A six year-old Peruvian girl whose family could barely afford crutches now has a new prosthesis, thanks to the joint efforts of Michael Pulaski, PhD, and his wife; the Barr Foundation; and the Asociación Camino al Futuro. Pulaski, a recent Pennsylvania State University architectural engineering graduate, and his wife, who are currently doing volunteer humanitarian work in Peru, met six-year-old Marilyn Carmen Rodriguez Camino and her mother on the side of a road last October. The little girl had been hit by a bus in September and physicians had to amputate her foot just above the ankle. Pulaski contacted the Barr Foundation for help in October, and President Tony Barr got in touch with Julio Montoya, also an amputee, whom the Barr Foundation helped while he was in the US in January 2005. At that time, Charles Dankmeyer, Jr., CPO, Dankmeyer Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, provided Montoya with a new prosthesis for his 1,500-amputee awareness walk. Other prosthetists along the East Coast also helped Montoya meet his goals. (See story in the January 2005 issue of The O&P EDGE: www.oandp.com/edge/issues/articles/2005-01_16.asp) When Pulaski contacted Montoya about the needs in Peru, Montoya found a prosthetist at La Clinical Ortopédica Salvador in Lima to evaluate and make prosthesis for Camino. The Pulaskis funded the cost of Camino's prosthesis through the Barr Foundation benefactor sponsorship program. Pulaski's efforts involve not only helping little Marilyn, but also establishing an ongoing assistance program for amputees in Peru with assistance from Montoya. Montoya said he is eager to help other Peruvian amputees through his organization, Asociación Camino al Futuro, which will also help meet Camino's prosthetic needs as she grows. Information about the organization can be found at www.caminoalfuturo.org Donations for this cause can be made on that site or through the Barr Foundation at www.oandp.com/barr
