Eighty-one year-old Maria Francisca Salazar is suffering from a varicose vein condition and has regrettably lost one of her legs due to unexpected gangrene. The Guayaquil Junta de Beneficencia came to the rescue and she is now enjoying free medical attention at the Luis Vernaza Hospital, receiving treatment to improve the quality of her life.
Maria went about her daily chores: knitting and tending to her home; however with her left foot very much in pain. After a while she could no longer walk since one of her legs would swell up. One of the fingers burst and then the varicose as well. It was then that she consulted a doctor who, in turn, informed her she had to have one of her limbs amputated.
"When they gave me the news my leg was to be amputated, I felt terrible, my blood pressure went up, I screamed and cried to be let out, taken home, thinking there I would heal, but it was all in vain, the illness had progressed too much. I got worse and they took me to a Hospital where they amputated my leg", she remembers.
After the amputation, Maria was unable to afford the treatment prescribed by the doctors. It was then that this feisty woman decided to seek help from RTS television Channel, which gave her exposure. The Guayaquil Junta de Beneficencia immediately took notice and she was transferred to the Luis Vernaza Hospital where she was stabilized. Cardiological and blood test were taken.
Maria comments that "everyone at the Hospital was closely attentive to my needs, specially the nurses, very kind, good-hearted young ladies. Everything has been given free of charge, both medicine and attention. I am being treated and they continue to help me".
Now Maria is feeling better. Besides free Medical attention she received a wheelchair and a walker from the Junta de Beneficencia for the benefit of mobility.
"I thank the Guayaquil Junta de Beneficencia profusely since they opened doors for me when I most needed it. When I asked for help they were very kind to me. Were it not for them I would be dead by now. May God bless them from above and help them wherever they may be helping people like me", she concluded.
