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

Thailand 3rd post, the MONOLIMB

The MONOLIMB is a technique that was designed to serve amputees in the developing world who do not have access to proper prosthetic care. It is a durable and cost effective alternative that is being used on the Thai-Burma border as well as other areas of the world. This week I completed my first MONOLIMB project. Most of the principles of BK casting and fabrication (it cannot be used for AKs) are similar but there are definitely differences. I would try to describe it but it would take too long, so I’ve attached a link to the organization that designed it.

http://www.prs-research.org/htmPages/Research/ttas.html

There are definitely some challenges, for instance there is minimal adjustments that can be made to the dynamic alignment. The colour of the copolymer used is not always accepted by amputees and the pylon presents an irregular look. One thing I underestimated here was the importance of aesthetics! But that was my own ignorance, these people care about how they look just as much as you and I.
Some benefits of the MONOLIMB are that it is inexpensive, allows less time between the initial appointment and the final product, and patients do not have to come to a lab (the work with the patient can be done in the field).
It has been good to get some exposure to this technique. Using creativity and innovation is essential when working in the developing world. I’m trying to watch and learn so that I better understand how I can help. This is quite an experience! Look forward to your comments, bye for now.
Click on the photo to see a slideshow of my MONOLIMB pictures!

Thailand 2nd post, the Mae Tao Clinic

Do you know what a medical clinic on the Thai-Burma border looks like? I wasn’t ready for it. From what I had heard about Dr. Cynthia Muang’s clinic I imagined something more like home. My heart went out to these people…both Duane and I had to work hard to control ourselves. Dr. Cynthia Muang is a tremendous lady who was a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and there are so many other amazing people who contribute to this work. Nevertheless, this is a situation that made me think of World Vision programs and Unicef. So far we haven’t taken photos of the general clinic because we need permission and an escort…frankly without giving something of yourself to the people who you photograph, it feels like exploitation. But we are here to help and there is a well-established and well running prosthetic clinic here. Duane and I have just finished our first week and have observed everything. It is amazing! Saw Maw Kel, who is the head of the teaching clinic and a below knee amputee himself, has taught for 20 years and seen 50+ graduates leave and continue on the role of a ‘jungle prosthetist’. Yes, jungle prosthetics! It is not what we have been learning in school but Saw Maw Kel has developed a technique which is effective and applicable to the lifestyles of these people. He takes Otto Bock prototypes and engineers a device that will match the rugged terrain and demanding daily activities that these villagers need. Saw Maw Kel is a tremendous man, he speaks English well, and it is an honour for Duane and I to have met him. I could write so much but post your own comments or e-mail us back and we’ll give more details. Also look out for our photos!
Guess what! On Monday we will begin our first projects!

Please don’t forget the Karen (Burmese) people.
http://www.cpi.org/regions/thailand.php
http://www.maetaoclinic.org/

Summertime and the Weather is Fine

Hello everyone,

Summer employment has started for almost all of us, with classmates scattered from Vancouver to Winnipeg and even Thailand. Myself, I am at Award Prosthetics in Burnaby. Over the past two weeks I have seen some interesting patients that aren't exactly textbook, including one quad amputee. I thought I had learned so much over the past school year, but seeing some of the challenging cases that can walk through the door, I know so little in all reality.

And you know summer is here when the Stanley Cup Playoffs end, unfortunately the wrong "ucks" team won the cup! Enjoy the rest of the summer while you can, it seems to be flying by.

Thailand 1st post

Our first full day was great! It sure is stinking hot here though! No complaining…reminds me of the mugginess and humidity of Toronto’s summers.
We enjoyed the colours, sights, foods, entertainment and shopping of Bangkok on our first full day.
We visited their ‘bling-bling’ malls but also some of their ‘back alleys’ where we found authentic, cheap, and delicious Thai food. No regrets, we rode the bus, we walked, we took a tuk-tuk, watched the scooters, and stared at the Lamborghini and Ferraris.
Our two meals perhaps cost us a total of $4 CAD. Not back eh? And we’re not even sick!
For some reason Pirates of the Caribbean 3 was better here than at home…maybe that’s because we had full-on recliners and AC blasting us. We also fulfilled out civic/tourist duty of the day by standing for the Thai anthem before the movie and respectfully acknowledging the King.
Duane and Jessica basically planned our day and Reg lead us around. I sat back and took photos, ate and bought expensive electronics. So we did a lot of walking, saw many things including disabled beggars. I believe I saw one bk and two above elbow amputees as well as a boy with spina bifida.
Okay, more to come soon. If anyone knows how to post video do you wanna help me out. The blog instructions are all in Thai… cheers, Jody and Duane