The Final Countdown with Eleven Poppers Popping

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Well you might think of that as is a weird title (check the video I've attached) but I think that's what bests describes how we are feeling today. Today is our last day of exams of this term before we head to our respective homes for Christmas. The Final Countdown has been somewhat of our theme song in class the past little while, as the final countdown to this term. And as the twelve days of Christmas are upon us, the eleven of us are popping with excitement that we get to spend the next while with our families and loved ones. Popping with relief that this term is finally over with only one term to go. And finally, popping with nervousness in that today we are about to take part in a practical exam that is to somewhat mock what we might encounter in our Certification exams in 2 1/2 years, and convey to our examiners everything we have learned in the past few months. I'm thinking, if I'm this nervous for this little exam that is worth 10% of our Prosthetics grade, how nervous am I going to be at the Certification exams when it's worth my future?

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However, this term has been great, for that a special thanks has to go out to Jamie Little and Dave Moe, who have been teaching us Trans-Femoral Prosthetics this past term and have done a great job, Jason who is our fearless leader and of course Desmond Cook who has been leading us in the lab right from day one and has taught us all so much. Yes even me Dez. Everyone has done a fabulous job with all of the clinical projects. I think everything we have learned the past year and a half is all coming together very well, and with one term to go and still so much more to learn i think anyone who is lucky enough to employ any of us, after we have graduated, will be glad they did.



I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and I hope that the New Year brings you Health and Happyness.

We recently had the privelage of meeting with Arnie Pentland, the founder of O&P in Canada.  It was interesting to hear the stories that shaped our profession in the early days.  This put into perspective what we are studying and how it affects people today and years later too.  This is a recent class picture with Mr. Pentland.

On another note, we start final exams in two weeks from today.  Yes, this snuck up on us faster than previous semesters it seems.  The semester has been fun though; we have seen a good cross-section of KAFO and transfemoral patients.  We are also gearing up for our January practicum, where our class is going to spread out across Canada and overseas.  Look for new and exciting posts in the New Year with our stories from practicum placements.

19 Days of Stress Left!!!

I can't believe how fast this semester has flown by.  I seem to remember people saying last year that second year was way easier than the first...well I have yet to see it.  We seem to have way more assignments this year with at least 2 things due every single week and the so-called "midterms" have seemed to be going on for the entire semester we still have 1 or 2 more and then finals start the following week.  

But enough with the complaining, we have been doing so really fun stuff this semester, the transfemoral fittings have been going surprisingly well for most of us...well surprising to our teachers but we all know we have skills!!  Kidding, but the biggest challenge has just arrived with our CAD-CAM fittings, which we just got back from central fab and found that the majority of the sockets look nothing like our patients limb.  

Besides class we have had a few exciting things going on outside of class, tomorrow a group of us will be attending the CFL western final...to cheer on the Riders, of course!!!   Go Riders!!

I would also, like to use this forum to thank the entire class on behalf of Duane, Lisa and myself who have recently received achievement awards for last year.  Our entire class is extremely bright and we work as such a great team helping each other out where we need it.  I would love it if we could all receive awards...but sorry guys although I love you and am grateful for all your help  I am not willing to give up any of my award.  Seriously though, thank you guys!!

Sorry, no pictures this time.  I will try to get some over the next few weeks.

Hard At Work

The Semester is Already More than Half Over!!!!
Lots of studying and learning going on, KAFO's have been covered and Transfermorals are being covered now. We all know eachother just a little bit better, More Intimately since Ischium/Ramus Appreciation Day, and are using this to deal with ongoing studying, finding practicum sites and wondering about Major Presentations Due Next Semester.

Thailand 6th post, Education

One exciting aspect of travelling is meeting people who are similar to you. In spite of nationality, or race, gender, or religion, friendship and comradeship can develop when you find someone with similar interests.
The ISPO Congress in Vancouver gave us this opportunity, it was a great event and I am thankful that I was able to attend. At the Congress I was especially happy to meet again with colleagues from Thailand!
In Bangkok Duane and I were given a tour of the Sirindhorn School of Prosthetics and Orthotics which is a department in the Faculty of Medicine at the Mahidol University. It is a four-year program and upon completion the students write final exams and are certified as Prothetists and Orthotists (CPO). The school has existed since 2002 and is funded and supported by the Nippon Foundation. We met lecturers from around the world, Aaron from Hong Kong, Msechu and Anna from Tanzania, Shin and Kyoko from Japan, and Supattra from Thailand (recent grad from the program).
Fifty students are enrolled in the school and two-thirds are female. I was told that this reflects the health care system in Thailand. Some of the students who I met were Jack, Ju and Sot. They all seemed to enjoy what they were doing and were keen to learn. Most of the students entered the program right out of high school, and because of our (Duane and I) age they thought that we were teachers!
The school was well kept and spacious, the facilities and equipment at the school were impressive. They lacked nothing that we have at BCIT. The students are kept busy with hands on projects and theoretical studies. It seems as though the students were being well prepared.
I look forward to meeting our Thai colleagues again.
Watch the slideshow!

Thailand 5th post, Loi Taileng

There is a certain allure and appeal that goes along with being a trailblazer. Especially when living in Mae Sot, which is a wonderful place, but a place where NGOs trip over themselves and their relief and development work can overlap. Duane and I had the chance to leave Mae Sot and go where few foreigners have gone before. We received ‘permission’ from the Thai authorities to cross the border into the Shan State, Burma. We are the first prosthetists who have been to this area and the first foreigners to have received ‘permission’ to cross at this border point. At this location, Loi Taileng, there are many amputees. We were able to cast 16 of the below knee amputees in 2 days, soon to return and provide MONOLIMB protheses for them. In order to receive prosthetic care these people have had to travel to Chaing Rai, Thailand or the Karenni State, Burma, both prosthetic labs are miles away. The prostheses which we saw were 20 years old and in terrible shape. Their gratitude to us was displayed and spoken of often. The Shan people’s hospitality and kindness were exceptional and only made us want to return and help in more ways. The Shan are one of the two largest ethnic groups in Burma. They, like the Karen, have been persecuted and are victims of genocide at the hands of the Burma Army. Loi Taileng is one of the last ‘safe havens’ and operates as the Shan State Army (SSA) base and training centre. Every able bodied man is a soldier. We were safe but that is a relative term. The SSA expects to be attacked in 2008 by the Burma Army. A sad prospective for every Burmese person, this is the result of almost 60 years of civil war. Though today we cannot stop the political war we can aid in the fight against the violation of human rights. I hope to erase the words written by Caroline Cox, “…but there was no way he could obtain a prosthesis.” (A Land Without Evil)
Burma needs our prayers.

Thailand 4th post

Burma’s situation is real!

This is not history! That is what continues to ring in my head. The atrocities that I am reading about and the repercussions that I am witnessing are current events, happening just over those hills and across the Moei or the Salween river in Burma. The victims of malnutrition, curable diseases, displacement from homes, forced labour, unfair imprisonment, landmine explosions are all around me. This is heart wrenching, though if we don’t keep faith how will these Burmese ethnic groups keep their faith? Over the past four weeks I have been inspired to keep hoping and to assist in the solution. The work of international volunteers, representatives from various media sources and most importantly the Karen and other ethnic groups themselves do fill small voids but so much more needs to happen.
My life has been changed, my heart hurts each time I contemplate the depth of this situation. There needs to be more international awareness so that change can be brought to Burma. I encourage you to take a minute and look at the following article, my pictures and search topics like Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Thai Burma Border Consortium, Free Burma Rangers.
Choose to be aware…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6252024.stm