INSPIRATION TRAVELS FROM LIBERIA TO DR. JOEL POLITI

Most who know her, refer to her as “Sister Theresa.” In reality, she is not a nun, but to the 50 or so children she is raising in her Liberian orphanage – she is a saint. Theresa Dainsee resides in Nimba County, Liberia, where she operates an orphanage for children ranging in age from one to 18 years old. Her 56 years of good work and hard labor led to serious, chronic hip pain. Through an amazing chain of events, Theresa found her way to Dr. Joel Politi, who volunteered to provide her with a hip replacement.

Several individuals and businesses in the community collaborated to bring Sister Theresa to Columbus, Ohio, in May of this year where she successfully underwent total hip replacement for hip osteoarthritis. Members of a church mission group, who had previously made several trips to the Liberia area, recognized Theresa’s need for medical attention, but were unsure of where to begin. Good fortune found her when a casual dinner conversation at one Amish family’s home in Sugarcreek, Ohio, fell on the ears of a DePuy Johnson & Johnson representative, Joe Butler. He then contacted Dr. Politi and initiated a campaign of letter writing to bring Theresa to the United States for the care she needed.

Dr. Politi, along with key surgical staff at Mt. Carmel East Hospital and Depuy Johnson & Johnson organized staff, medical supplies and post-operative care during her stay. Recovering from her surgery in Sugarcreek, she stayed with members of the church group whom she originally met in Liberia when they provided aid to her orphanage. A continued outpouring of assistance and generosity came that included: donated walkers, canes, daily nursing care and physical therapy.

Access to quality healthcare is lacking in the Nimba County region of Liberia – the majority of it is unregulated and performed by local healers. During Liberia’s civil war, Sister Theresa spent most days on her feet, often walking days at a time with heavy loads on her back, trying to earn enough money to support the orphanage. She believes this was the root cause of her hip pain.

Theresa successfully recovered from her hip replacement and returned to Liberia on July 16, where she is now able to refocus her energy on the care of the orphans. Speaking with her before she left, it was obvious she missed her home and the children. “We are like one big family. Some people can’t tell if I’m running an orphanage or if I just have a big family.”

As a “thank you,” the church hosted Dr. Politi and his medical team in Sugarcreek for a barbeque and send off. Sister Theresa shared her thoughts about her first trip to the United States and gratitude for the relief of her pain.

“I’m grateful to everyone who helped me”, she said.

The team at Cardinal Orthopaedic is grateful for the opportunity to serve such an inspirational woman who has dedicated her life to serving others.