LOF Provides Prosthetic Care in Mexico

"If you give me a prosthesis today, I'll work tomorrow morning." --A. De la Cruz-Jabalera

Limbs of Freedom (LOF), a joint project of the Rotary Clubs of Coronado, California, and Club Rotario of Calafia-Ensenada, Mexico, held a three-day clinic in Ensenada January 25-27.

"Antonio De la Cruz-Jabalera's promise summarizes the heart and soul of Limbs of Freedom," said Anthony "Tony" Barr, president of the Barr Foundation, Boca Raton, Florida. The Barr Foundation has provided financial and organization support for the project for about 11 years.

Six new limbs were made, tested, and fitted for amputees in this most recent clinic. Those receiving new prostheses included:

De la Cruz-Jabalera , who was a civil engineer with three children, but cannot work since suffering a left transfemoral amputation secondary to major trauma. He was referred by Barr, and "represents an ideal patient for Limbs of Freedom, because he is young, eager to work, and wants to regain his independence so he can support his three children," Barr said. Juan Cruz-Estrada, 78, who is retired from his job as a boat mate, but was refitted with a better-fitting socket. He has been an amputee since 1949 when he underwent a right transfemoral amputation from a train accident in Bakersfield, California. Maria Martinez-Higareda, 55, who has a six-year-old granddaughter, was fitted with a prosthesis after losing her leg due to diabetes complications. The most important result of receiving her prosthesis was "just being able to work and take care of my granddaughter," Martinez-Higareda said. Eliseo Martinez-Flores, 30, who works in the office of a large company in the employment division. He was fitted with bilateral transtibial prostheses. Adan Tomayo-Garcia, 34, who underwent a transfemoral amputation due to trauma when he was 18. He has never had the opportunity to have a prosthetic leg until now, Barr noted. When finally fitted with his prosthesis, he said, "This is crazy--I have two legs now." Jonathan Alejandra-Fernandez, 16, who underwent amputation due to injury while working in a brick-making factory. He wants to stay in school and become a carpenter. Volunteers at the most recent clinic were:

Herb Barrack, CPO, Inline Orthotics and Prosthetics, La Mesa, California. Gerardo Guzman, CP, Progressive Orthopedics, San Diego, California. Floyd Thompson, CPed, Progressive Orthopedics, San Diego. Sean Zeller, an O&P student at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Atlanta, who has traveled the farthest for the last two clinics to volunteer. Besides helping to fabricate prostheses, he also is a capable Spanish-English translator, Barr said. Hector Reyes-Gomez, Ensenada, Mexico. Generous contributions from SPS, Ohio Willow Wood, Otto Bock HealthCare, Laurence Manufacturing, Fillauer, Orthomerica, Knit-Rite, and Trulifewere used to fabricate the prostheses and were instrumental in the success of the clinic, Barr said.

Coronado Rotarians participating included Bob Spear, project chairman; Jerry Winter; Gary Kennedy; Steve Haley; and Wayne Strickland. The Coronado Rotary Club's Low Tide Ride and Stride donates 100 percent of its sponsorship and net race registration revenues to Limbs of Freedom, Barr noted.

For more information, visit www.coronadorotary.org or www.oandp.com/barr

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Related posts:

Paralympian Receives Olympic Legacy Scholarship

Jack Gold Surgical Appliances Launches New Website

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O&P JOBS

Now Hiring: Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO)

ABC Certified Orthotic Fitter / Orthotic Assistant

HH Manager, Orthotics & Prosthetics

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