"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, Sept. 14: Fabrication and another patient

Friday was filled with fabrication, and Louise continued with organizing in the clinic. We had one patient come who we were expecting. 


Suzanne modifying a plaster mold

Protashow smoothing out a prosthetic socket.

Chipo, who is the Financial Assistant at New Day, came up to the clinic to see where she could help out. She organized the feet into bins.

Louise getting the casting material organized into bins for easy access.

Have I mentioned how awesome it was that Louise organized the clinic? 

Seriously...even down to separating burrs and screw sizes...with labels! Because of all her hard work in getting the clinic more organized, we are able to fabricate devices and work more quickly. Which means we can potentially see more patients for future trips!

The one patient for Friday who we were expecting was Felix. Felix is 8 yrs old and was in a burn accident in 2012. He has a partial left foot and the left leg is shorter from the accident. 

Staci, who lives at New Day, had sent us pictures of Felix's leg before our trip. We had brought a walking boot specifically for him and were planning to cast his leg to make something back in the U.S. to bring for him in April. However, when he arrived we discovered he has an open wound on his heel.

I modified the walking boot to take pressure off his heel and instructed him to put minimal weight on the left foot until the wound is healed, using his crutches for walking to keep the left foot off the ground. We will see him in April to follow up and hopefully be able to make him a prosthesis if the wound is healed. 

In fabrication, Suzanne continued with laminating and Protashow cutting out the finished sockets, breaking out the plaster and smoothing up the socket edges. 

Suzanne worked with Protashow on instructing him to do laminations, and he did one himself to learn the process.

I was able to get the "sails" for the above knee prostheses sewn. We only had 5 sails to make for this trip, so I was able to get all those made on Friday. 

*Next post: Saturday, Sept. 15- Sunday, Sept. 16: Fabrication continues...


No comments:

Post a Comment