November, 2010 Ibarra, Ecuador update:
Now that Fundación Prótesis para la Vida in Ibarra, has been operational
for almost three years, we are seeing many children return for adjustments,
new sockets, and new prostheses or braces. Here is Ecuador where people
walk so much, the children are very active, and the terrain is extreme,
parts wear out more quickly. (see pix of Carlita, , Juan Carlos, Cristian,
Melany, Jostin)
http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/qeicq.jpg Carlita had her prosthesis adjusted
for length *http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/hhwvq.jpg* Juan Carlos’s second
prosthesis
http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/dpkvw.jpg Cristian’s second prosthesis
http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/mudry.JPG Melany walks with her bilateral
prosthesis http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/slxax.JPG Jostin gets a new arm
One young high school student has struggled his whole life with walking. He
has had two surgeries to his knees, but due to inadequate follow-up, his
extreme crouch gait did not improve. He now has had a surgery to his feet
and is using corrective knee braces, with the plan of aggressive therapy and
gradual correction to reduce his knee contractures. Already Ivan is more
upright and we hope that he will be able to reach his goal of standing to
sing and play guitar. (See pic of Ivan)
http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/ihnwo.JPG
A grandmother came from an arid and undeveloped area of the country near
Ibarra accompanied and supported by 12 members of her huge family. The
entire family combined resources to make a small donation for her above-knee
prosthesis, and the family remained with her and actively participated in
her fitting and rehabilitation as she learned to walk. (See pic of Maria and
her family) http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/uvvbo.JPG
Our ten-week prosthetics class for physical therapy students was successful
and we now have four students who will have nine-month internships with
prosthetists in Quito. (See pix of the students with their certificates)
http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/jdyrr.JPG
Thanks to all the professionals, including Dave Krupa, CP of Quito, Waldo
Esparza, CP of Tampa, Sean Zeller, CPO of New Jersey, Larry Morton CPO of
North Carolina and Cristobal Tasiguano of Quito, who helped with the course
and with the patients. The students made final presentations to large
groups from the university, including the vice-rector, professors, and over
150 students. We took a field trip to Quito on September 30th to visit
prosthetic clinics with our students and expose them to other clinic
environments. The excitement of the visit to the capital city that day was
augmented by a police-presidential confrontation, closing of the airport,
and rumors of a coup, but the populace remained calm in Quito, our trip went
fine, and everything settled down the next day.
More volunteer opportunities are available with our clinic for professionals
and students who want to have a great adventure. We help people walk and
get back to their lives who otherwise might not have access to prosthetics
and orthotics. We are teaching and collaborating in an area where the field
is just developing. And we find time for climbing 15,000 feet to the
snowline of Cayambe, visiting the cloud forest of Mindo, and seeing artisans
at work in their carving and weaving studios. We hope to follow up the
prosthetic course with an orthotics course in the next year. Please contact
our North American Coordinator, Jennifer Lee, [email protected], and see our
website, http://www.Prostheticsforlife.org
..
Robert Frank, CPO
