We celebrate the life and mourn the passing of our beloved colleague, friend and compadre, Jennifer Lee Knowles.  Jen’s battle with cancer was short and fierce, and she left us so unexpectedly. Jen was the US Coordinator for Prótesis para la Vida and was devoted to the success and improvement of prosthetics in Ecuador.  As… continue reading

We are determined to raise $10,000 by January 1, 2012 for the clinic. Good news for our fund-raising effort: we have received a matching grant from an Asheville, NC family.  They want to match any donations we receive through November, up to the amount of $2500!  That means that if you make a $100 donation,… continue reading

We need to raise $10,000 for our prosthetic clinic in Ecuador by January 1, 2012. Our clinic has proved its worth. Since founding it four years ago, we have put well over 500 patients on their feet. Adults are walking, caring for their families, going to work. Children are running, playing, going to school. We need… continue reading

Today Kevin walked up the driveway, up the ramp, and into our clinic, wearing a broad smile that was mirrored by his parents. Two months ago his long-leg braces had been fabricated by our technician, Ivan, and his walker made by our machinist, Luis. Now at age nine this young boy with spina bifida is… continue reading

This past summer I was fortunate to be able to work with Prótesis Para La Vida for 3 weeks in Ibarra, Ecuador. Over the course of my time there I had the pleasure of getting to know the staff as well as get good deal of exposure to different cases. As I have traveled to India nearly every year… continue reading

It is already May and we are preparing for another trip back to the clinic for the months of June and July. Our trip in March was short but very fruitful. Re:Motion Designs (Palo Alto, CA) joined us at the clinic to field test their Jaipur knee (www.remotiondesigns.org) with its new pyramid (alignment adjustment) adaptor…. continue reading

Kit Frank, OTR and Communications Coordinator, was featured in the Huffington Post regarding her work on adaptive equipment that she made for children at the Foundation’s clinic. The article also included some nice photos of our patients. Hooray, Kit! Here is the link to the article Huffington Post. You’ll have to scroll down a bit to… continue reading

Now that Fundación Prótesis Para la Vida in Ibarra has been operational for almost three years, we are seeing many adults and children return for adjustments, new sockets, and new prostheses or braces. Here in Ecuador where people walk so much, the children are very active, and the terrain is extreme, parts wear out more… continue reading

I have just returned from my rotation to the Clinic and many changes have occurred since I was last there. In the clinic building, itself, murals now adorn the walls and a pediatric exam room has been established (thanks, volunteer painters). A rearrangement of machines make better use of our existing space, and with the… continue reading

We dedicate this update letter to Jessica Gaby, who lost her battle with bone cancer last week at age 15. We fit her with an above-knee prosthesis in February, thanks to the generous donations of many of you, and she was able to walk for the last six months of her life. Her mom brought… continue reading