Matilde’s Story

Matilde came to us as a woman in her 40s who had suffered a burn injury to her neck and chest when her diesel-fueled cooking fire exploded in her kitchen two years prior, causing her to fall into the flames. She was unable to get treatment because they had no money to pay for it, and over the two years, her chin had become “glued” down by scar to her chest, giving her very limited mobility in her head and neck. We released her neck scar contracture, allowing her to lift her chin and head up more easily, and this also helped to improve her respiratory capability. Today, Matilde has great range of motion and when asked why she wanted to have the surgery, she answered beautifully, bringing us all to tears, “I want to be able to see my children play.”