Serving the Underserved Transformed This Prosthetics-Orthotics Graduate
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Although technical knowledge is crucial to providing any care, the ability to connect with patients and derive joy from seeing patients’ quality of life improve is also vital. This is what Kira Donnelly, a master of Prosthetics-Orthotics graduate at the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW), realized as a Range of Motion Project (ROMP) volunteer.
ROMP is a global nonprofit dedicated to providing access to quality prosthetic care for those in need. ROMP clinics offer various services, including community rehabilitation, prosthetics, follow-up care, and innovative product development. So far, it has clinics in Ecuador, Guatemala, and the US.
In March 2023, Donnelly traveled to Quito, Ecuador, with six other US volunteers to join the ROMP clinic. In rural regions beyond Quito, access to prosthetic care is still severely lacking. Many residents in these areas are either employed in manual labor or are unemployed, making access to healthcare challenging. Individuals with limb loss who visit ROMP clinics often have adapted to their disabilities without prosthetics or rely on outdated prosthetic limbs or wooden crutches.
Alongside a team of seven clinic staff and translators, Donnelly and fellow volunteers helped 21 patients over 10 days. Many of these individuals traveled from remote villages in search of affordable prosthetic care.
Finding hope
One notable patient is 39-year-old Geovanny Llivicota, a farmer and picker. In November 2022, a car hit him while he was on his motorcycle, resulting in an above-knee amputation of his left leg. Llivicota adapted by hopping on his sound side leg, but this left him easily tired and only able to work sporadically.
He and his sister traveled 20 hours from El Pan, Ecuador, to the ROMP clinic in Quito to seek treatment. After receiving his prosthetic leg, Llivicota returned to work and began planting tomatoes again. He is grateful for the opportunity to support his wife and three children again.
Another patient who found hope at the Quito clinic is eight-year-old Valentina Torres. In 2021, she came into contact with a live electrical wire, which led to the loss of her right arm and significant injuries to her feet due to electrical burns. Following her amputation, Valentina fell into depression.
Together with her mother and older sister, Valentina made an eight-hour journey to the Quito clinic. After receiving her prosthetic limb, she was able to return to school full-time and even resumed playing soccer. She is once again able to embrace the joys of childhood.
Since opening in 2022, the Quito clinic has significantly improved access to prosthetic care, largely due to the support of international volunteers. The clinic’s dedicated interdisciplinary team guides patients from initial casting to the final fitting in just a few days.
Lessons from Quito
After the medical mission, Donnelly returned to Dallas reinvigorated to pursue her studies. In an interview with Center Times Plus, she expressed that the trip gave her valuable life lessons and unique viewpoints. It has also encouraged her to be more resourceful by finding new uses for items and making the most of limited resources.
The medical mission has also opened her eyes to the importance of humility and gratitude, prompting her to reflect on her privileges.
Leslie Gray, M.Ed., an associate professor and program director in UTSW’s Department of Prosthetics-Orthotics, emphasized the benefits of participating in the ROMP program.
In an interview with Center Times Plus, Gray shared that students often return confident in their skills and competencies. They also develop a deeper insight into delivering care to underserved communities and individuals with restricted access to resources.
ROMP’s work highlights the profound impact that accessible prosthetic care can have on individuals and communities. Ultimately, the lessons Donnelly and other ROMP volunteers learned will surely extend far beyond the clinic and into shaping future healthcare leaders.
