Fw: [OANDP-L] Components for Haiti
mark benveniste
Description
Collection
Title:
Fw: [OANDP-L] Components for Haiti
Creator:
mark benveniste
Date:
2/3/2010
Text:
I am forwarding this directly to the list serve because I think it is extremely helpful and informative
Mark Benveniste CP
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Jim DeWees < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Sent: Tue, February 2, 2010 8:36:27 AM
Subject: RE: [OANDP-L] Components for Haiti
I appreciate the comments and attention that was raised in this email. I have been doing work in the Dominican Republic, Haiti's neighbor on the other 2/3 of the island, for 7 years now. Although the Dom. Rep. is not nearly as poor as Haiti, it is still a developing nation with very limited resources there. The DR is a safe and relatively stable country, unlike Haiti (I have been to Haiti several times, and every time there have been some scares with the trip).
One foot that I have found that works great is the SAFE II Heavy Duty foot from Kingsley/Campbell -Childs, which is durable and worth the extra $75 more than the plain Sach foot. There are other similar feet that also work nicely for the conditions and all in these countries.
I have been asked locally what people could do to help my work, and if I am planning on helping in Haiti, and I have told people that they could donate about $250 and that is enough to buy a foot, and the Keasy liner, and then with the other scap components I have here in the office (in my donated stash of goods), I can make a BK leg with that. I also have many Safety knees (or similar) in great condition that I can make AK's as well. The pieces that are lacking are the actual feet in my situation. I have had generous people donate to my 501(c)(3) organization for this purpose, and my goal is to travel to Santo Domingo, and then travel by vehicle into Haiti when the situation calms there, and where I am not an additional burden on their system there, and also giving these new amputees time to heal physically enough to be fit with a prosthesis.
As mentioned, using silicone liners there is NOT a good idea. The hot environment is miserable for these kinds of systems (I wear one of these systems, and even being there on vacation can be rough with the heat and humidity). We always use the Keasy cones for the liner, with store-bought tube socks so the patients can find them as buy them cheaply as needed there.
One other source of suspension that we have found there is to use old inner tubes for motocycles/scooters. Every street corner has a gomero (curbside tire repair guy). They have tons of old, damaged tubes of all sizes. One of my BK patients had seen the suction kind of suspension, and asked me. And of course these sleeves that we use in the US are expensive and impossible to get in the DR (shipping, customs, etc), and so we came up with the use of these tubes. They are very durable and last a long time....and free to replace. It took a while to find the right size of tube for him, but with a few guesses and cutting up old tubes, we found one that was perfect, and now he knows his size.
Creativity is something that comes in handy in places like this. The people are very resourceful and appreciative of everything. I can't believe the huge NEED that exists there today. The NEED was great even before this quake and disaster in both countries. There are literally hundreds of amputees out on the streets in the Dom Rep, young people, from traumatic amputations and a few birth defects. They do not have access to the kind of limb saving surgical procedures that we have in our country, or the access to antibiotics and other things that we take for granted here. It is easier and safer to just amputate a limb than spend the time and money to try to fix it.
My interest and passion to help the people in the Dom Rep is due to my living there for 2 years back in the mid-80's doing missionary work. I had both my legs at that point in time, but still remember how shocked I was all the time at the number of amputees out in the streets....some begging, some working doing whatever they could find to do. Then after my accident and losing my left leg (BK), and going to the prosthetics program at Cal State, I opened my own facility in Indiana and also investigated the need in the Dom Rep for assistance with prosthetics. And, the need is really big there.
So, please, if you have old components (tube clamps, sach foot adapters, pylons, pyramids, etc.) find a way to get them to Haiti. I am planning on a trip there in April for a few days, and have it arranged to drive an SUV from Santo Domingo into Haiti, and hopefully make connections to work with the group in Haiti if their facility is up and running at that point.
I have also heard that they are transporting several Haitian amputees to Santo Domingo (the capitol of the Dom Rep) or to another city closer to the border (Azua and Barahona) to their medical facilities for treatment. If that is true, then I might be able to just work in the Dom Rep and make as many limbs as possible for them. There is an office that I work at while I am there, with a lab with all the fabrication tools I need. I already have a good stash of components there that I have taken down over time with me.
American Airlines flies to Santo Domingo several times a day, and they have been wonderful to grant me permission to carry extra boxes with me with donated parts, as long as I have arranged it in advance, using my tax id number so they know it is legitimate. I mention that so that anyone goign there should ask about that....call the airline and explain it to them, and see if they will grant that for you.....it will safe HUNDREDS of dollars, which can be better used to help the people.
There is so much that can be done, and NEEDS to be done to help these people. They are industrious generally, and good people, but just do not have access to this kind of care or components and materials to make this stuff. We all have stuff laying around our offices that can be used and can help another person gain their independence and ability to work again.
I would be happy to accept some components if you are having troubles getting it to someone that can take it down there. I can provide you with my tax ID number for the Prosthetic Limbs for the Dominican Republic if you are interested. I am NOT begging or soliciting here, but if you don't know any other place to give stuff to, I can and will make sure that it DOES get to that island and is used to help people. Please email me if you have ideas or questions, or want to get things to me...and make sure they will work.
Again, silicone liners, shuttle locks, any kind of foot that has to be maintained or has moving parts, etc...just are not appropriate for the conditions there. GOOD carbon feet (in good condition) do work, like a Flex Foot or other feet that don't need repairs or anything also work. Even when the foot shells wear out, I ahve seen them make things out of tires and other things to make them work. It is amazing at what they do there.
Thanks for all the concerns and interests for the people there.
Jim DeWees, CP
________________________________
Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now.
Mark Benveniste CP
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Jim DeWees < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Sent: Tue, February 2, 2010 8:36:27 AM
Subject: RE: [OANDP-L] Components for Haiti
I appreciate the comments and attention that was raised in this email. I have been doing work in the Dominican Republic, Haiti's neighbor on the other 2/3 of the island, for 7 years now. Although the Dom. Rep. is not nearly as poor as Haiti, it is still a developing nation with very limited resources there. The DR is a safe and relatively stable country, unlike Haiti (I have been to Haiti several times, and every time there have been some scares with the trip).
One foot that I have found that works great is the SAFE II Heavy Duty foot from Kingsley/Campbell -Childs, which is durable and worth the extra $75 more than the plain Sach foot. There are other similar feet that also work nicely for the conditions and all in these countries.
I have been asked locally what people could do to help my work, and if I am planning on helping in Haiti, and I have told people that they could donate about $250 and that is enough to buy a foot, and the Keasy liner, and then with the other scap components I have here in the office (in my donated stash of goods), I can make a BK leg with that. I also have many Safety knees (or similar) in great condition that I can make AK's as well. The pieces that are lacking are the actual feet in my situation. I have had generous people donate to my 501(c)(3) organization for this purpose, and my goal is to travel to Santo Domingo, and then travel by vehicle into Haiti when the situation calms there, and where I am not an additional burden on their system there, and also giving these new amputees time to heal physically enough to be fit with a prosthesis.
As mentioned, using silicone liners there is NOT a good idea. The hot environment is miserable for these kinds of systems (I wear one of these systems, and even being there on vacation can be rough with the heat and humidity). We always use the Keasy cones for the liner, with store-bought tube socks so the patients can find them as buy them cheaply as needed there.
One other source of suspension that we have found there is to use old inner tubes for motocycles/scooters. Every street corner has a gomero (curbside tire repair guy). They have tons of old, damaged tubes of all sizes. One of my BK patients had seen the suction kind of suspension, and asked me. And of course these sleeves that we use in the US are expensive and impossible to get in the DR (shipping, customs, etc), and so we came up with the use of these tubes. They are very durable and last a long time....and free to replace. It took a while to find the right size of tube for him, but with a few guesses and cutting up old tubes, we found one that was perfect, and now he knows his size.
Creativity is something that comes in handy in places like this. The people are very resourceful and appreciative of everything. I can't believe the huge NEED that exists there today. The NEED was great even before this quake and disaster in both countries. There are literally hundreds of amputees out on the streets in the Dom Rep, young people, from traumatic amputations and a few birth defects. They do not have access to the kind of limb saving surgical procedures that we have in our country, or the access to antibiotics and other things that we take for granted here. It is easier and safer to just amputate a limb than spend the time and money to try to fix it.
My interest and passion to help the people in the Dom Rep is due to my living there for 2 years back in the mid-80's doing missionary work. I had both my legs at that point in time, but still remember how shocked I was all the time at the number of amputees out in the streets....some begging, some working doing whatever they could find to do. Then after my accident and losing my left leg (BK), and going to the prosthetics program at Cal State, I opened my own facility in Indiana and also investigated the need in the Dom Rep for assistance with prosthetics. And, the need is really big there.
So, please, if you have old components (tube clamps, sach foot adapters, pylons, pyramids, etc.) find a way to get them to Haiti. I am planning on a trip there in April for a few days, and have it arranged to drive an SUV from Santo Domingo into Haiti, and hopefully make connections to work with the group in Haiti if their facility is up and running at that point.
I have also heard that they are transporting several Haitian amputees to Santo Domingo (the capitol of the Dom Rep) or to another city closer to the border (Azua and Barahona) to their medical facilities for treatment. If that is true, then I might be able to just work in the Dom Rep and make as many limbs as possible for them. There is an office that I work at while I am there, with a lab with all the fabrication tools I need. I already have a good stash of components there that I have taken down over time with me.
American Airlines flies to Santo Domingo several times a day, and they have been wonderful to grant me permission to carry extra boxes with me with donated parts, as long as I have arranged it in advance, using my tax id number so they know it is legitimate. I mention that so that anyone goign there should ask about that....call the airline and explain it to them, and see if they will grant that for you.....it will safe HUNDREDS of dollars, which can be better used to help the people.
There is so much that can be done, and NEEDS to be done to help these people. They are industrious generally, and good people, but just do not have access to this kind of care or components and materials to make this stuff. We all have stuff laying around our offices that can be used and can help another person gain their independence and ability to work again.
I would be happy to accept some components if you are having troubles getting it to someone that can take it down there. I can provide you with my tax ID number for the Prosthetic Limbs for the Dominican Republic if you are interested. I am NOT begging or soliciting here, but if you don't know any other place to give stuff to, I can and will make sure that it DOES get to that island and is used to help people. Please email me if you have ideas or questions, or want to get things to me...and make sure they will work.
Again, silicone liners, shuttle locks, any kind of foot that has to be maintained or has moving parts, etc...just are not appropriate for the conditions there. GOOD carbon feet (in good condition) do work, like a Flex Foot or other feet that don't need repairs or anything also work. Even when the foot shells wear out, I ahve seen them make things out of tires and other things to make them work. It is amazing at what they do there.
Thanks for all the concerns and interests for the people there.
Jim DeWees, CP
________________________________
Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now.
Citation
mark benveniste, “Fw: [OANDP-L] Components for Haiti,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/231155.
