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Letter from the Prez
The Green Awaits You
The Second Time Around
Spotlight on 
Company Roundup
Big Tony 
Hall of Fame Continues Growth
A World
The Second Time Around
By: Pam Lupo, Director of Orthotics
When you become disillusioned with the world of today, find comfort in the fact that human nature still includes caring for one another! This February, I had the pleasure of experiencing a second trip to Ghana, Africa, representing Wright & Filippis and FOCOS (Foundation for Orthopedics and Complex Spine). This international organization is dedicated to bringing state-of-the-art free and affordable care to those who are afflicted with spine deformities and disorders of the spine.
It is now readily apparent that each trip has its own unique flavor! Very much like seeing a movie for the second time, you see and experience things that you previously missed! I was not aware, at the time, the level of anxiety I felt during the last visit in April 2002. The comfort of returning to surroundings and people that were familiar made this experience much more enjoyable.
The first day at the hospital, I met a man by the name of Alan Matthew. He is a balding, Caucasian gentleman in his early 70's. He greeted me with an outreached hand. After establishing we were both from Michigan, he told me his story.
Alan was retired and rocking on a porch in Gaylord, when he contemplated if this was all he was going to do with the rest of his life. He sold his home and moved to Ghana, where he now has 6 foster children: one blind, two disabled, and three street children. He was at the hospital that day because one of the girls had broken her arm. He is financially responsible for all of them yet is adamant about them maintaining emotional bonds with any existing families. To help develop the self-esteem of the blind boy, Alan has given him simple tasks of unlocking and locking the house doors every morning and night, and washing the family van. He has even taught him to ride a bike, which is his biggest pleasure.
An amazing woman by the name of Salome Francois toured us through the school for the disabled she had built over the last 40 years. The school is barrier-free with open hut designed classrooms. The students learn basic skills and sell the items they make at the school store.
On the street I saw three young white girls in their early 20's carrying Ghanaian babies. I was curious about their story and later discovered they were from Wales doing their unpaid college internships at a small orphanage in Ghana.
There were countless untold stories of people, organizations, and countries that are helping Africa every minute of every day. The news rarely covers these stories. Being able to experience these selfless efforts firsthand made me realize that human nature still includes kindness and compassion for one another.
By: Pam Lupo, Director of Orthotics
When you become disillusioned with the world of today, find comfort in the fact that human nature still includes caring for one another! This February, I had the pleasure of experiencing a second trip to Ghana, Africa, representing Wright & Filippis and FOCOS (Foundation for Orthopedics and Complex Spine). This international organization is dedicated to bringing state-of-the-art free and affordable care to those who are afflicted with spine deformities and disorders of the spine.It is now readily apparent that each trip has its own unique flavor! Very much like seeing a movie for the second time, you see and experience things that you previously missed! I was not aware, at the time, the level of anxiety I felt during the last visit in April 2002. The comfort of returning to surroundings and people that were familiar made this experience much more enjoyable.
The first day at the hospital, I met a man by the name of Alan Matthew. He is a balding, Caucasian gentleman in his early 70's. He greeted me with an outreached hand. After establishing we were both from Michigan, he told me his story.
Alan was retired and rocking on a porch in Gaylord, when he contemplated if this was all he was going to do with the rest of his life. He sold his home and moved to Ghana, where he now has 6 foster children: one blind, two disabled, and three street children. He was at the hospital that day because one of the girls had broken her arm. He is financially responsible for all of them yet is adamant about them maintaining emotional bonds with any existing families. To help develop the self-esteem of the blind boy, Alan has given him simple tasks of unlocking and locking the house doors every morning and night, and washing the family van. He has even taught him to ride a bike, which is his biggest pleasure.
An amazing woman by the name of Salome Francois toured us through the school for the disabled she had built over the last 40 years. The school is barrier-free with open hut designed classrooms. The students learn basic skills and sell the items they make at the school store.
On the street I saw three young white girls in their early 20's carrying Ghanaian babies. I was curious about their story and later discovered they were from Wales doing their unpaid college internships at a small orphanage in Ghana.
There were countless untold stories of people, organizations, and countries that are helping Africa every minute of every day. The news rarely covers these stories. Being able to experience these selfless efforts firsthand made me realize that human nature still includes kindness and compassion for one another.