Monday, Sept. 17: Patients and field trips and fabrication

Monday was a busy day at the clinic. We finished getting all the prostheses and the one pair of AFOs assembled and ready for patient fittings that would start on Wednesday, had 2 classes from New Day come up to the clinic for a field trip, and had 3 patients. 

The "finished carts" with the growing stack as we finished assembling everything on Monday.

Protashow showing the kids from New Day how the Trautman works to smooth the edges of a socket.

I enjoyed watching Protashow explain various aspects of what we do to the students.

Suzanne getting components together for a prosthesis.

Protashow and Suzanne working on assembling devices.

Charlie stopped by for repair to his crutches, which we ended up just giving him a new pair.

We had made Charlie a prosthesis several years ago, but he found that he would prefer to not use a prosthesis and just use crutches to get around. And this is OK...it's hard work to use a prosthesis. He gets around great on crutches, and I'm glad he felt comfortable coming to see if we could repair his.

Another class came to the clinic for a field trip. 

They had great questions! And it was neat that they could come see what all we do at the clinic. 

This is Malawo. (yes...we had 2 patients named Malawo this trip...one child, one adult). He's a teacher and has a transcarpal amputation on his left side. A transcarpal amputation is just past the wrist.

Suzanne talking with him about prosthetic options. She casted him to make an upper extremity prosthesis for him in the U.S., which we'll take back to fit him in April. Upper extremity prostheses are very time consuming, and we don't have parts available at the clinic for fabricating these. 

Harrington came for follow up on his AFO that we fit in April. He is neurologically involved with a lot of tone on his right arm and leg. His foot wants to point down and turn in due to the tone, but the AFO holds the foot and ankle straight though the toe was still pointed down. 

He has been wearing the AFO every day, which has helped him to walk with protection to the foot and helped stretch his ankle and foot. I was able to correct his foot and ankle more because of the stretching, so I casted him for a new AFO that's in the better corrected position.

Harrington is so fortunate to have his grandfather who cares for him and brings him to the clinic. His grandfather is so attentive to get all the instructions to help him with the AFO. They were told to come back on Thursday for fitting of the new AFO.

Suzanne working on the straps and buckles for the AFOs for Haston.

Protashow filling the cast of Harrington's leg to make his new AFO.

We had these cute little boots that fit great for Malawo's prostheses!

Carts with the finished devices ready to go for patient fittings.

Louise and I climbed the water tower for sunset pictures on the way back to the Ark.

Louise taking in the view of the beautiful Zambian landscape.

A view of the clinic from atop the water tower.

Another one of my favorites about my trips to Zambia is making a point to climb the water tower for a view of the sunset. God paints some very beautiful skies!

A close on our very busy Monday. 

*Next post: Tuesday, Sept 18- Wednesday, Sept 19: Finishing fabrication and the start of patient fittings