From new heights of Volcán Corazón (15,682ft) to driving the mobile clinic across to the country of Ecuador, a lot has happened this final week.
It’s hard to believe a country beautiful as Ecuador is only the size of the state of Colorado and can still possess modest towns like Quevedo. There’s definitely not much to see in Quevedo, but the patients are our obligation. From a local culinary experience, inspirational culture, and lessons of humility, the first launch of ROMP’s mobile clinic was an experience Dave and I will never forget.
One by one patients were brought off the sidewalk, given measurements, and casted. Each patient was fit with a liner and then cast with a roll of fiberglass. After choosing the color of his & her new prosthesis, it was time to say goodbye. As quickly as we arrived, we were back on the road to Quito.
My final 24hours in Quito have been exhausting but all casts have been poured, modified, and thermoformed for the return trip to Quevedo. Unfortunately, I’m now on my way back to the United States for my second rotation and I won’t be joining Dave on the delivery excursion back to Quevedo. I’m sure Dave will miss me but I know he’ll hang in there until I return next month.
Yup, I made that decision this week after realizing 5 weeks just isn’t going to cut it and I know Range of Motion Project is going to need all the help once the mobile clinic really begins to develop. I’m looking forward to progressing as a student and being able to contribute more to patient evaluation as my language barrier decreases. Staying disciplined with the Spanish will be difficult but then again whoever said saving the world from a mobility crisis would be easy?
Thanks for reading.
#mobilityforall
-BD