Jose Robles returns to Edmonton 28 years after life-saving heart surgery
The Panamanian man, now 30, came back this week to thank the city and Inclusion Alberta for making his childhood operation possible.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Jose Robles was 14 months old when he arrived in Edmonton in 1998, flown in from Panama because the surgery he needed to survive did not exist there.
Robles was born with atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), a congenital heart condition with holes in the walls between the heart's chambers and abnormal valve formation. Untreated, AVSD can enlarge the heart, lead to pulmonary hypertension, heart rhythm abnormalities, or heart failure. Robles also has Down syndrome.
Inclusion Alberta, then called the Alberta Association for Community Living, advocated on his behalf. Bev Ray, a family support advocate at the organization, received the call from the Robles family asking for help. "We received a call from the Robles family… I think he was about one year old at the time, asking if there was any way that we could help them bring their family, bring Jose, to Canada," Ray said.
The family came to Edmonton through the generosity of Edmontonians. After successful surgery, Jose and his family stayed several weeks for recovery before returning to Panama.
For 28 years, they did not return — until this week. Now 30, Jose spends his time making art, horseback riding, dancing, and drumming in a marching band. A decade ago, his family said he represented Panama in the Para Central American Games.
During their visit, the Robles family toured West Edmonton Mall and Ronald McDonald House, where they stayed after the surgery. Jose met with one of the doctors from his surgical team. "I was happy to see him, and I hugged him very warmly with a lot of love," Jose said.
Sadia Robles, Jose's mother, spoke via interpreter about why the family made the journey back. "I'm grateful to my Lord to allow us to come back here to this country that gave Jose a new life," she said. "We always wanted the people, the city, to know, to see that our fight from 29 years ago had good, positive results."
Bruce Uditsky, CEO of Meritus at Inclusion Alberta, was part of the team that brought the Robles family to Edmonton in 1998. "It's literally amazing to see not just what Inclusion Alberta did at the time, but the entire city rallied around Jose and his family, and to see how he's thriving, the good life he's living," Uditsky said.
The facts
When did Jose Robles first come to Edmonton for surgery?
Jose Robles arrived in Edmonton in 1998 at 14 months old to undergo heart surgery that was not available in Panama.
What heart condition did Jose Robles have?
Jose Robles was born with atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), a congenital heart condition with holes in the walls between the heart's chambers and abnormal valve formation. Untreated, AVSD can enlarge the heart, lead to pulmonary hypertension, heart rhythm abnormalities, or heart failure.
What activities does Jose Robles do now?
Jose Robles makes art, goes horseback riding, dances, and drums in a marching band. A decade ago, his family said he represented Panama in the Para Central American Games.
