Trips and Impact

April 2016

In early April 2016, OLUOL made it's first trip to Haiti.  Here're the highlights:
- Kervens received two new legs, one for walking (with a knee) and one for running (a pylon with a blade foot).
- Mikerline had casts made for arms to be fabricated in the U.S.  (Unfortunately, the plaster molds weren't setting in Haiti.)
- Luciano and Woodline (who have shoulder disarticulations) both had casts made for prosthetic arms.
- Six other amputees' prostheses were repaired and ten other amputees were evaluated by the team.  These patients were walk-ins!
- We validated our relationship/process with Bernard Mevs Hospital and strengthened relationships in Haiti, allowing for ongoing support!
- Read more complete reports from Christy and Jess!

August 2016

OLUOL completed our second trip to Haiti in August 2016! Here's a quick summary of the trip:
- 22 Total patients (10 planned, 12 walk-in)
- 5 Complete legs built and presented
- 10 Arms built and presented (including Woodline & Luciano's)
- 10 Prostheses repaired or had new parts or sockets installed
- 2 Scoliosis braces built and presented
- 12 Prostheses repaired and/or adjusted
- Physical and Occupational therapy provided to amputees

June 2017

Our June 2017 trip was fantastic! Thanks for the prayers and support! As always, here're the highlights:
- 22 Total patients seen
- 13 New legs built and presented!
- 5 Legs repaired / adjusted
- 2 Arms repaired / adjusted
- Gait training with 11 patients
- Running training with 3 patients
- Physical Therapy with 7 patients
- Parallel bars (for walking training) built
- Visited Project Stitch

Read even more about our trip here on the blog!

May 2018

In May 2018 OLUOL made it's first trip to the new location, Fond-des-Blancs, Haiti, where we partnered with St. Boniface Hospital! It was a great trip, we were warmly welcomed by the St. Boniface team, got established, and hit the ground running! Visit St. Boniface's website here to read a little bit about our new partnership!

November 2018
The team knocked out a productive trip to Fond des Blancs, Haiti in Novemeber 2018! Here are some highlights:
- 9 new limbs (6 above the knee, 2 below the knee, 1 arm)
- 5 major limb repairs
- 1 new running leg and running training
- 3 patients referred to Pierre Guy at Tous Asam
- Daily physiotherapy and gait training for all amputees
- 15 physiotherapy sessions for hospital staff other than amputees

As always, glory to God and thank you for your continued support and prayers!

Visit and read the SBHF article about a special young man, Jamesly and his first steps!

Recipient Spotlights

Kervens

The Foundation's first limb recipient is a 17 year-old Haitian named Kervens.  He sustained injuries in the 2010 earthquake resulting in the above-knee amputation of his right leg.  Although he currently has a prosthetic limb, it has not been serviced since 2012, is too short (making a normal gait impossible), and is missing components which preclude proper fitting with the stump and acceptable knee motion. The goal for Kervens is to get him a prosthesis which fits and will last long-term, since he is almost full-grown.  The Foundation will also provide periodic checkups to manage progress and make repairs as needed.

Kervens was presented two new legs in April 2016: one for walking and day-t0-day use (with a knee) and one for running (pylon with a blade)!  He ran for the first time in six years and also joined an amputee soccer team!

Mikerline

Mikerline is a 19 year-old Haitian with a transhumeral amputation of her left arm which resulted from her injuries sustained during the 2010 earthquake.  Although she has a prosthetic left arm, it has been broken for over a year.  With a new arm, Mikerline is looking forward to getting back to day-to-day activities like cooking!  She also aspires to attending university in Port au Prince and becoming an accountant!  

Mikerline was cast for a new arm when our team traveled to Haiti in April 2016.  Unfortunately, the plaster mold for the prosthetic limb wouldn't set properly in Haiti during the April 2016 trip. But, good news, the arm was constructed in the United States and Mikerline was able to get her arm in August 2016!
Marcellus (on the right) dreams of running again and wants to be a doctor

Marcellus

Marcellus is a 16 year-old Haitian who was also injured in the 2010 earthquake, resulting in the below-knee amputation of his right leg.  He also has a prosthetic limb, although it has not been serviced since 2013.  The prosthesis does not fit well and rubs on multiple spots on his residual limb making it very painful for him to walk.  Marcellus dreams of one day being able to run again as he was an avid soccer player before his injury.  He also hopes to go to medical school when is finished with high school.  Marcellus is Haitian, but he currently resides with his parents in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Marcellus was unable to make the trip to Port au Prince in April 2016. However, in August 2016, the OLUOL team was able to present Marcellus with a new foot and adjusted his socket!

Woodline

​Woodline is a 20 year-old Haitian with a right shoulder disarticulation.  Although she currently has a prosthetic arm, it isn't working and needs repair; she hasn't had an operable arm in over two years.  In tenth grade, Woodline is studying with the goal of attending nursing school in the U.S.

The OLUOL team made a cast for Woodline in April 2016 and in August 2016 she was able to to recieve her arm! Through work with a OLUOL Occupational Therapist during that same trip, Woodline began to learn her arm's use for things such as holding her purse, washing clothes, and other day-to-day activities!

Luciano

A 13 year-old Haitian, Luciano has a right shoulder disarticulation, just like Woodline.  He too has a prosthetic arm that is in disrepair and hasn't worked in over one year.  Luciano is in eighth grade currently and dreams of becoming an engineer!

A cast was also made for Luciano in April 2016 by the OLUOL team and, following construction in the U.S., his arm was presented in August 2016!

Future Recipients

As the Foundation continues to travel to Haiti and partner with the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation, we will continue to evaluate future limb recipients and provide limbs and ongoing education to as many amputees as possible!