Each week the Barr Foundation sends a post and salute to honor a person =
(s)
or Hope Donor (s) whom has made a great difference in a life.=20
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This week’s story initiated from a individual humanitarian effort, =
by a
recent graduate from Penn State University with a PhD in Architectural
engineering, whom is doing volunteer work in Peru for 9 months.=20
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It evovles to not only getting help for a 6 year old Peruvian girl, =
but
establishing a ongoing amputee assistance program for amputees in Peru, =
thru
an old friend and amputee Julio Montoya also in Peru.
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Michael Pulaski and his wife met 6 year old Marilyn Carmen Rodriguez =
Camino
and her mother on a road side in Peru in October .
=20
The little girl was hit by a bus in September 2005 and physicians had =
to
amputate her foot, just above the ankle. Her family could barely =
afford
crutches for her.
=20
Mike contacted me for help October and I contacted Julio in Peru , also =
an
amputee, whom the Barr Foundation helped while he was in the USA last
January.=20
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The Barr Foundation coordinated efforts during Julio’s 1,500 mile =
journey,
to get a new socket , liners, hotel accommodations, etc. =20
Charles Dankmeyer ,Jr. CPO of Dankmeyer Inc. in Baltimore started Julio =
with
a new prosthesis for his 1,500 amputee awareness walk as well as other
prosthetists located along the coast.
=20
I was fortunate to be able to help and meet him along the route.
=20
Last January the O&P Edge magazine , covered the story of Julio’s =
1,500
mile walk for amputee awareness , down the eastern USA coast to Florida =
.=20
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See
http://www.oandp.com/edge/issues/articles/2005-01_16.asp
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After contacting him, Julio jumped in to assist without hesitation and
found a prosthetist at La Clinical Ortopedica Salvador in Lima to =
evaluate
and begin making her prosthesis.
=20
Mr.& Mrs..Michael Pulaski graciously funded the cost of Marilyn’s
prosthesis, thru our benefactor sponsorship program.
=20
Since posts to the O&P listserve do not permit photo attachments, I can =
send
anyone who requests it, a picture of this little girl and her mother =
whom
were delighted to be helped.=20
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Julio is anxious and ready to help other Peruvian amputees in his =
country
thur his organization de Asociaci=F3n Camino al Futuro and Marilyn will
require subsequent fittings as she grows.
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His web site of his organization is
http://www.caminoalfuturo.org/ where anyone can make donations or they =
can
be sent to the Barr=20
Foundation via our web site
www.oandp.com/barr=20
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Thank you Mr.& Mrs.Pulaski, Julio Montoya and The O&P Edge for =
covering
this story in a future issue.
Such “Whole Again” stories hopefully will help make your weekend and to
remind you, knowing that most of you whom became professionals and =
industry
O&P providers, got into this business to help people, and that you are
accomplishing allot and are appreciated by those that you help.
Thank you and have a great week.
Tony
Anthony T. Barr=20
Barr Foundation
561-394-6514
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