The Orthopedic Surgical Team (from left to right)

• Anne Koncki – Director of Volunteers, World Pediatric Project
• Jacob Rowe – Instrumentation Representative OrthoPediatrics
• Dr. Craig Smith – Orthopedic Surgery Fellow, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
• Dr. Robert Moore – Anesthesiologist, St. Louis Children’s/Shriners Hospital
• Melissa Eagan – Orthopedic Nurse, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
• Dr. Eric Gordon – Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, St. Louis Children’s/Shriners Hospital
• Kim Cordia – Recovery Nurse, St. Louis Children’s Hospital

Medical Condition and Procedure – Ciel has internal tibial torsion or more commonly known as intoeing or “pigeon-toed.” The recommendation was deep foot massage, and Ciel’s condition is gradually improving. She was discharged from this clinic with no further follow-up needed.

Reenique approaches all activities in a helpful manner. In school, she does everything from tying kids’ shoes to cleaning up after them. When she graduated from preschool, she won the award for Most Helpful Student. Learning this was no surprise after seeing Reenique spend the morning of her own surgery entertaining other kids. Despite her eyes welling up with tears upon learning it was time to undergo surgery for her Blount’s Disease with Dr. Gordon’s orthopedic team, Reenique displayed great strength after the procedure. Her work-hard attitude came in handy during physical therapy, and she left the hospital with a smile, ready to return to school and continue helping others.

Medical Condition and Procedure – Akeeron has a club foot which means the foot is twisted out of shape from its normal position. The patient had heel cord lengthening which is a minimally invasive approach to lengthen his Achilles tendon. He will have a follow-up visit with the team within the next six months.

Medical Condition and Procedure – Fourteen-year-old Kareem came to the clinic for an evaluation of a foot deformity. He had mild pain when walking long distances and standing all day. His problem was worse when he wore sandals. The recommendation was to wear a supportive shoe and inserts as needed. Kareem should come back to the next clinic.

Medical Condition and Procedure – Martin has sickle cell anemia which is an inherited form of anemia – a condition in which there aren’t enough healthy blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout your body. He was already a patient on the ward with a sickle cell crisis, and he was having hip pain. The recommendation is hip abduction which is the movement of the leg away from the midline of the body, and to refer Martin to the US next year for possible surgery.

Medical Condition and Procedure – Madonna had an external fixator placed by the April 2018 orthopedic surgery team to correct her club foot on the right side, and this surgery in September was to remove the fixator after five months of correction. This visit was the necessary follow-up. Physical therapy worked with her to help with mobility after the fixator was removed.

is a beautiful bouncing baby girl, but would have “nothing of” Dr. Lukish attempting to examine her until a little extra coaxing by her mom!

Medical procedure – successful excision of cyst and follow-up next January.

born with Down Syndrome and congenital heart disease. WPP first met him as a baby through a diagnostic cardiac clinic which led to his mother and him traveling to Richmond for open heart surgery when he was 3 years old. He loves to hug everyone, and will periodically break out into song and dance.

Medical procedure – received a laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

was understandably frightened to be at the large clinic and to be closely evaluated by the WPP general surgery team. Renaya wouldn’t speak or allow anyone to touch her unless her daddy was by her side. Her recovery was amazing and by the next day she was back to her old self.

Medical procedure – received disimpaction and anal dilation. Put on a maintenance regimen and follow-up next January.

was very quiet and bashful all day long during clinic and until her surgical procedure was completed. Then the WPP team saw the first smile!

Medical procedure – thyroid mass was removed via a right hemi thyroidectomy.

who came to the WPP with her entire extended family. It is obvious she is loved and adored! She looked very quiet but did express worry about how she looked (a normal teenager!). She also said she was anxious to get back to school.

Medical procedure – right intra muscular chest mass, which was excised. She needs no further care, just a follow-up next January.

with a long and steady history of receiving specialized medical care through WPP since falling from a mango tree 10 years ago which caused a spinal cord injury, paralyzing him below the waist.

He has experienced multiple other associated conditions requiring medical care from five distinct pediatric sub-specialty teams totaling 34 visits with WPP surgical teams including general surgery, urology, plastics, reconstructive, neurosurgery and physical therapy.