press releases 2008

U.S. Embassy and Partners Save Young Pitcher's Arm

April 3, 2008

Michael recovering at the hospital

The U.S. Embassy in Panama arranged for an operation to save a promising young baseball pitcher’s left arm, long-atrophied after a prior accident several years earlier and subsequent botched treatment left it deformed and functionless.  U.S. Ambassador to Panama William A. Eaton presided over a press conference April 3 that featured the Punta Pacifica/Johns Hopkins Medicine International Hospital in Panama, baseball NGO the Omar Moreno Foundation, local doctors Luis Picard-Ami, Heraclio Barilla, and Lolita Pinilla de Jimenez, and the boy’s parents to announce the success of the April 2 operation that, with follow-on therapy, will restore up to seventy percent of the atrophied arm’s use.  News of the operation and press conference dominated Panamanian TV, radio, and print media.

Ten-year-old Michael Ibarra’s story of courage has captivated Panama.  Determined not let his disability keep him from his dream of playing baseball, Michael developed through hard work and determination into a talented right-handed pitcher good enough to play on a youth national team.  Embassy Public Affairs personnel first met Michael and his family of humble status in January 2007 in the town of Puerto Armuelles, near the border with Costa Rica.  After learning that Cuban doctors had recommended amputating his arm – something his parents vehemently refused – the Embassy arranged for Michael to be one of the first patients seen during the USNS Comfort’s July 2007 visit to Panama, part of the President’s Initiative for the Hemisphere to promote the positive U.S. agenda with Latin America.  Although Comfort doctors could not operate, they gave Michael and his family hope, diagnosing that his arm could be saved.  Embassy personnel then found local U.S.-trained doctors who took on Michael’s case pro-bono.  The NGO of twice World-Series Champion Omar Moreno (’79 Pirates, ’85 Royals) volunteered to cover any additional costs.

At the press conference, Ambassador Eaton, who has championed Michael’s cause ever since he met him on board the Comfort, commented, “Dreams are powerful.  What brings us here today is Michael’s courage. His strong desire to play baseball and his unwavering determination have deeply impressed me.”  He concluded: “For you Michael I wish a bright future as a sportsman.  I hope your dream comes true.  ‘Estamos Unidos’ for your future!”  (“Estamos Unidos” – “We Are United!” – is the Embassy logo, a play on the name of the United States in Spanish – “Estados Unidos,” that has come to represent friendship, goodwill, and cooperation between the United States and Panama.)

Dr. Rolando Bissot, Medical Director of the Punta Pacifica/Johns Hopkins Medicine International Hospital in Panama, said, "It is an honor for the Punta Pacifica Hospital to help make Michael's dream come true, a boy who exhibits great spirit and perseverance."  He added:  "Social responsibility is part of our mission and goes hand-in-hand with guaranteeing high quality health care for the community."

Thanks to this partnership, Michael is recovering nicely and will soon begin the six months of therapy we hope will one day give him a shot at his dream of playing in the Major Leagues.