Team Leader: Dr. E. David Shaw, M.D.
Team Type: Pediatric Orthopedics, Prosthetics, Orthotics, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy
Campaign Summary:
The team triaged 150 children. Dr. Shaw and his surgical team performed 47 surgeries on 36 patients. The prosthetic team provided at least 40 braces, as well as a number of heel lifts to correct length issues. It also made 15 crutches & eight walkers out of PVC piping to allow the post-operative kids to walk until their surgeries healed.
The Campaign was Financed by Team Members and their Supporters. Some Supplies, Services, and/or Funds were Donated by the Following:
Friends of Dr. Shaw — Salem, Oregon
Friends of Guy and Missy Farris — Lake Oswego, Oregon
Roger and Janet Olson — Salem, Oregon
Salem Health — Salem, Oregon
Bill and Margaret Walsh — Troutdale, Oregon
Team Members:
Megan Corrado, Physical Therapist
Val Daberkow, R.N.
Guy Farris, Prosthetist and Orthotist
Missy Farris, Administration
Loren Francis, R.N.
Todd Nelson, Prosthetist and Orthotist
Dr. David Noall, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon
Robyn Randall, R.N.
Samantha Schmit, R.N., Operating Room
Tabor Scrabeck, R.N., Operating Room
Dr. E. David Shaw, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon
Lettie Turner, R.N., Recovery
Dr. Mel Wade, M.D., Anesthesiologist
Kristen White, R.N.
Dr. Jonathan Young, M.D., Anesthesiologist
Finger Deformity Shown from Back of Hand
Finger Deformity with Finger Removed Viewed from the Back of Hand
Finger Deformity with Finger Removed Viewed from the Front
Foot Operation
Lettie Turner Preparing Child for Surgery
Little Girl Happy to Be in Leg Cast with Mom Next to Her
Little Girl Walking with Crutches Supported by Her Mom
Mom with Child in Bilateral Casts after Surgerical Procedures
Patient with Doll and Blue Blanket Made By Roge and Janet Olson
People Waiting Outside of the Clinic as Team Arrives. More are Waiting Inside
Road Blockage Due to a Local Dispute Over Water Rights
Team at Airport in Long Line
Team Photo on Stairs Inside the Clinic
Todd Nelson and Guy Farris with Boy in Brace
Todd Nelson Helping Yohana
Dr. Jonathan Young and Patient Prior to Surgery
Narrative:
By Guy Farris
The weather in Coya was almost exactly like it was in Oregon when we left, but around 20 degrees warmer – gentle rain and sun breaks galore!
During our 12 days in Coya, we evaluated over 150 children from ages eight months all the way to 19 years. Many of the youngest children had hip dislocation problems requiring surgery or an extended period of corrective bracing. Others required surgical correction of clubfoot deformities, followed by bracing with ankle/foot braces during recovery.
Typically, the most dramatic functional changes we see with youngsters during these trips involves the making and fitting of prosthetic limbs. This year, Todd Nelson, my friend and former employer, assisted by Frida Puma, the physical therapist/prosthetist who works at Kausay Wasi Clinic, fabricated and fitted three lower leg prosthetics. This work allowed children to walk after severe burns and/or traumatic amputations. They also made two above-knee prosthetics for an older teen whose thigh bones were crushed between two cars as she attempted to cross a street. Before our trip came to a close, all four of these amputees were walking safely on their own.
There was another “strike” led by the farmers protesting an attack on their traditional water rights by the government. The farmers blocked the major roads/highways with large boulders and tree stumps to halt or obstruct all traffic until either they or the government ‘won’ the point, but as usual, nobody won and the strike was “settled” within 48 hours. This made it extremely difficult for our patients to come and go. Fortunately, most of the patients were already in Coya, and stayed put until the strike settled. It also made for an interesting ride back to the airport, as the strike was barely settled and most of the debris remained blocking the roads.
On our last day in Coya while we were waiting at the Clinic, all packed and ready to go, awaiting word on the strike and whether we would even be able to get to the airport, we learned that there were still two families trying to make their way to the Clinic to see our team for evaluation. Due to the blocked roads, they had been forced to walk at least 20 miles, hoping to arrive in time to see Dr. Shaw before we left. When they arrived, we found that not only did they have two small children under the age of two wearing poorly fitted hip braces, but one of the moms was pregnant and eager to be done with their 20 mile walk! The happy ending to this story was that Dr. Shaw was able to inform the parents that one of the children appeared normal and no longer needed to wear her brace and we were able to make a minor modification to the other child’s brace, which should allow her to improve and possibly heal before our visit next year. It was probably the simplest thing we did the entire visit, but for these families, make the biggest impact on our lives and keep us coming back.