Immigrants of Medicine

“I was born in the Philippines on January second, 1973 and moved here to Connecticut on November 8, 2016.  

I had surgery on my left knee at 6 years-old back in the Philippines. Scissors accidentally fell on my left knee. It got worse to the point that initially the doctor there wanted to amputate my left knee. Oh God, fortunately, my father did not consent on it, so we went to another doctor, but by then specializations were so limited. So we went to this particular doctor, orthosurgeon who eventually operated on my left knee. And after a couple of days, when the stitches were removed, I was advised for discharge. Because this doctor was far from our place, there was no follow up. We also had to come home right away because my mother was about to deliver my younger brother, so good thing that we were able to be back home for his birth. I had pictures right after the surgery, and I didn’t see any deformity, but as I grew up as time went by I observed that there’s a deformity on my left knee.

So fast forward to a few months ago,  we met for my pre-op clearance for my robotic assisted knee replacement. I’ve had arthritis and secondary trauma to the knee over time. I’m so glad I did. I’m so fascinated because the surgery took less than 2 hours. I actually remember it. I got anesthesia and went down around 11:30 and at 2:20 in the afternoon I was already awakened at the recovery room. For the first time in 44 years, I saw myself standing on both my feet with my left leg actually straight. So you could just imagine how it’s a life changing experience. I mean, if I never been to America, I would have been deprived of having this condition back to, you know, back to normal.  

When I had my first knee surgery, in the Philippines, the doctor wasn’t able to see me for a check-up. That doctor lives was lives very far from us. So transportation plus the economic press, the economic or financial constraint. So there are. There were so many bar years that hinders to, you know to get the best medical treatment. So I must say the technology was very far behind. After the surgery I was able to play, but then, when I was 6 years old in the Philippines by 7 years old you’d be start going to school. You’d be attending first grade. When you’re a kid you don’t have any idea at all what’s normal. So my parents were the ones to first notice that I had the deformity and I was branded in the family and community as frail. I wasn’t really bullied, but I could feel being treated differently. And because I couldn’t be physically capable, I told myself, I would do something to compete with my classmates. So I’ll do good in school. I may have not been number one in the school, but I could say I did so well in school, because academics was something I have control over. Because i couldn’t compete physically.  

What made me realize I wanted to get surgery again, now here in America, was prolonged walking, prolonged standing, the pain is taking its toll. When we’re out with my family, with friends, I have to stay. I have to stay behind because I could not keep up with them. So, I am blessed that I have a couple of friends who are in the field of physical therapy. One of them mentioned to us that maybe this time  you need to to see a an Ortho doctor. The doctor was a complete stranger to me, but I admired this doctor because of the way he explained my condition. He’s an expert. I said, ‘Oh wow! He is an expert of his craft, and that confidence you could see, that this procedure was just elementary for him.’ So  I told him, ok let’s proceed with this procedure. I have no regrets.

It’s one of the best decisions I made in my life.  He was a white guy. He explained everything to me in English. At first I was hesitant because I’m giving myself up to you to do a major surgery to someone your not familiar with. You know most of the time I would be comfortable if my wife or someone in my family was with me the inside the clinic for doctors appointment. But for this particular doctor, I did not need that. Usually I prefer someone who is Filipino, so we can empathize with each other. Because we have the same culture and everything. That’s what I’m looking for in most of my doctors. But this guy, we have different cultures. As I am listening to his explainations, I’m dealing with my own anxiety. You know an internal thing is going on inside me. I have so many what if questions. But his confidence in his craft convinced me.  

In OR that day, he held my hand until I was already asleep. I slept over the night at the hosital and went home the next day. I’m still amazed because I was in time for lunch the next day in my own home.  

After the surgery, I am set up to have 10 sessions with home care. And I was so lucky that my home care therapist was a Filipino. Actually  it will be with my PT friend who recommended I see a surgeon.  had PT in the Philippines a long, long time ago, but it is very different from here. Here there are more gadgets.  

We are not rich. We’re just a commoner. We just like any ordinary working class in America. Yet I’m able to add to to receive the best medical attention, the best doctor, at the best facility. Only the rich and famous get that over there. But here in America, I received everything that every human being deserves to have. I wish we have that kind of services back in the Philippines. t breaks my heart when when  I hear so a lot of people complaining about the [US healthcare system[ because they just don’t know. They don’t know how bad it is outside. I’m just so grateful.”