Bertha Hernandez Perez

Bertha Hernandez Perez, left, with friend Sandra Gabriell, a few days before returning to Mexico.

"I first met Bertha during a mission trip to Chiapas, Mexico," explains Dr. Rosanne Kho, a physician in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. "I've been going on this mission trip for the past four years with Dr. John Woods, a retired plastic surgeon from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn." The mission group, International Medical Assistance, coordinates ten projects each year in Chiapas, Mexico.

Bertha Hernandez Perez, a mother of four, was from Cacate, a tiny village in central Mexico. Bertha and her family work on a farm, doing manual labor. Every day they must walk long distances to obtain water for their daily use. In late 2003, Bertha was pregnant with her fifth child. During the difficult labor and breech delivery that followed, the physicians were unable to save the baby, and Bertha sustained a torn bladder and a chronic pelvic infection from the traumatic delivery.

Without running water or electricity in the village where Bertha lived, and in her condition, she was unable to work. It was impossible for her to go on day-to-day with this condition. She had no choice but to leave her family to seek medical care.

Bertha traveled to a public hospital in San Cristobal, a larger city about 20 miles from Cacate. She sought treatment for her infection and the tear in her bladder, but after repeated visits, Bertha was told by one of the physicians, "Don't come here anymore. I can't help you."

Bertha wrote to the governor of Chiapas, Pablo Salazar Mendugu Chia, asking for assistance. Governor Chia sent the letter to Jonathan and Maggie Salgado, American citizens who live in Mexico and work with indigenous people. The Salgados are also members of the fellowship that works with International Medical Assistance, the medical mission in which Dr. Kho participates. Bertha now had an appointment to see Dr. Kho.

We Must Help Her

Bertha made the difficult journey to reach the clinic where Dr. Kho was working. Dr. Kho was stunned after she examined her. "Bertha was profusely leaking urine constantly because her urethra had detached from her bladder and left a large hole in her bladder. She was also experiencing heavy periods. I knew that we would not be able to treat her out of the tiny hospital where we were working. I called Dr. Magrina right away and I asked if we could help her."

Dr. Javier Magrina, a colleague of Dr. Kho's also in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, responded, "We must help her." By this time, Dr. Kho had returned to the U.S., and she sent word back to Mexico to have Bertha come to Mayo Clinic. However, Dr. Kho says, "We couldn't find her for several months. She lives in a remote town, she doesn't have an address, there are no phone numbers."

Eventually Bertha heard the news and then spent many months sending letters and paperwork to the consulate to obtain permission to travel to the United States. Bertha explained, "I was waiting, every day I was in more pain. I drank very little water because the more I drank the more painful it was. I was in so much pain that I went to a hospital two weeks before I was to go to the U.S. But it was a public medical center, and they said they wouldn't be able to give me an appointment until after I would have traveled to Mayo. I spoke to my cousin, who told me to calm down and have faith. I was desperate, and it seemed nobody could help."

Finally, again with the assistance of the Salgados, the paperwork was completed, and the couple purchased plane tickets and accompanied Bertha to the U.S. "I was afraid and very scared to go. But then people came and spoke to me, and told me it would be good for me to go. I am so grateful to Dr. Kho, and to God."

In April 2005, Bertha arrived at Mayo Clinic. The first two days were full of tests and exams. Despite her initial fears, Bertha explained, "The nurses were sweet and supportive, just like mothers to me — they brought me presents and were all very kind. And I was so glad that Dr. Magrina spoke Spanish." Dr. Magrina commented, "I could not believe she had been suffering like this for one year and four months, and that she had survived without succumbing to any serious infections. We were astounded."

When Dr. Magrina operated on Bertha a few days afterwards, the surgery was quite extensive and complicated. Dr. Donald Novicki, a Mayo Clinic urologist, joined Dr. Magrina in the operating room, placing catheters to identify the ureters in the bladder. A hysterectomy was performed. The ureters, draining the kidneys, had to be reimplanted in the bladder in a different location in order to close the bladder hole. The bladder was then reattached to the urethra. The entire procedure took close to six hours. Afterwards, Maggie Salgado stayed with Bertha at Mayo Clinic Hospital around the clock after the surgery. Ten days later, when Bertha left Mayo Clinic Hospital with nowhere to stay and no money for a hotel, Dr. Kho opened up her home to her. But she declines to take credit for her generosity, saying, "It's about Bertha and about how all these people helped her come to Mayo and how Mayo was able to treat her. At first we were uncertain the surgery would even be successful, but she is doing so well."

Health is the Most Important Thing

Bertha confides, "It's like I'm a new woman. I'm finally back to how God made me when I was born. I'm so happy and I can't wait to see my family again. I'm so grateful for all who have helped me." Maggie Salgado stayed with Bertha for two weeks, but then had to return to Mexico, so she sent Sandra Gabriell, her assistant, to stay with Bertha and to assist in her recovery. Sandra shared, "She is very, very brave. She has shown us all how brave she is."

Although Bertha was ready to go home in early May, a local dentist heard about her story and created a new set of teeth for her. "I've never been to a dentist in my life, and now I've had three sessions already." Bertha, who had previously lost her front teeth, was returning home with Sandra and a full smile. She had been away from her family for many months and was eager to return home. She shared, "I was afraid before I came here; I didn't know what kind of people I'd meet. But everyone has been so nice. I prayed to God and my prayers were answered. It's a new life with new opportunities. Health is the most important thing."