Maltese Mother Stitched Too Tightly Post-Birth Offered Free Surgery By Private Hospital
After medics stitched a mother too tightly after childbirth – leaving her “completely closed” – a private hospital has offered to perform corrective surgery on her for free.
Speaking to Times of Malta, Erica Abela said she is currently unable to have sex or undergo a smear test because of the botched operation.
But at Mater Dei Hospital, she was told her case isn’t a priority.
The CEO of Saint James Hospital, Maria Bugeja, had read about the case and wanted to offer her help.
“It is a very uncomfortable situation,” she said, “which could be corrected easily.”
Long-term complications of leaving this uncorrected could include urinary infections, painful periods and pain during intercourse.
Abela said her world had been upended after the botched job and her hopes of adding to her family had been left in doubt.
The corrective surgery would usually cost around €2,000, so Abela was in disbelief at the offer for help.
“I am really happy. I couldn’t believe Saint James Hospital offered to do it for free, because these procedures at private hospitals usually cost a lot of money,” she said.
Abela can undergo the operation after the medics examine her and discuss her rare heart condition.
Due to her condition, Ebstein’s Anomaly, surgery under anaesthetic is a risk for her. But she is willing to take that risk, as the situation she is in is unbearable.
“I have been treated at Mater Dei for this heart condition for the last 10 years, and so I was hoping to do the surgery there since they have all my files, but my priority is also to get it done,” she said.
A gynaecologist, who prefers to remain anonymous, said that though cases like Abela’s don’t happen frequently, it does happen sometimes.
If stitching up tears as a result of childbirth, there has to be a balance between stopping the bleeding and not causing any complications.
“This is not always straightforward, especially if a woman had experienced a tough birth,” the gynaecologist explained.
Abela hopes she can undergo the surgery as soon as possible.
What do you make of the Maltese mother’s situation?
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