Silvia remembers the moment after Mateo was born in Badajoz as if it happened yesterday: a shoulder dislocation that would heal in days, a baby who seemed unusually large for his age. The nurse’s calm tone echoed in Silvia’s mind, a reassurance that felt almost robotic at the time.
Mateo weighed about 4,440 pounds and measured 55 centimeters. The proud father Tomás was shown the tiny signs of a big baby and told, almost casually, to expect a tough exit. When Mateo arrived, his arm appeared limp, hanging loosely by his side. His mother describes the scene with vivid memory: a small body, a fragile limb, almost like a simple ribbon in need of care.
They remained composed until discharge, but the mood shifted when a pediatrician raised their hands to his head and delivered a hard truth. The incident was not just a birth mishap; it was labeled PBO, Obstetric Arm Analysis, a serious marker Silvia hadn’t anticipated. The fear lingered: would their son regain use of his arm?
six operations
Today, Mateo is five years old and has undergone six surgeries. He requires daily rehabilitation, ongoing physiotherapy, and neuromodulation therapies. The condition, PBO, has left him with significant nerve damage and a disability around 45 percent. The questions linger: who is responsible, what caused it, and how can the family find answers? Forensically, the family has learned that it is a genetic condition provoked during childbirth, a detail that remains contested by many involved in the case.
The family has pursued every possible avenue for answers since those first days. Mérida’s court proceedings could not establish malfeasance, and attempts to obtain clear explanations have not brought closure. They have also turned to higher courts, including the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court, but the efforts have faced setbacks. They remain determined to have Mateo heard and understood, advocating for transparency and accountability. They have started a petition to bring the case before Congress, seeking 1,500 signatures to compel public officials to listen. The struggle has been relentless since birth.
gestational diabetes
Silvia recalls the day of labor on October 27, 2017, arriving at the Badajoz Maternity and Children’s Hospital just before eight in the morning. Contractions began, and everything seemed routine. But the ultrasound equipment was old and sometimes unreliable, a factor that the family believes played a role in how Mateo grew and developed. The weight of the baby mattered less than the unfamiliar complications that followed, and Silvia insists that all babies deserve care regardless of size.
As preparations continued, the choice about pain relief was explored. When the time came to push, the decision hung in the air. There was a moment of calm, then intense effort, with the medical team guiding the process and Silvia insisting on doing what she had to do to bring her child into the world.
“Push Harder”
Hours passed without the baby adjusting to the birth canal. Mateo’s head wouldn’t fit through the passage as expected, a problem exacerbated by his size. Midwives sought opinions from colleagues, and the situation grew chaotic. Silvia persisted, exhausted, pleading for help as contractions intensified and the clock kept ticking.
In the end, the insistence on a faster, more forceful delivery led to a dangerous sequence of events. The medical team urged more pushing, yet Mateo could not emerge in the usual way. The situation demanded a different path, and the strain showed on Silvia’s face as she fought to stay focused through the pain.
injury
As the hours wore on, Mateo still hadn’t emerged. By early evening, the team turned to suction and other tools in an attempt to assist delivery. Silvia describes the moment as grueling, a painful memory of being held down and told to push, while the midwife and staff tried to reposition the baby. She recalls the use of methods not recommended at the time, and the sense that every second counted.
After the head finally appeared, the shoulder dystocia that followed branded the birth with lasting consequences. It took decisive action to extract Mateo, but the exit was marked by nerve damage and a rotor of complications that would shape his future. The doctors argued that the nerves of the plexus were torn, leaving irreversible paralysis in the left side. The scene left Silvia with serious injuries herself, including a deep tear that required many stitches.
“Matthew is serious”
In the days after birth, the family heard mixed messages. Some staff suggested that what happened could be normal given the circumstances, while others spoke frankly about the risk of long-term consequences. Mateo left the hospital with his family, but a pediatrician warned that there could be strokes, disabilities, and ongoing rehabilitation required. The family sought clarity, hoping to understand what happened and how to prevent it in the future.
The first major operation occurred when Mateo was six months old, followed by more surgeries as doctors worked to restore function and maximize quality of life. The Madrid hospital team told the family that the injuries were severe but could be managed with a steady program of surgeries and therapy. The surgeon emphasized that the goal was to preserve as much function as possible and to support a long journey of recovery that could last several years.
court fight
The family faced a dual challenge: health and legal. They sought help through Patient Care, but responses were slow, and the treatment plan required substantial family resources for travel, therapy, and care. Total costs climbed into the tens of thousands of euros as they worked to secure ongoing support and coverage for every aspect of Mateo’s needs.
Social security did not cover all services, and the family pursued inheritance routes to ensure Mateo would have access to the necessary resources. They hoped for a health system that would assume responsibility for Mateo’s treatment, noting that similar outcomes had been observed in other cases where suggested solutions varied widely.
The Mérida court offered little comfort, citing the difficulty of proving a harmful result. The Extremadura High Court of Justice ruled against them, and the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court upheld those decisions, imposing procedural costs. The family continues to press for accountability and a fair assessment of the impact on Mateo’s life.
“Harmful result cannot be proven” is the phrasing that appears in the Supreme Court decision, a verdict cited in public records. Open cases and investigative portals have documented the event and the surrounding inquiries with attribution to credible outlets.
No response from hospital
Attempts to obtain a response from the hospital where Mateo was born went unanswered. The Extremadura Health Service also did not provide a reply. The medical team involved argued they acted correctly, suggesting the outcome could have occurred despite careful care. Silvia counters, noting that the claim of responsible actions does not align with her experience of labor, especially given the epidural used during delivery.
Mateo remains a spirited child with a strong will. His mother reflects on the long road since birth, acknowledging the family’s efforts and the emotional and financial toll. She recalls a stubborn optimism about Mateo’s future, despite the ongoing medical needs and the inequality of care that often comes with complex birth injuries. The family’s experience underscores a broader issue: families deserve clear explanations, timely support, and access to comprehensive care for children who endure serious birth complications. The journey continues, with Mateo facing each day with courage and his family standing by his side, hopeful for better outcomes through advocacy and continued medical care. This is a story of resilience, not resignation, and a reminder that every child deserves a chance to heal and thrive. [Citation: OPEN CASE and Prensa Ibérica investigations]