Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Stepping forward with love


By LINDA M. LINONIS

linonis@vindy.com

CANFIELD

Imagine losing the use of your legs and what that would mean to your mobility, independence and activities.

Now think of what it might be like to not have legs at all.

That’s how Nicholai “Kolya” Denykin was born. But caring people and technology are making life-changing measures possible for the 10-year-old Russian boy.

The Rev. Kathryn Adams met Kolya in 2006 when she led a To Russia with Love volunteer-in-mission team to the Renewal Orphanage in Dimitrov, Russia. The Rev. Mrs. Adams, who has spearheaded 17 mission teams to orphanages in Russia, said the group also visited the orphanage in 2007 and this year. Mrs. Adams is director of Protestant Campus Ministries at Youngstown State University; To Russia with Love is a nonprofit organization and extension of PCM.

“The doctor at the orphanage asked if we could do anything to help Kolya,” Mrs. Adams said. So the team of volunteers took on the task of bringing Kolya to America and having him fitted with prosthetics. The cost is estimated at $5,000.

This isn’t the first time the volunteer-in-mission team has worked on such a project. In 2008, Mrs. Adams brought Vlad Makarov, who also had lived at Renewal Orphanage, to the United States to be fitted for prosthetics. Makarov, now 20 and a computer programmer who graduated from a technical college, had lost his legs below the knees in a train

accident.

Makarov and Kolya arrived Aug. 30 in the United States, accompanied by the orphanage doctor. Mrs. Adams and her husband, the Rev. Russ Adams, pastor of Western Reserve United Methodist Church in Canfield, are hosts to the Russian guests at their home in Canfield.

Makarov spent two weeks in the Mahoning Valley to see Craig Svader of Advanced Anatomical Design (AAD), licensed prosthetic, orthotic and pedorthic professionals with offices in Canfield and Girard, for adjustments to his prosthetics. Makarov has since returned to Russia, where he now has an apartment he shares with his grandmother, sister and pet bulldog.

Kolya will be in the United States a minimum of three months. He currently uses a wheelchair and is being fitted for prosthetics at AAD.

“He was basically born without legs ... just stumps to the knee,” said Mrs. Adams.

Kolya will have physical therapy at Youngstown Orthopaedic Associates.

Svader said fitting Kolya is “challenging” because he has to make prosthetics that will be “adjustable” as the child grows.

“They have to be durable so he will be able to do what he wants to do,” Svader said.

Svader said Kolya’s birth defect of missing limbs below the knee also presents a challenge to Kolya in learning to walk. “But children adjust very well,” Svader said.

Svader is donating his time, expertise and materials to the prosthetics, which would cost about $20,000.

Though Kolya faces challenges, Mrs. Adams described him as a “delightful child” who is curious and eager to please.

Kolya is “enjoying time in America” and “likes everything,” she said.

He plays video games and likes to watch TV.

As for food, Kolya “loves hot dogs” and is adjusting to other American foods.

Mrs. Adams speaks enough Russian to get by, and a Russian neighbor also helps with communication.

The prosthetics will “completely change Kolya’s life,” Mrs. Adams said.

And that’s why she does what she does.

“God calls us to do what we can for others,” she said. “I’m trying to help this little boy have a new life.”

As for the mission team, when they visit Russia, they have gone to Renewal Orphanage, where the children all have physical disabilities, and other orphanages. Team members interact with the children and give them gifts. The team also does work projects.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Sacrificial Limb

Sacrificial Limb

ACA and Member Support Group Events Calendar

Title: First Volley Adaptive Tennis Clinic
Description: Alpine Hills Tennis & Swimming Club, Portola Valley, California. An adaptive tennis program for ambulatory players. For more information visit www.opfund.org.

ACA and Member Support Group Events Calendar

Amputee Coalition of America, ACA :: Resources for amputees, amputation, limb loss, limb difference, peer support and more

Amputee Coalition of America, ACA :: Resources for amputees, amputation, limb loss, limb difference, peer support and more

Visit The JPO - Journal

JPO: Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics Official Publication of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists Softbound

Physicians for Peace

My Thumbs Up Award to: Physicians for Peace!
Here is what they are about:

Who We Are

* [View]

Physicians for Peace was founded in 1989, dedicated to the ideal that health care in the developing world can best be improved by providing training and education to health care professionals in those countries. When we send one volunteer medical professional overseas, that person might train 10 of their peers in-country, who will later heal thousands or tens of thousands of patients in the world’s most underserved populations.

By focusing on long-term, sustainable, replicable medical education and training, we send teams of medical volunteers — including physicians, dentists, nurses, physical therapists, physician assistants and other healthcare professionals — to places where their teaching and healing skills are needed most. Since its inception, Physicians for Peace has made hundreds of trips to Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East and beyond, changing the lives of countless thousands of people along the way.

The programs, missions and volunteers of Physicians for Peace transform the lives of countless thousands of patients in some of the neediest regions of the world. But we can only carry out this work with your support. Your gifts of time, materials and funding are what allow us to continue providing critical care and education in the developing world. We thank you for that support.



Mission | Vision | Values



Mission:
Through education and training, to increase the medical capabilities of underserved nations, thereby improving lives, serving as an inspiration and model for better relations among nations and empowering people to develop to their full potential.



Vision:
Building peace and international friendships through medicine.



Values:

* Build peace and international friendships through medicine
* Provide quality medical services and heathcare education
* Build programs that can become self-sustaining and allow Physicians for Peace to exit
* Utilize volunteers to lead and execute education and training missions
* Develop revenue streams to adequately support the implementation of programs and missions
* Engage in collaborative and strategic partnerships (staff, volunteers, in-country and other NGOs)
* Define and measure impact

Aid team sets off on medical mission to Malawi


A humanitarian aid team from Glasgow City Council has left for Africa to help build a new Prosthetics and Orthotics Centre.

International Society For Human Welfare and Rehabilitation

ISHWAR

The Society was founded by Mr. Surinder Mehta, Chairman, Prime Group of Companies in the year 1995. It is registered with the Registrar of Societies Delhi and the registered office of the Society is at A-4, Naraina Indl. Area, Phase-1, New Delh.-110028.

ISHWAR Society is a voluntary, non-profit Organisation dedicated to serving the physically challenged and other needy sections of the Society.

The main thrust of the Society is the welfare of the physically handicapped. It aims to provide efficient Modular Hi-Tech Artificial Limb Systems to those unfortunate victims (amputees/polio effected) who due to the quirks of fate have suffered a loss of limb/limbs / suffering of polio.

The Society, firmly believes that physical disability is no handicap. It is a challenge to be faced by giving the needy people good efficient limbs and limb supports which help them to stand, walk, run and enables them to exploit their fullest potential to lead fruitful & dignified lives.

ISHWAR Society spreads awareness about advance treatments for Physically Challenged people

Taking yet another step forward to help & support physically challenged people, ISHWAR (International Society for Human Welfare and Rehabilitation) organized a continuous rehabilitation education programme on "Management of Neuropathic Feet with Thermoplastic AFOs" (Ankle Foot Orthosis) through its ISHWAR Institute of Prosthetics & Orthotics (IIPO) at Chennai. AFOs (Ankle Foot Orthosis) which are usually made of thermoplastics are worn on the effected side at the ankle region for people suffering from foot drop. Foot drop could be due to stroke, cerebral palsy, polio or any other neurppathic foot ailments. The four day programme was organized with an aim to spread awareness about the latest technique for the use of AFOs and the recent developments like Tamarack Ankle Joint & Diabetic Foot Management. It was conducted by Mr. Charles W Kuffel, President, Clinical Director, Blaine Medical Center, USA. After the brief session by Mr. Charles.

Go to link for the whole story.

$815K NIH Grant Supports PhysioNetics' Work on Low-Cost Prosthetics

DENVER--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--ADA Technologies, Inc.’s PhysioNetics division has been awarded an $815,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The Phase II award will enable PhysioNetics to complete design refinements and commercialization activities for its low-cost upper-extremity prosthetic interface, also known as a “socket.”

Go to link for the whole story.

HAITI: Emergency sheds light on needs of pre-quake disabled


PORT-AU-PRINCE, 15 September 2010 (IRIN) - A man who had a leg amputated after being shot during political unrest in 2004 recently came to an emergency clinic for earthquake victims in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, hoping to get help.

Shriners Hospital Part One

Shriners Hospital Part One

Exercise for Amputees

Exercise !!! Why is it Important for Amputees????
Check out the link for answers!

Pre-earthquake amputees in Haiti

From IRIN, a story on the needs of amputees in Haiti. People who were amputees before the earthquake are claiming to be earthquake victims to get faster prosthetic service.

Sunday, September 05, 2010

MTV is developing a pilot for a potential new documentary series about young people who have recently suffered serious injuries and .....

MTV'S ZUPAN CAN

Every day accidents happen that unexpectedly change a person’s life forever. Facing a life-changing injury can be overwhelming, challenging, and difficult to understand.

MTV is developing a pilot for a potential new documentary series about young people who have recently suffered serious injuries and are rebuilding their lives.

The subjects will work with Mark Zupan, quad rugby player and star of the movie "Murderball," who will offer his expert advice on how to move forward after a serious injury. Mark is a quadriplegic who faced first-hand the adversity of being paralyzed in a car accident in 1993.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for one young person to be the subject of our pilot for this potential new series. We're looking for young people between the ages of 16-28 who are recovering from a serious injury and would like to share their story on national television.

About Punched In The Head Productions

We are a small independent production company that’s been contracted by Cheri Sundae Productions to find subjects for this MTV pilot episode. We have produced several episodes of MTV’s “True Life.”

About Mark Zupan

Mark is a Paralymic athlete, motivational speaker, author, and an engineer. He was featured in the Oscar nominated-documentary Muderball, and has appeared in several television shows including Miami Ink and 30 Days.

How to contact us

718-422-0704 ext 108