Bobo Can Walk Again
A STORY WRITTEN ABOUT BOBO!
It’s off. It’s off. All gone. Both legs are now free. He can stand on his own and will be able to take his first steps very soon. With a bit more time, he will gain strength in his legs to take his very first steps without assistance from Laura Stonestreet (Orthopedic Coordinator from Boston) or Anama Latta (local day volunteer). As he practices his steps, holds on to patience, and with some faith he will soon be able to join his classmates in a spirited soccer game.
This is all possible through the many weeks we emphasized on having an Orthopedic practice on the ship. In February, the first Lome medical missions’ screening occurred at several locations, bringing in countless numbers of its country and neighboring countries residence to see a medical team. The highly skilled team saw hundreds of potential patients in one day, and had the hard task of choosing who would benefit from receiving medical care from medical team.
One day, Bobo, arrived on the Admissions dockside with the assistance of his aunt. He was one of the many that would be admitted into the hospital that day. As with many young boys, they are often dependent on their family members for virtually every need they have. However, Bobo’s dependency was much greater. He relied heavily on his aunt for the basic needs in life; food, clothing, and shelter, but also for a need much superior. Bobo, at one point could not walk independently. He needed his aunt to help him with every step he tried to take. He couldn’t do the typical everyday things boys like to do. He couldn’t run, skip, or even faire du foot.
As Bobo, our patient had an initial bumpy time in the ward, understandably so, since he had undergone a surgery that was so serious. Both of his legs were corrected from the orthopedic surgery he received as a patient on board. The medical team spent many a night awake with him as he experienced all the discomforts while being bed ridden post surgery. His aunt would force a smile through her worry and try to comfort her nephew while he tried to be brave. We knew that if they held on through the rough spot of recovery, they would surely enjoy the rest of time with us in the ward. He stayed with us in the ward for a while, and then went for the remainder of his recovery time at the Hospitality Center. Every so often he would return for his appointment to the dockside to be evaluated and receive therapy for his legs.
After several weeks, we found Bobo on a table in the orthopedic tent again. He probably already had undergone a half dozen follow up appointments. We found him with just his first leg cast removed. The orthopedic coordinator and orthopedic day volunteer had paused for a moment to arrange his leg for the optimal area to remove the second casting. In less than three minutes the final cast had been removed, and Bobo was finally cast free. His brown legs although weak, were perfectly straight. His body sat at a perfect L-shaped ninety degree angle upon the examination table.
The orthopedic team had not only been a witness but an integral part to the miraculous changes in Bobo’s life. The ortho team had already had several wonderful success stories of being able to correct the legs of so many, but even they stood back astonished by the amazing transformation. Bobo looked at his legs, wiggled his toes, and then looked up at us with the largest grin (he’s famous for that pearly white smile). He then continued the pattern of looking at his cast free legs, followed by wiggling his toes, and grinning all over again. Only to find all of our smiles, Bobo’s aunt, Laura, Anama Latta and I watching this momentous miracle unfold out of a plaster/fiberglass package. The most beautiful brown straight legs.
It’s off. It’s off. All gone. Both legs are now free. He can stand on his own and will be able to take his first steps very soon. With a bit more time, he will gain strength in his legs to take his very first steps without assistance from Laura Stonestreet (Orthopedic Coordinator from Boston) or Anama Latta (local day volunteer). As he practices his steps, holds on to patience, and with some faith he will soon be able to join his classmates in a spirited soccer game.
This is all possible through the many weeks we emphasized on having an Orthopedic practice on the ship. In February, the first Lome medical missions’ screening occurred at several locations, bringing in countless numbers of its country and neighboring countries residence to see a medical team. The highly skilled team saw hundreds of potential patients in one day, and had the hard task of choosing who would benefit from receiving medical care from medical team.
One day, Bobo, arrived on the Admissions dockside with the assistance of his aunt. He was one of the many that would be admitted into the hospital that day. As with many young boys, they are often dependent on their family members for virtually every need they have. However, Bobo’s dependency was much greater. He relied heavily on his aunt for the basic needs in life; food, clothing, and shelter, but also for a need much superior. Bobo, at one point could not walk independently. He needed his aunt to help him with every step he tried to take. He couldn’t do the typical everyday things boys like to do. He couldn’t run, skip, or even faire du foot.
As Bobo, our patient had an initial bumpy time in the ward, understandably so, since he had undergone a surgery that was so serious. Both of his legs were corrected from the orthopedic surgery he received as a patient on board. The medical team spent many a night awake with him as he experienced all the discomforts while being bed ridden post surgery. His aunt would force a smile through her worry and try to comfort her nephew while he tried to be brave. We knew that if they held on through the rough spot of recovery, they would surely enjoy the rest of time with us in the ward. He stayed with us in the ward for a while, and then went for the remainder of his recovery time at the Hospitality Center. Every so often he would return for his appointment to the dockside to be evaluated and receive therapy for his legs.
After several weeks, we found Bobo on a table in the orthopedic tent again. He probably already had undergone a half dozen follow up appointments. We found him with just his first leg cast removed. The orthopedic coordinator and orthopedic day volunteer had paused for a moment to arrange his leg for the optimal area to remove the second casting. In less than three minutes the final cast had been removed, and Bobo was finally cast free. His brown legs although weak, were perfectly straight. His body sat at a perfect L-shaped ninety degree angle upon the examination table.
The orthopedic team had not only been a witness but an integral part to the miraculous changes in Bobo’s life. The ortho team had already had several wonderful success stories of being able to correct the legs of so many, but even they stood back astonished by the amazing transformation. Bobo looked at his legs, wiggled his toes, and then looked up at us with the largest grin (he’s famous for that pearly white smile). He then continued the pattern of looking at his cast free legs, followed by wiggling his toes, and grinning all over again. Only to find all of our smiles, Bobo’s aunt, Laura, Anama Latta and I watching this momentous miracle unfold out of a plaster/fiberglass package. The most beautiful brown straight legs.
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