Diabetes, trauma from accidents, genetic birth defects, and cancer are all leading causes that can result in the loss of a limb. In many developing countries, the only options most victims have is to live with a very limiting disability. When the primary household earner or caregiver looses a limb, it often begins a lifelong struggle for the whole family.
Diabetes is the most common cause we see in our patients who have lost limbs in Honduras. Trauma (from motor vehicle accidents, burns, electrocution or landmines) is the second leading cause of people becoming amputees.
There are several genetic conditions that cause children to be born with deformed or missing limbs. These are termed ‘limb reductions’. This can affect upper extremities or lower extremities. These children will need prosthetic or orthotic devices to best function in society and be able to walk. This in turn often determines if a child can go to school or not. Hope To Walk seeks to help children benefit from prosthetics.
Around the world, both children and adults suffer from bone cancers that often require amputation as part of their treatment. Osteosarcoma is one of the most common cancers that cause this, but other types include Ewing’s sarcoma and chondrosarcoma.
Hope To Walk is looking to partner with cancer organizations in developing nations to help many of these children who need prosthetic devices.