The Barr Foundation's Weekly Salute to Cascade Orthopeics

The Barr Foundation's Weekly Salute to Cascade Orthopeics

Tony Barr

4/22/2005

Cascade and Rotary Joins Barr Foundation to Offer Those in Need A Better
Tomorrow



Many of us take for granted the awesome power of the human body - the
ability to see the world's beauty, smell the flowers, pick up our children
or even walk. For Rotarians in Coronado, CA and Ensenada/Calafia in Baja
California Mexico, however, they appreciate and value what many of us have
come to expect. In turn, these ambassadors developed a project whose main
goal is to provide a brighter future to those who are lacking limbs.



The two Rotary clubs have teamed up with The Barr Foundation and Cascade to
provide limbs, primarily legs, to individuals with disabilities in Baja
California, Mexico. The first limb camp was started in 1997 in an effort to
give those without limbs a meaningful and productive life. Using an
inexpensive Japor system, many of the treated patients experienced
difficulties, such as sores and infections. According to Dr. Marcella,
Director of the only government-owned rehabilitation center in all Baja
California, There are thousands of people in need. here in Ensenada,
alone!



After the difficulties, a decision was quickly made to improve the end
product. With the determination of Rotarians to help the underprivileged, a
new course for the future had begun. This meant not only building a
fabrication workshop on the grounds of the only Rehabilitation Centre in all
of Baja California, but also equipping it with the tools and machines
necessary to build modern prosthetics. In 2002, Herb Barrack, owner of
Inline Prosthetics and Orthotics in San Diego, CA, offered his expertise,
which led to a refined process.



Recently, over a two-day period, Felix Marquez, Floyd Thompson and Gerardo
Guzman from Progressive Orthopedics in San Diego, CA, along with Barrack fit
five patients with modern prosthetics, a $6,500 cost per procedure here in
the U.S., a fee that these recipients cannot afford to pay. Fortunately for
these beneficiaries, Rotary, The Barr Foundation, Cascade, Inline
Prosthetics and Progressive Orthopedics donated the prosthetics, time and
services.



This project is just getting underway and has now fit eight patients,
ranging in age 11 to 68. To the individuals who receive these prosthetics,
it not only represents a new limb, but it instills hope and provides
confidence to the recipients, thus changing the lives of these patients
forever. One of the project's many success stories includes that of Mr.
Fonseca, a 58 year-old man who lost a limb due to an accident. As Ofelia
Perea, a Ensenada/Calafia Rotarian, was driving, she noticed Fonseca on the
street washing cars. Ofelia invited him to the Rehabilitation Centre to
apply for a limb. Happily, Fonseca's application was approved and he was
treated successfully. To display his appreciation and gratitude to the
Centre for this life-changing opportunity, Fonseca has offered to volunteer
in the lab. Like most of us, Fonseca can now appreciate what many of us take
for granted.a greater sense of freedom, independence and mobility.



Each Friday The Barr Foundation will send a post and similar salute to a
person or Hope Donor whom has made a great difference in a life.
Such Whole Again stories hopefully will help make your weekend and to remind
you, knowing that most of you whom became professionals and industry
providers, got into this business to help people, that you are accomplishing
allot and are appreciated.

Have a great weekend,

Tony Barr
Barr Foundation
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