Ibarra Ecuador update Jan 2012
B Frank
Description
Collection
Title:
Ibarra Ecuador update Jan 2012
Creator:
B Frank
Date:
1/17/2012
Text:
Update Ibarra Ecuador, January 2012:
We returned to the Ibarra Ecuador prosthetics clinic on Dec 31, this time
with a film crew and other volunteers. On our third day, fifteen children
and their families arrived from San Lorenzo, a city 4 hours away, with
complicated needs such as bilateral limb loss, quadrilateral limb loss,
contractures, severe cerebral palsy with no positioning equipment, gunshot
injury, non-union fractures, spina befida, etc. We enjoyed conversing
with Rafael, a 17 year old with significant disability due to cerebral
palsy but who is a top student in high school, participates actively in his
own stretching and treatment regime which will soon include HKAFOs with
ratcheting knee joints, and joked with us using the English phrases he is
learning in school.
<URL Redacted>
<URL Redacted>
<URL Redacted>
Two very young children with above-knee limb loss have been fitted with
their first prostheses. Both families have a natural ability to guide and
encourage their children, even without the benefit of regular therapy, and
we look forward to seeing their progress in learning to walk. We expect to
follow them closely for regular adjustments and changes in technology as
they are ready. Follow-up has improved greatly during the four years that
we have worked on this project. Families now understand that adjustments
and replacements are a part of the process, that it is not insulting to the
clinic to come back for checks, and that if a prosthesis becomes
uncomfortable or less functional, it does not have to be “lived with”. We
hope that soon we can have equal success in helping government and other
agencies to understand that receiving a prosthesis is not a one-day simple
event like buying a pair of shoes.
http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/ysikc.jpg
http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/kpuic.jpg
Fundación Prótesis para la Vida (Prosthetics for Life) lost our colleague
and friend, Jen Lee Knowles, CPO, to cancer on January 3, 2012. She had
been instrumental in bringing the prosthetics project this far and we are
struggling with this loss. A 5K run is planned in her memory for March 3,
2012 in Ibarra at the site of the former airport.
http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/aonnq.jpg
We have fit two running blades donated by Freedom Innovations, for athletes
to compete in the Jen Lee 5K. There is a great deal of interest in this
technology as it has not been seen in Ecuador before. We expect to raise
funds for the clinic as well as to raise awareness of the clinic and of the
capabilities of persons with disabilities.
http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/iuqrl.jpg
Because of the large contingent of Americans who traveled with us this
time, we were able to bring in 15 suitcases filled with donated prosthetic
components. Thank you US Air for waiving all baggage fees and thank you to
our many donors who contributed:
ALPS, Farrell Prosthetics, Freedom Innovations, Knit-Rite, Ohio WillowWood,
Limbs for Life
We continue to seek children’s components and upper limb components, which
are always in short supply.
*We invite all colleagues and runners to join us in Ibarra on March 3 for
the Jen Lee 5K in the beautiful Andes Mountains, at the foot of Imbabura
Volcano.*
Bob Frank, CPO
We returned to the Ibarra Ecuador prosthetics clinic on Dec 31, this time
with a film crew and other volunteers. On our third day, fifteen children
and their families arrived from San Lorenzo, a city 4 hours away, with
complicated needs such as bilateral limb loss, quadrilateral limb loss,
contractures, severe cerebral palsy with no positioning equipment, gunshot
injury, non-union fractures, spina befida, etc. We enjoyed conversing
with Rafael, a 17 year old with significant disability due to cerebral
palsy but who is a top student in high school, participates actively in his
own stretching and treatment regime which will soon include HKAFOs with
ratcheting knee joints, and joked with us using the English phrases he is
learning in school.
<URL Redacted>
<URL Redacted>
<URL Redacted>
Two very young children with above-knee limb loss have been fitted with
their first prostheses. Both families have a natural ability to guide and
encourage their children, even without the benefit of regular therapy, and
we look forward to seeing their progress in learning to walk. We expect to
follow them closely for regular adjustments and changes in technology as
they are ready. Follow-up has improved greatly during the four years that
we have worked on this project. Families now understand that adjustments
and replacements are a part of the process, that it is not insulting to the
clinic to come back for checks, and that if a prosthesis becomes
uncomfortable or less functional, it does not have to be “lived with”. We
hope that soon we can have equal success in helping government and other
agencies to understand that receiving a prosthesis is not a one-day simple
event like buying a pair of shoes.
http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/ysikc.jpg
http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/kpuic.jpg
Fundación Prótesis para la Vida (Prosthetics for Life) lost our colleague
and friend, Jen Lee Knowles, CPO, to cancer on January 3, 2012. She had
been instrumental in bringing the prosthetics project this far and we are
struggling with this loss. A 5K run is planned in her memory for March 3,
2012 in Ibarra at the site of the former airport.
http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/aonnq.jpg
We have fit two running blades donated by Freedom Innovations, for athletes
to compete in the Jen Lee 5K. There is a great deal of interest in this
technology as it has not been seen in Ecuador before. We expect to raise
funds for the clinic as well as to raise awareness of the clinic and of the
capabilities of persons with disabilities.
http://www.oandp-l.org/shared/iuqrl.jpg
Because of the large contingent of Americans who traveled with us this
time, we were able to bring in 15 suitcases filled with donated prosthetic
components. Thank you US Air for waiving all baggage fees and thank you to
our many donors who contributed:
ALPS, Farrell Prosthetics, Freedom Innovations, Knit-Rite, Ohio WillowWood,
Limbs for Life
We continue to seek children’s components and upper limb components, which
are always in short supply.
*We invite all colleagues and runners to join us in Ibarra on March 3 for
the Jen Lee 5K in the beautiful Andes Mountains, at the foot of Imbabura
Volcano.*
Bob Frank, CPO
Citation
B Frank, “Ibarra Ecuador update Jan 2012,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 23, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/233259.
