manner made her many friends and when Paul brought her to see the cockpit she was soon in the Captain's seat learning to fly the plane.

It was a long day with a long layover in Miami. Dora never complained and the two passed the time playing and having fun. To thank her for her great behavior, Paul bought Dora an ice cream. He offered to have her hair done but she declined saying her hair was already too short. Finally, they were on the plane to Hartford and Dora quickly fell asleep. She slept all the way from Miami to Hartford, she slept getting off the plane, through baggage claim and all the way in the car to the house of Sue and Allan Thompson pictured below. She didn't wake up until the next day in a new bed, in a new house and in a new country thousands of miles from her home in the Ecuadorian Andes. But, like I remember Dora from the moment I met her, she never complained and never cried. She is the original Explora Dora; ready, optimistic and determined to face a big new chapter in her young life.

Buscando Visa Para Un Sueno

May 29th will be a very big day for Dora and her family. On that day, the family has an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Quito at 8:00 in the morning. The little village of Pangor is very far from Quito, probably 6 hours by bus, and the city itself is vast.

They will have to travel the day before, they will have to stay overnight somewhere and this is all something they don't have the money for. As you can imagine with the current immigration discussion, getting a Visa for a foreigner is a very emotional and frightening experience. The family has no experience in such matters. The bureaucratic paperwork is confusing and the interview sometimes unpredicatable. If they are missing something or if the interviewer has questions they would have to do it all over again. It is for these reasons that we have host organizations in the countries we work in. The staff of Fundacion el Cielo Para Los Ninos de Ecuador are hard working humanitarians based in Guayaquil. They are all good freinds of Paul and working together, they have developed a plan to help the family. On the 28th, Olga Zapata and her assistant Mireya will travel 5 hours by bus to Riobamba where they will meet up with the family and accompany them on the ride to Quito. They will find a cheap place to stay together and attend the appointment with them. In advance, they are working with Paul to prepare the various documents required. The cost for all this will be paid from a fund set up last year by Paul and several contributors to expedite cases just like this. If all goes well, Dora will leave her appointment approved and her Visa will be sent by DHL four days later. Then, we can all breath and focus on the next chapter, her flight to the US.

Watching over the city of Quito is the immense statue of the Virgin of Quito on the historic hill called El Panacillo. High on the hill, Mary holds the devil under her foot and tied to a chain that she holds in her hand. Believers say that this keeps danger and evil from their city and keeps the people safe. Let's hope she keeps an eye on Dora.