Stories
21/01/2025

MATER patient's mother: "Here you find tests that are not available elsewhere".

Elba Saavedra, Martina Rojas' mother. 

"My daughter was born with vesicoureteral reflux. We never knew about this complication until the first infection occurred at six months of age. I took her to the Exequiel González Cortés Hospital, then to the urologist and then to MATER.

Today my daughter Martina is 8 years old. Since then I have been coming for examinations and kinesiological therapies. At first I had to come more than once a week, then the number of sessions decreased and now we come every 3 weeks.

She has adapted to the treatments, knows to come and feels comfortable. She likes to come immediately to the playroom, to take advantage of the moment. I, for my part, feel good, because everyone knows us and treats us very well. 

Anyway, the main thing is that there are good professionals and here you can find exams that are not available elsewhere or that would be more difficult to pay for.

Nurse mom

I work at the fair selling clothes. That gives me the advantage of having my own schedule to accompany Martina in everything she needs. As a mom, we become nurses and we know what is happening to her just by looking at her, so I prefer to be present as much as possible.

I think that in general, as a country we need to learn more about this type of disease. For example, school teachers should understand that if children need to go to the bathroom, they should give permission. It is something simple, but not everyone is clear about it. I say this because my daughter pees in the classroom because she has not been given permission. That can't keep happening. 

I am hopeful for an upcoming operation, which could improve her situation quite a bit. As a mom, I always have faith that she will be better".

More articles

The catalog, designed by artist Angelito Peñaranda, invites companies to give meaningful gifts that support the health of children awaiting medical care in Chile.
Chile gathered in two days international and national referents in the treatment of pediatric urological diseases. The III MATER Course: Advances in Pediatric Urology was held on August 29 and 30.
Between August 21 and 23, the Children's Renal Corporation MATER carried out at the Regional Hospital Dr. Juan Noé Crevani the first children's surgical operation of the "Growing up without Waiting" program in the region of Arica.
Hospital Sótero del Río received a key donation to advance early detection and procedures for pediatric urological diseases.
15 operations, 651 children intervened and 726 surgeries are the result to date of our National Program "Growing up without Waiting".
Relive the interview in which we discussed our history, the importance of early diagnosis and the impact of the Growing Without Waiting program.