High-tech prosthetics for 75 Guatemalan amputees

ROMP provides consistent and high-quality prosthetic care for underserved amputees in Guatemala. This GlobalGiving campaign, in conjunction with financial and material support obtained via other channels, enables ongoing prosthetic care so that our patients in Guatemala can live more active, mobile and healtheir lives. As of May 2018, the ROMP Guatemala clinic has delivered 37 custom prosthetic devices. The $400 raised in this GlobalGiving campaign provided prosthetic care to one amazing patient, Vera.

Vera's Story:

Vera's leg was amputated 24 years ago 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 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. One year ago she raised money and traveled to Colombia in order to purchase a new prosthesis. She returned to Guatemala in February of 2017 with her new leg. A few weeks later, her limb changed volume and the socket no longer fit. She suspended use of the prosthesis. Walking on forearm crutches is tiring, causes chronic pain, and the current prosthesis does not stay on and causes pain.

 Vera's Goals:

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. She 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 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. By the end of her time at ROMP Guatemala, 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.

With your donations, ROMP provided a new prosthetic socket and components to Vera. I am personally in touch with Vera on a regular basis and she is doing exercises and increasing time using the prosthesis. Can you imagine how difficult it is to learn how to walk after 24 years of using crutches? Vera's leg is weak and she is not accostomed to the body movements of walking. In spite of the challenges that Vera faces there is one thing that she does not lack - A FIGHTING SPIRIT. You can find her on Instagram @verbrennercorzo

Links:

• La Cumbre - ROMP Patient in Ecuador climbs snow covered volcano