May 25, 2024
Amputees trade in their old prosthesis for new ones at Tzu Chi Zamboanga’s Jaipur Foot Camp
By Dorothy Castro
After facing a tragedy that changes one’s life completely, how does one rise above the challenges and difficulties?
For two amputee beneficiaries of the Tzu Chi Zamboanga Jaipur Foot Camp held in Pagadian City on May 16–17, their eagerness to walk again led to stories of their creativity and resourcefulness. They brought with them their old, self-made prostheses to the turnover, ready to transition to new and better-fitting prostheses.
Bienvenido Espelita, at the age of 75, was the oldest prosthesis recipient during the foot camp. He also had a very inspiring story of his own. In 2006, he lost his right leg due to a complication with diabetes. According to the Mayo Clinic website, this complication comes from skin ulcers on the limbs, which cannot heal easily due to damaged nerves and weakened blood circulation.
With a lack of financial resources to receive a below-the-knee prosthesis, he made his own 10 years ago. “I was a carpenter, so I knew how to work with wood. Hence, I made my own,” he proudly explained. His self-made prosthesis was made from bamboo, which he carved and wrapped with plastic tape to keep it secure. Inside the prosthetic limb, he used a towel to make sure that it fit comfortably.
To make this possible, Espelita simply used his imagination, visualizing how he would be able to support himself using a prosthetic made from bamboo wood. And the product of his efforts helped him walk for 10 years.
When the opportunity to get new prosthesis from Tzu Chi’s Jaipur Foot Camp came through news from their Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office head in the Municipality of Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur, Espelita immediately took the chance and signed up. He knew how this would improve his life and how he would go about his tasks much more efficiently with his new prosthesis.
Espelita’s hard work reflects how well he sustains himself. He lost his wife due to heart disease, and his children had their own families; hence, he did his best to help himself recover and sustain his daily needs. He is even able to actively attend the meetings for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
On the other hand, Derby Sebilo, an incoming recipient who came in for prosthesis casting, lived his life as a farmer, tending to rice fields. However, his livelihood was deeply affected after he lost left leg due to diabetes in 2022. With his determination to keep going, he made his own prosthesis months later using metal to support his weight and a wooden foot so that he could wear shoes. “I used a plastic container for the upper part of the prosthesis and wrapped it securely in duct tape,” he explained.
“My other siblings were not as lucky as I am, as some of them died at a young age,” he explained. Three of his siblings passed away at ages 38, 41, and 45 due to illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes. That is why, despite the loss of his leg, he remains grateful to have another birthday this year. “I’m turning 66 this November,” he happily shared.
Despite the challenges brought by losing their limbs through diabetes, what Espelita and Sebilo had in common was their gratitude towards the people who cared for them during their recovery. When asked about what keeps him going in life, Espelita said, “With the help of other people around me, I gain the strength to move forward each day.” Similarly, Sebilo spoke of his thankfulness to his family, especially his children, who took on his work on the rice farm while he recovered from his amputation.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Assistant Regional Director Marie Angelique Go, who visited the foot camp and witnessed the bright smiles of the prosthesis recipients, was amazed with how Tzu Chi Zamboanga Liaison Office was able to provide this service in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. “This is really a big opportunity. First, most people [in the past] did not know that Tzu Chi provides this kind of help. On the part of the local government, this is a good tie-up because of the expertise in prostheses that you bring here. A lot of people received help," she shared.
Seventy-five-year-old Bienvenido Espelita posed with his self-made prosthesis.
Bienvenido Espelita’s self-made prosthesis was made 10 years prior, and he explained that while this helped him walk, he needed professionally made prosthesis to walk better.
Bienvenido Espelita confidently walks with his new prosthesis.
With his new prosthesis fitting comfortably, Bienvenido Espelita can easily sit and pose for a photo.
Derby Sebilo (left) shares the story of his self-made prosthesis with Tzu Chi volunteer Jessica Enriquez (right).
Derby Sebilo skillfully secured his self-made prosthesis using duct tape.
A prosthesis casting service was provided for incoming prosthesis recipients.