By Elizabeth Neufeld | Vice President Of Strategy
This is Vera!
Vera's leg was amputated when she was six years old due to osteosarcoma. She has used forearm crutches to walk since then and never used a prosthetic limb. She was provided a prosthesis as a child but never adapted to the device. Two years ago, at age 21, she began exploring her options for prosthetic care. She's been chronically tired and experiences back and arm pain from walking on forearm crutches without a prosthesis.
Vera first wants to learn how to walk. She has not walked with two legs since she was six years old. She needs considerable strength and balance training but is determined to learn how to walk with a prosthesis.
Vera's ROMP socket is a first of its kind design for ROMP Guatemala. Double socket wall with flexible inner suction socket and rigid frame. ROMP was able to make the outer rigid socket of her prosthesis a purple color using transfer paper that was donated by New Limbits. By the end of her time at ROMP Guatemala this week, Vera was able to walk around the hospital grounds and into Zacapa City using one forearm crutch. She was thrilled to be able to hold a bottle of water in her free hand as we walked through the city, something that she has not been able to experience since her amputation.
Vera has a start up business designing and fabricating custom clothes for pets. Additionally, she works as a systems engineer and has extensive project management and business administration experience. She loves managing her business' social media channels. She has a kind heart and a strong desire to help others. Vera also loves going to the gym, enjoys cooking, and loves animals. She rescued her dog from the verge of starvation and nourished him back to health and would love to help stray animals find a loving home.
After this experience with ROMP, Vera wants to help other amputees access prosthetic care and is interested in organizing awareness campaigns, fundraisers, and providing moral support to people facing limb loss.
This is not the last we will see of Vera, she plans to stay involved and help others get access to care and even wants to provide support to those facing limb loss. Thank you for your donation and for supporting people like Vera.
Go, Vera!
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