After traveling to Bolivia to make prosthetics in the summer of 2016, I knew that I would be returning to Latin America again someday to practice by teaching patients or sharing knowledge with other practitioners. I am so excited about this opportunity to visit a clinic with the Range of Motion Project, which was started by people involved with the University of Illinois! I've been wanting to travel to one of their clinics in Ecuador or Guatemala for many years now, and this trip is during one of my breaks before the fall semester. I hope that this opportunity will give me new insight into the needs of amputees in developing nations, beyond the experiences I had in Bolivia 3 years ago. I look forward to sharing these experiences with friends and family, whether you can contribute prayer or financial assistance!
This program gives volunteers the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with practitioners from ROMP and Fundación Hermano Miguel to provide world-class prosthetic care and physical and occupational therapy to Ecuadorians with amputation who otherwise do not have access to these services. Volunteers will serve through an intense clinical week at the world-class Fundación Hermano Miguel rehabilitation facility. They will play a key role in remobilizing Ecuadorian patients and exchanging knowledge and skills with local practitioners.
The Itinerary for August 2-11:
Day 1: The volunteer group will be divided into teams and assigned to patients. After receiving a tour of Fundacion Hermano Miguel facilities, we will start collecting information about the patients, receive the components required to fabricate a prosthesis, and start casting the residual limb of the patients.
Day 2-3: We will work with a lead practitioner to start fabrication, modification, and final plastic lamination of the prosthetic device. We will be collecting data on patient ability level with standard tests.
Day 4: We will focus on fitting the prosthesis with the patients and start gait training. We will work very closely with a practitioner and a physiotherapist to help the patients to take their first steps.
Day 5: Delivery with final modifications and adjustments. There will be also time to continue gain training with physical therapists. The week is finished with a formal delivery event in the afternoon and a social event in the night with all the participants of the program.
The rest of the trip, we'll be exploring Ecuador a bit. By my estimates, part of the all-inclusive $1,500 program fee covers those adventures. That's why I'm only trying to raise $1000 to cover the costs of patient care for the week.