By Jennifer Browning
Project Medishare’s prosthetic technician in training, Wilfred Messine, works with people like him everyday. An amputee patient himself, when Wilfred was fitted with his prosthetic limb in April, we immediately began running and kicking a soccer ball.
Last week, encouraging others like him, he formed a small soccer team of amputee patients. Wilfred provided an inspiration of hope to those who would soon be fitted at Hospital Bernard Mevs Project Medishare with their new limb. His message: if you can do this without a leg, imagine what your possibilities are with a prosthetic leg!
Wilfred had his leg amputated shortly after the earthquake happened in January. Part of his job is not only to help with the fitting and the physical therapy, but he and Cedieu Fortillus, another prosthetic technician in training, also help these patients understand what the prosthetic means for them.
Together Cedieu and Wilfred work to change attitudes of the patients they see and show the patients the possibilities after receiving their new limb.
“Every time we want to explain something to the patient, we use Wilfred as an example,” Cedieu said. “We show them that he has a prosthetic and then we say, look what he can do!!”
Wilfred said that he loves his work at HBMPM because he is helping Project Medishare change people’s lives.
“What Medishare is doing here is helping people start their life again,” Wilfred said. “I talk to the amputee patients and let them know that one day, they can be like me. I tell them that I can walk, I can drive, and I have learned to run….there are so many things I can do with my new leg and that they will be able to do these things one day. I let them know they can have a new life. That if you are an amputee it doesn’t mean your life is over.”
If you would like to help Project Medishare continue programs like this one at Hospital Bernard Mevs Project Medishare (HBMPM) click here to donate today.
Leave a comment