Sulma Marina Velázquez is a single mother living in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Her newborn, Isaac David Sánchez Bonilla, was diagnosed with Bilateral hydronephrosis, a condition that prevents urine from draining from the kidneys to the bladder. Hydronephrosis can occur in all ages, and a major symptom is an extreme pain in the back and other areas near the kidney. During her interview, Sulma shared her experience with the medical system in a third-world country.
Eight months into her pregnancy, the doctors told Sulma that Issac had Bilateral Hydronephrosis. The news hit her like “a cold bucket of water” - no previous ultrasounds showed the malfunction in Issac’s tiny organs, and Sulma had no idea what this condition even was. “The doctors told me there was nothing that could be done until the baby was born.“ In other words, Sulma would have to wait and agonize over her child’s well-being for another month. It was hard for her to accept this reality that had been forced upon her so suddenly and so unexpectedly. “I was devastated and held on to God.” From this point forward, Issac’s diagnosis would change her life.
"Nothing is easy when a special angel comes to our lives, "my warrior" as I call him.” Sulma’s journey was tough and her days were long and restless. However, she managed to stay strong for her son, her little warrior that she cared for so deeply. “In case [she] had to ride that train again, [she] would,” says Sulma.
"One of my initial reactions was to ask the doctor if it was my fault for getting pregnant so old at thirty, but the doctor told me that there was no correlation between the case and me getting pregnant at that age," This was assuring and comforting news for Sulma, and it gave her hope for the future.
Undoubtedly, seeing her son hospitalized broke Sulma’s heart. The operation took place around a year after his diagnosis. The surgery involved repairing Isaac's urethral valves, which are the conductors that allow the irrigation from the kidneys to pass through. Malfunctions in these urethral valves is what caused Isaac's infections from not passing urine. Regardless of his family’s high hopes, the surgery was unsuccessful.
Isaac developed a shy personality from his time in the hospital. To him, it was his home - he spent most of his first two years of life there, and even learned to walk in its halls. Right before Issac turned three, he had a circumcision, his first successful surgery, which brought joy to the family. However soon after, Issac suffered from dental issues due to the amount of medicine he had to take.
The major specialist that treated Isaac’s case was the sergeant, Dr. Tome. "I always treated him with respect, and that's how he treated me." Sulma felt most comfortable with Dr. Tome, whom she made friends with, and who became an essential part of Issac's journey.
Sulma learned a lot about Bilateral hydronephrosis throughout the treatment process. She learned that this malfunction caused the kidney's volume to rise from the urine being retained. "I informed myself from different sources like asking doctors or searching on the internet. Majorly, I learned about the different treatments and that, in some cases, implants are needed. For me, placing my faith in God was substantial to the facts the doctors provided, that were harsh but useful."
Through Isaac’s condition, Sulma saw many facets of Honduras’ healthcare system. To get immediate help, you must be in the private Medical system. In the public system, there is a lot of room for improvement. "There are occasions where the staff can treat their patients very poorly.” The waiting time is also too long, and in some instances, people who need surgery right away schedule it for three months time. Often by then, it is too late. Sulma hopes to see a more effective healthcare system in the future, so the next time a parent must see their child go through the system, they can be at ease knowing that their child is being taken care of.
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