Virtua helps heal girl from Guatemala
Most babies start sitting at 6 months, crawling between
8 and 11 months, and walking at 12 months. But at 14
months, Maria Gaitan from Guatemala couldn't even
sit on her own.
"Maria suffered from a series of birth defects that
prevented her from swallowing and passing stool normally,"
says Michael Marchildon, MD, pediatric general
surgeon, Virtua/duPont Children's Health Program.
"When she arrived here for treatment, she was severely
malnourished and developmentally delayed. If Maria
continued to live with this condition, she would be
susceptible to serious infections, and would likely have major long-term developmental problems."
Physicians and specialists from Virtua Health and
Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children donated their
expertise and surgical care. They treated Maria and gave
her a chance at a normal life. She stayed with foster parents
Warren Brandwine, DO, Virtua obstetrician, and his
wife during the six months of surgery, recovery and rehabilitation.
At 20-months-old, Maria's vital functions were
restored, she gained weight and learned to walk.
"Maria is a special little girl with heartwarming charm
and charisma," says Beverly Brandwine. "It was wonderful
to see her progress over six months, and we continue
to get updates on Maria from her family in Guatemala."
Meet the Physician
Michael Marchildon, MD, is a boardcertified
pediatric surgeon working within the
Virtua/duPont Children's Health Program in South
Jersey. He earned his medical degree from the Stanford
University School of Medicine and completed his
internship and residency in general surgery at Johns
Hopkins Hospitals and NYU/Bellevue, and his pediatric
surgery training at Los Angeles Children's Hospital.