Innovative 3D technology solutions for individuals with limb differences or loss: Danis’ Story
It was around three o’clock p.m. on a Tuesday.
Danis had just finished helping her mother pack up merchandise to sell later that day, and was in the process of taking a shower. Suddenly, the house was rocking back and forth. Danis, realizing her little niece was in the house, jumped out of the shower and ran to the young girl. Just as Danis pushed her niece out the door, she felt the house shake again. Before she knew it, she was buried beneath rubble and broken bricks, her left arm crushed and trapped all the way up above her elbow. Only a crude amateur amputation allowed her to escape.
After losing her left arm and hand, Danis felt like she couldn’t breathe, eat, or sleep. In Haiti, persons living with limb difference or other disabilities are ostracized by their communities. For Danis, losing her arm meant that she could no longer help her mother, look for work, cook, clean, or care for her daughter.
How We Met Danis
Danis was abandoned by her family. Just seventeen and illiterate, she was barely surviving on her own in post-earthquake Port-Au-Prince when she was seen by two nuns on the street.
Fortuitously, the nuns happened to know of a pastor and prosthetist that our Haiti Project cofounder, Dante Varotsis, was working with at the time.
Although Danis did not have a phone or any way to contact Enable Community Foundation’s Haiti Team, Dante discovered that his driver knew her. With the driver volunteering as a liaison between the two of them, the work to design Danis’ new prosthetic device began.
Complications
An examination of Danis’ arm revealed a neuroma, a sensitive growth of nerve tissue, near the end of her residual limb. The neuroma was likely the result of her amateur, emergency amputation and delayed follow-up care. Such experiences were not uncommon after the 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti.
Whenever possible, prostheses should be fitted and fabricated under the supervision of an experienced and skilled certified prosthetist. Successful rehabilitative prosthetic care involves much more than simply providing devices.
Enable Community Foundation is committed to supplying the highest possible level of safety and quality of care to those living in the developing world—despite the global shortage of upper limb specialists.
Working Together
Despite her situation, Danis’ optimism filled the room. Danis was a survivor. She had saved the life of her niece, and now she was fighting for herself, her future. During the whole fitting process, Danis was upbeat, and even joined her technicians in a spontaneous bout of “robot” dance.
One of the many things we learned from working in Haiti is that for many patients having a device that looks as life-like and natural as possible is more important than other functionality. So, ECF’s volunteers created a custom arm to match Danis’ petite frame and skin tone.
Hope for the Future
“I thought the new prosthetic arm was going to be useless, but when I put it on, it felt different from what I thought. I feel comfortable with it. My daughter can actually hold both of my hands now.” — Danis
Life is better for Danis now that she has her new arm. She can put on her own clothes, care better for her daughter, and, in her own words feel “elegant” when she goes out. She hopes to get her education, so she can better help her community heal. Danis is just one of the many unknown heroes of the earthquake.
Danis’ story has taught us that together we can accomplish a lot.
ECF and our partners have a long way to go. A high percentage of the individuals we serve cope with traumatic amputation. Like Danis, they live in developing countries, conflict zones, and refugee camps where access to expert consultation is limited.
There are hundreds of stories like hers, and much more still needs to be done for Danis and others like her.
We invite you to join us.
Cheers,
Enable Community Foundation
Enable Community Foundation (ECF) is meeting the diverse challenges of people with limb loss or difference. We use 3D technology and open design to create and distribute culturally appropriate, affordable, and sustainable upper limb prosthetics and rehabilitative care to underserved populations all over the globe.
Your support will help us to expand our reach!
To learn more about our Haiti Project, Click here.
