Honduran girl’s surgery inspires missions work in Liberty Park Church

Ten-year-old Joselin Vargas boarded her second international flight in about a month on Oct. 24.
   
She left the United States for her home in Honduras with surgical scars on both legs and one arm but with a freedom of movement she hasn’t known in years.
   
Vargas also left with a new bicycle and boxes of supplies for the villages near her home.
   
Discovered by physicians from Liberty Park Baptist Church in Birmingham during a medical missions trip to her country in January, Vargas suffers from a rare condition, multiple osteochondromatosis. It causes fast-growing, crippling tumors in the bones.
  
“Our last night in Honduras,” recalled Bob Foster, a member of Liberty Park, “Joselin’s father brought her to us and asked if there was anything we could do for her.”
   
The doctors recognized her unusual condition as severe and life-threatening.
   
Her right arm was stunted, and her wrist was badly fused by a tumor growing between the two lower arm bones. Both legs were also affected.
   
They took digital photographs of her and returned to the United States with her old X-rays, promising her father, Jose Ramon Vargas, they would show them to orthopedic specialists in Birmingham.
   
Foster went to orthopedic specialist and Liberty Park member Dr. Jeff Wade.
“He recognized the condition immediately because he had studied it for his medical boards yet had never seen it in person,” Foster said. “He also noticed that the tumors were especially aggressive, having grown significantly since the X-rays were taken. They were also most likely pre-malignant. They would have shortened her life tremendously.”
   
The doctors immediately began exploring the diplomatic channels for bringing Joselin to the United States for medical treatment. “It literally took us six months to get through the process,” Foster said.
   
According to Liberty Park’s Pastor Jim Bruton, two corporations played key roles in bringing the Vargases to the United States. American Airlines provided round-trip flights. And Birmingham’s Brookwood Hospital, led by CEO Garry Gause, provided all hospital services at no charge. Gause, who also attends Liberty Park, said such charity is not unusual for the hospital.
   
Countless doctors, surgeons and therapists waived their fees to help the child.
   
“We want to work with our medical staff when they are willing to provide services in these situations,” Gause said. “We felt this was the right thing to do, and we were happy to do it.” Brookwood officials also wrote letters to facilitate the diplomatic arrangements and secure the visas.
   
Joselin Vargas’s surgery was an unqualified success. Despite their size, the tumors had not affected the surrounding nerve tissue, according to Wade.
   
In addition, Dr. Mark Bearman of Brookwood Hospital surgically corrected Joselin’s lazy eye and provided glasses for both Vargases.
   
The family’s faith and courage greatly affected those around them. 
   
“I did not see a tear in her eyes. She was full of courage,” said Foster, whose family hosted them in their home during her recovery.
   
“And they were so strong in their faith. From my home office, I could hear Ramon read the Bible out loud in the evening for 45 minutes at a time,” Foster said. “Then they would sing hymns together.”
   
Several Liberty Park families opened their homes to the Vargases. They stayed with the family of missions team leader Chris Shelton four days.
   
He recalled a shopping trip with the Vargases and his own 12- and 15-year-old daughters, “She recovered so quickly. I really believe the Lord had His hand in this endeavor. It was fun to watch her excitement at riding the escalators.”
   
Shelton noted that the Honduran family’s visit brought their work in Honduras to greater prominence in the church. Shelton will be leading a team of 30 back to Honduras in February 2004.
   
To help finance the trip, church members sponsored Shelton in the Oct. 11 Duke Blue Devil Triathlon in Raleigh, N.C., which included a 2 1/2-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and a 26-mile marathon.
   
Shelton credits the Vargases’ visit for the $2,800 pledged by church members.
   
“Different Sunday School classes and individuals pledged so much per mile,” Shelton said. “Joselin’s presence really developed the church’s interest in Honduran medical missions.”