Ken Cedeno

Photographer

Vanessa confronts her elephantiasis

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Location: Washington DC

Nationality: American

Biography: Ken Cedeno is a Washington D.C. based independent photographer with experience covering politics, travel and other assignments around the globe. Recent coverage of Ukraine for United Press International. He was a frequent contributor to Corbis... MORE

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 waits in ...pan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

1 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 waits in the women's surgical ward to undergo amputation surgery on February 21, 2019, at Occidente Hospital in a Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 lays on h...ras.  Photo Ken Cedeno

2 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 lays on her bed waiting for amputation surgery at Occidente Hospital on February 25, 2019, in Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 and her f...pan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

3 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 and her family spend time together as she waits to undergo amputation surgery on February 25, 2019, at Occidente Hospital in a Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

A pair of Crocks belonging to V...he large foot. Photo Ken Cedeno

4 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

A pair of Crocks belonging to Vanessa Hernandez, 37 lay beside her bed as she prepares for amputation surgery at Occidente Hospital on February 25, 2019, in Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Hernandez suffered from elephantiasis on her left leg her entire adult life. The shoe has to be cut open to fit the large foot. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 begins to...eon.  Photo Ken Cedeno

5 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 begins to undergo amputation surgery on March 1, 2019, at Occidente Hospital in a Rosa de Copan, Honduras. The operation was done in two hours by Dr. Calderon, oncologist, Dr. Paz, orthopedist, and Dr. Santos surgeon. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 undergoes...antos surgeon. Photo Ken Cedeno

6 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 undergoes amputation surgery on March 1, 2019, at Occidente Hospital in a Rosa de Copan, Honduras. The operation was done in two hours by Dr. Calderon, oncologist, Dr. Paz, orthopedist, and Dr. Santos surgeon. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 undergoes...antos surgeon. Photo Ken Cedeno

7 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 undergoes amputation surgery on March 1, 2019, at Occidente Hospital in a Rosa de Copan, Honduras. The operation was done in two hours by Dr. Calderon, oncologist, Dr. Paz, orthopedist, and Dr. Santos surgeon. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 undergoes...antos surgeon. Photo Ken Cedeno

8 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 undergoes amputation surgery on March 1, 2019, at Occidente Hospital in a Rosa de Copan, Honduras. The operation was done in two hours by Dr. Calderon, oncologist, Dr. Paz, orthopedist, and Dr. Santos surgeon. Photo Ken Cedeno

Dr. Paz places the remains of p...pan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

9 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Dr. Paz places the remains of patient Vanessa Hernandez's leg into a plastic trash bin while undergoing amputation surgery on March 1, 2019, at Occidente Hospital in a Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

Dr. Paz and Dr. Santos operate ...pan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

10 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Dr. Paz and Dr. Santos operate on Vanessa Hernandez, 37 as she undergoes amputation surgery on March 1, 2019, at Occidente Hospital in a Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 fans hers...pan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

11 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37 fans herself in her bed as she recuperates following amputation surgery on March 2, 2019, at Occidente Hospital in a Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez has the stitc... of this year. Photo Ken Cedeno

12 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez has the stitches from her recent amputation examined by Dr. Paz, March 26, 2019, Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Hernandez who had elephantiasis chose to have her leg amputated on March 1 of this year. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37, has her ... of this year. Photo Ken Cedeno

13 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37, has her recent amputation cleaned by nurse Lidia Lopez, 62 at her home on March 12, 2019, in Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Hernandez who had elephantiasis chose to have her leg amputated on March 1 of this year. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Ramon Hernandez, 37, ki...er this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

14 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Ramon Hernandez, 37, kisses her son Ronny, 7 in their home as family visits following her release from Occidente Hospital on March 6, 2019, in Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Hernandez suffered from elephantiasis after surgery early in her life for lymph nodes that eventually caused the elephantiasis. Hernandez then chose to have her leg amputated on March 1 earlier this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Ramon Hernandez, 37, in...er this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

15 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Ramon Hernandez, 37, in her home with her cat checking her smart phone following her release from Occidente Hospital March 6, 2019, in Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Hernandez suffered from elephantiasis after surgery early in her life for lymph nodes that eventually caused the elephantiasis. Hernandez then chose to have her leg amputated on March 1 earlier this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Ramon Hernandez, 37, in...er this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

16 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Ramon Hernandez, 37, in her home with family visiting following her release from Occidente Hospital March 6, 2019, in Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Hernandez suffered from elephantiasis after surgery early in her life for lymph nodes that eventually caused the elephantiasis. Hernandez then chose to have her leg amputated on March 1 earlier this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Ramon Hernandez, 37, in...er this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

17 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Ramon Hernandez, 37, in her home with her son Rony following her release from Occidente Hospital on March 6, 2019, in Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Hernandez suffered from elephantiasis after surgery early in her life for lymph nodes that eventually caused the elephantiasis. Hernandez then chose to have her leg amputated on March 1 earlier this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez is helped dow...er this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

18 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez is helped down the steps in front of her house by her brother Juan Ramon on their way to the hospital to have her stitches looked at March 26, 2019, Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Hernandez suffered from elephantiasis after surgery early in her life for lymph nodes that eventually caused the elephantiasis. Hernandez then chose to have her leg amputated on March 1 earlier this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37, rests on... with one leg. Photo Ken Cedeno

19 of 19 © 2024 Ken Cedeno

Vanessa Hernandez, 37, rests on her bed on March 12, 2019, following her recent amputation in Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras. Hernandez who had elephantiasis chose to have her leg amputated on March 1 of this year. She wanted to have a normal life as much as she can even with one leg. Photo Ken Cedeno

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Thumbnail of Vanessa Hernandez, 37 waits in t_opan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Hernandez, 37 lays on he_uras.  Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Hernandez, 37 and her fa_opan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of A pair of Crocks belonging to Va_the large foot. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Hernandez, 37 begins to _geon.  Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Hernandez, 37 undergoes _Santos surgeon. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Hernandez, 37 undergoes _Santos surgeon. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Hernandez, 37 undergoes _Santos surgeon. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Dr. Paz places the remains of pa_opan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Dr. Paz and Dr. Santos operate o_opan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Hernandez, 37 fans herse_opan, Honduras. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Hernandez has the stitch_1 of this year. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Hernandez, 37, has her r_1 of this year. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Ramon Hernandez, 37, kis_ier this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Ramon Hernandez, 37, in _ier this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Ramon Hernandez, 37, in _ier this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Ramon Hernandez, 37, in _ier this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Hernandez is helped down_ier this month. Photo Ken Cedeno

Thumbnail of Vanessa Hernandez, 37, rests on _n with one leg. Photo Ken Cedeno

Private Story

Vanessa confronts her elephantiasis

Copyright Ken Cedeno 2024

Updated Dec 2019

Location Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras

Topics Disability, Hope, Illness, Joy, Photography, Photojournalism

I first met Vanessa Hernadez at Hospital Occidente in Santa Rosa de Copan. Vanessa was lying in bed in the women’s surgical ward waiting for her vitals to be good enough for surgery. She had developed Lymphatic filariasis, more commonly known as elephantiasis early on as a teenager, and her left leg had swollen massively, causing many problems for her both physically and mentally. She told me she had enough of living through that and decided to have her leg amputated. Living in Honduras and a tropical zone, many are inflicted with this via mosquitoes during childhood with damage to the lymphatic system causing the large swelling, often painful and profoundly disfiguring. Following this surgery, Vanessa will soon get help from Central American Medical Outreach, CAMO, an organization based out of Ohio, with a second office in Santa Rosa de Copan. Here she will work with their prosthetics dept who will outfit her with a prosthetic leg to enable her to walk. Currently, Vanessa goes to physical therapy once a week.

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