Update February 17, 2022: (update from Eric): 

What a day! Very tired and got a lot done. We were able to deliver three arms today and measure a recipient for another. We still have one more to deliver but probably next week. 

 We also were able to give our visiting friends Shane Earle and Amy Boyles Kennedy a ride along to see what we do. They helped us get our first printer and it was great for them to see the results!

 

Thanks to Rita Rabre de Pinto, our partner, for providing the transportation for all of us including Monica, our office assistant, who is learning more about how the field side works and helps with measuring.

 

Our first delivery was to Ester. She was so happy and I think her daughter was maybe happier! Such big smiles. We were fed a very filling lunch. 

 

First thing she was figuring out besides how it worked was how to sweep with her broom and pick up objects.     This is my favorite part of the work!

 

 

 

 

We then brought Aaron his new arm. He was our first recipient with a hand. He's growing like most boys 13 years old. He was having some troubles with the hand prostheses as he didn't have much of a hand to operate it with and that arm was shorter so he had asked if he could get an arm. School starts next week and he wanted to be ready.

 

He tested it with his slingshot. He's becoming a great shot with it with his hand and is helping put meat on the table with it. I think the arm will work even better. His mother probably appreciates that as he eats like a growing young man she says!

 

 

  

Can't forget Julian! He was a truck driver when he lost his lower arm. He now has a small store. He took to it right off serving up some Powerade from the cooler with it!