TROY, N.Y.-- Samaritan Hospital in Troy is living up to its name, offering free surgery and rehab to a West African nun who desperately needs it.
Sister Margaret Rose Amponsah smiled warmly through constant pain for she has come a long way in search of relief. Traveling all the way from Ghana to Samaritan Hospital, this catholic nun suffered from rickets as a child, and the Vitamin D deficiency had a lasting impact.
Chief of Surgery Dr. Joseph Marotta met Sister Margaret during a trip to her country last year. He saw her case and knew she would never get the treatment she needed in her home.
"Ghana has a population of about 24 million people and there are only about 12 fully trained orthopedic surgeons in the entire country," said Dr. Marotta.
He is working to start a non-profit center for surgery in Ghana, but it's not up and running yet. So with a cardinal's permission, he was able to fly Sister Margaret to New York.
"I was very happy to hear that," said Sister Margaret.
She's in good spirits and excited for scheduled surgery on Saturday, what she believes is the answer to her prayers.
The surgery will take four to five hours and she will have to attend a few weeks of rehab, but it's a small price to pay to remain pain free forever.
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