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Letter from 
8-Year Old Boy in Recife, Brazil Receives New Leg
By Mike Sutherland, C.P.
My wife Emily, daughter Jennifer, and I have been going on short-term mission trips over the past eight years. We have had the opportunity to work with organizations such as Mercy Ships in Nicaragua, World Servants in West Virginia, and African Christian Ministries in South Africa. For the past three years we have been going to Recife, Brazil to work with YWAM (Youth with a Mission). Their main focus in Recife is to work with the local community, which is a very poverty-stricken area, and also with the thousands of children who live in the streets of this city of four million people.
In September 2004, we took a team of eight people on a two-week mission trip to Recife. One of the projects we had planned was a week-long Vacation Bible School for the children in the community. School was in session, but we were able to go into the school (imagine that) to hold our program. The very first day of the program, my wife, Emily met an 8-year old boy named John Lennon Tenorio DeAraujo. What made him stand out amongst all the other children was that he was running around on one leg, using a crutch to support his other side where he was missing his lower extremity above the knee.
Through an interpreter, we learned that when John Lennon was three years old, he was run over by a bus, which resulted in the loss of his leg. He had a prosthesis made at that time, but didn't really wear it because it was uncomfortable. By now he has certainly outgrown this prosthesis. Because the family had no insurance, they were not able to get another leg for John Lennon, so for the past five years he has been getting around on one leg, using a crutch. He is Brazilian, so of course he does play soccer - even on one leg! My wife and I decided we needed to get a leg for this young boy somehow.
Most people in the flavela (slum) areas of Brazil don't have any insurance. They do have some assistance programs but those provide much less coverage than our Medicaid program. Although both parents work, there isn't enough money for medical insurance.
Upon our return to the U.S., I began to put our plan to get a new prosthesis for 8-year old John Lennon into action. I contacted some of our component parts suppliers to see if they would partner with me on this mission. Of course, they came through with flying colors and I received everything I needed to construct a prosthesis for John Lennon. For those of us who rack our brains trying to remember what to take for a fitting outside the office, try doing it in a third world country. It's a unique and highly rewarding experience!
My wife and I returned to Brazil in January 2005, with hopefully everything I needed to do the fitting. I did need to purchase a heat gun, but other than that that, everything went well. I met with the physiatrist, physical therapist, and local prosthetist in a clinic setting to do the fitting. I was able to suspend the prosthesis with a silicone liner, which was unique to the local professionals as they were used to seeing that type of suspension on below knee amputees only.
John Lennon wore a prosthesis only briefly when he was three years old, so this was like starting from the first time. After a short time, he started ambulating in the parallel bars pretty well. Unfortunately, our trip was coming to an end and I was not able to see how he progressed. My plan is to see him in July when we go back for another short-term mission trip with our next team. This trip will include a one-week medical clinic for the families in the community, the missionary families, and the street children.
If you keep up with the many O&P publications, you are reading more and more of medical professionals going to third world countries to "make a difference." I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to take a trip and "make a difference." It will change your life!
I would like to thank Otto Bock Healthcare, College Park Industries, and of course Wright & Filippis for making this trip possible with the donation of parts as well as finances. Without your help, this would not have been possible.
By Mike Sutherland, C.P.
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| Mike Sutherland, CP provided a prosthetic leg for an 8-year old Brazilian boy who lost his leg in a bus accident. |
In September 2004, we took a team of eight people on a two-week mission trip to Recife. One of the projects we had planned was a week-long Vacation Bible School for the children in the community. School was in session, but we were able to go into the school (imagine that) to hold our program. The very first day of the program, my wife, Emily met an 8-year old boy named John Lennon Tenorio DeAraujo. What made him stand out amongst all the other children was that he was running around on one leg, using a crutch to support his other side where he was missing his lower extremity above the knee.
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| Mike & Emily Sutherland with John Lennon and his family |
Most people in the flavela (slum) areas of Brazil don't have any insurance. They do have some assistance programs but those provide much less coverage than our Medicaid program. Although both parents work, there isn't enough money for medical insurance.
Upon our return to the U.S., I began to put our plan to get a new prosthesis for 8-year old John Lennon into action. I contacted some of our component parts suppliers to see if they would partner with me on this mission. Of course, they came through with flying colors and I received everything I needed to construct a prosthesis for John Lennon. For those of us who rack our brains trying to remember what to take for a fitting outside the office, try doing it in a third world country. It's a unique and highly rewarding experience!
My wife and I returned to Brazil in January 2005, with hopefully everything I needed to do the fitting. I did need to purchase a heat gun, but other than that that, everything went well. I met with the physiatrist, physical therapist, and local prosthetist in a clinic setting to do the fitting. I was able to suspend the prosthesis with a silicone liner, which was unique to the local professionals as they were used to seeing that type of suspension on below knee amputees only.
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| John Lennon takes his first steps on his new leg. |
If you keep up with the many O&P publications, you are reading more and more of medical professionals going to third world countries to "make a difference." I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to take a trip and "make a difference." It will change your life!
I would like to thank Otto Bock Healthcare, College Park Industries, and of course Wright & Filippis for making this trip possible with the donation of parts as well as finances. Without your help, this would not have been possible.