"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, April 21- Sunday, April 23: Fabrication days and another patient

Friday started our full days of fabrication of all the prosthetic legs and eyes. We had seen patients the first 3 days we were working (doing some fabrication after patients in the late afternoon) and would use the next several full days for fabrication before patients started coming back for fittings. 


Traci selflessly filled almost every cast with plaster during the trip. (It's a pretty messy part, so she definitely took one for the team)

Chris and I modifying plaster models.

On Friday while Chris and I were modifying and Traci was filling casts, we had another patient come. She had missed the bus in Choma so she got transport to come straight to the clinic on Friday. Juliety has been an above knee amputee since 2007. We actually had to ask her to wait to see if we had enough plaster to fill all the casts we had before determining if we had enough to make her a prosthesis as well. She patiently waited and thankfully we were able to make her a prosthesis too. Traci and Chris continued fabricating while I casted Juliety. 

Traci showing Protashow how to cautiously break out the plaster from the final laminated socket.

Protashow smoothing the edges of a finished laminated socket.

Sweet Traci modifying a plaster model. I was just so happy she was able to join us for the trip this year. Such a huge blessing to me to be able to work alongside my sister. 

John working on a prosthetic eye in his room.

Another great picture of John at work. He finished the 1st painting all 17 prosthetic eyes on Friday....a lot of small, delicate work.

Ah, the sewing machine....we have a love-hate relationship. I LOVE that we were able to purchase a new industrial sewing machine to make all the sewing much easier. But I'm not exactly a seamstress, so the sewing gets to me after a while. I have gotten quite good at adjusting tension though after much trial and error. 

Rick at work smoothing a plaster model. Rick was SO helpful during our trip. He was eager to help out wherever he could and didn't seem to mind the tedious work of smoothing plaster and burning holes in dacron straps. 

Saturday was another full fabrication day, and we had several people come by the clinic for eyeglasses. We also received the resin (chemical needed for laminating the prosthetic sockets) on Saturday that we had ordered for this year's trip. 

Ladies trying on eyeglasses to find a pair that worked well for them. 

These men are from the capital city, Lusaka, and work for Ottobock (a manufacturer of prosthetic supplies). They had a delay in receiving the resin we had ordered in advance from South Africa, so when it arrived at their facility they brought it directly to us to ensure we had it in time. We opted to get the resin shipped from South Africa to save money since it is a hazmat chemical and very expensive to ship from the U.S. 

Some of the New Day girls came with Papa Ron up to the clinic to borrow some chairs for Kid's Club, which happens on Saturday afternoons at New Day Orphanage. They took a moment to check out what all we were making at the clinic before heading back.

A great picture of Kid's Club. This is a once a week ministry for the surrounding children around the area of the orphanage. It's something like Wednesday night church here at home with play time, a bible story and singing and then a meal. 

Washing hands and getting a plate for food.

Rick brought enough candy to be able to give each kid some at Kid's Club.

Eating nshima, beans and cabbage. Yum!

Sunday was very special. We started with church in the morning before working on fabrication in the afternoon. John preached the sermon! I always love hearing him preach....so special! 
First people arriving at church. The church has been working on a brick building. Right now it has about half of the metal roof on and these cinder blocks lined up as pews. (If you think our church pews are hard...try these.) Church starts with singing, then Sunday School where the kids go outside under the tree and the adults stay in this building, then the kids come back in for the sermon. The whole thing lasts about 3 hours. 

Before church, John gave Mweene (the kid he sponsors at New Day) a bible he had brought for him.

Traci and I trying to follow along in the Tonga hymnal. I do admit I have learned more pronunciation of words by following along each year during singing. And we did happen to sing the only song I know the chorus to, so I was happy. 

John preaching the sermon. Mulenga is translating for him to Tonga.

After the service, everyone goes down the line and shakes hands. 

After lunch on Sunday was more fabrication. Rick is burning holes for buckles in the straps of the 'sails' for above knee prosthetic sockets. Traci and I are working on a finished socket. (That's a dust mask on Traci's head.)

Chris setting up a model in the alignment device. 

Sunday evening cloudy sky after a little rain. We were looking ahead to Monday and expecting a few patients.

*Next post: Monday, April 24- Wednesday, April 26: A custom shoe, fabrication and an eye fitting


No comments:

Post a Comment