"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)

Friday, May 22: Joy of mobility...

We did the first group of fittings for the people from Choma on Friday. We had to split them into two groups since there were so many. Wes left New Day at 7am with Bus Number New Day to pick everyone up at the Disabilities Office in Choma. There were 6 people for prosthetic legs and 2 people for prosthetic eyes.


Here is Greenford waiting for fitting. The kids came down to the garage by classes to see the patient fittings and what we do with prosthetics. We got to be a field trip destination!

Chris fitting Greenford with his below knee prosthesis. He had so many questions...he asked more questions about each part and repeatedly how it all worked. Very inquisitive guy.


This is Gift. His last name is Kasanda. During casting in Choma and at first during this fitting process, I kept calling him Kasanda until I was able to figure out his first name is Gift. I felt a bit embarrassed about that, but he was good humored about it.

Here's a good look at how the fittings were set up. Blu did translating, Chris and I did the fitting and helped each other out by getting parts, and the two ladies from the Choma Disabilities Office observed. They had a camera and documented the fittings. We were able to discuss with them more about us coming each spring to provide prosthetic services, so they will be working with us in the future too. We received a very nice Thank You letter via email from the Disabilities Office once we returned to the U.S. for working with them and providing prosthetic services to people in need there. 

Gift did very well with his prosthesis. 

After some instruction, he quickly was able to just use one forearm crutch for balance and will be walking without any crutch in no time I'm sure. 

Here's Justine and Chris during fitting.

This is Justine's current prosthesis that he got from the Munze clinic. It is now ill fitting, since he has had it a while and has lost volume in his residual limb. He was fit with one of the new Otto Bock feet on the new prosthesis, which is a good foot for a younger, active patient. He should notice a big difference with a better fitting leg and higher activity foot.

Chris telling Justine why we were in Zambia to see people for prostheses. We told each person that we are called by God to serve people in Zambia by making them a prosthesis. Chris made the correlation (which is an awesome way to explain it) that the prosthesis we made them is a free gift, just like salvation. Jesus' gift to us by His sacrifice for our sins is free to those who welcome Him into their hearts. 

Chris and I with one of the kids' classes for their "mini field trip" to see prosthetics. They seemed thrilled/anxious to hold and touch the prostheses.

"And this is how a prosthesis is made..." Explaining how the prosthetic leg is built and works to the kids.

The lady with the walker is Lwisa. She is a below knee amputee due to diabetes who is also blind due to diabetes. She lives with her daughter (on the right). Lwisa has been confined mostly to a wheelchair since her amputation 2 years ago. She didn't speak English, but her daughter does who translated and got all the instructions about how to put the leg on, use it, etc. since she is blind. 

I had woken up a few nights before fitting Lwisa thinking about "Is she going to use the prosthesis since she's blind and hasn't stood in so long, etc.", "Maybe I could have used that time making this leg so that we could have seen the other man who came later, or someone else"....basically just nervous that she wouldn't be able to succeed with the prosthesis. Lwisa did awesome! We had this walker that we gave to her to offer her maximum stability when walking and that will create a barrier in front of her since she is blind. She just stood up and took off with the walker. She was so happy she started crying. She and her daughter were so thankful! 

Here's Boyd with his above knee prosthesis. He told me that he thanked God for sending us to make him a leg...he never thought he would walk again. He was very good at following our instructions on how to use the leg and was determined to learn to walk quickly.

John making some adjustments on one of the eyes he fit Friday. 

Matthews and Chris during fitting. 

Matthews seemed very timid about using the prosthesis. Fortunately, this type of knee is able to lock in full extension while he gets used to walking, then he can unlock it to sit and eventually leave it unlocked to bend as normal once he gets more used to walking with the leg.

The ladies from the Disabilities Office requested a group picture before everyone got on the bus to go back to Choma. Love this picture!!

I had time after the fittings on Friday afternoon to walk around and take pictures. Here's Erin down at the playground with the kids. 

So many fittings done...only 4 more prostheses to finish up.

*Next post: Saturday, May 23: Last eye fitting and last fabrication...



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