Santiago Loses Both Arms In Explosion
Santiago was born in 1967. He had a tough childhood that lacked happiness. His strongest memories from his youth were that he used to harvest potatoes and collect firewood to help his mother with the cooking and that his father hit him a lot.
“He said that hitting me would make me stronger. He had a strong character and hit me with everything.”
– Santiago
Back then, he imagined that he would leave his community and discover new places where he could live off the harvest of potatoes. He also envisioned himself carrying heavy things as a living. But his dreams quickly became very unrealistic when he lost part of his sight and both of his arms in an accident in the countryside. Where Santiago lived, there was a tradition of lighting dynamites out of superstition that it would protect farmers’ plantations from bad weather. Not only did the dynamite explosion cause him to lose vision and limbs, but Santiago also lost his wife. At first, she continued to look after him but then she left him.
Santiago did not have high expectations towards a prosthesis. The only thing he wanted was to be able to move around with more ease and work again as a farmer. With a prosthesis, he said that he would be able to work and wash his laundry himself without having to ask his children for help. Indeed, Santiago wanted to be able to do simple things and live as close to normal as possible.
When we at Bolivians Without Disabilities provide a prosthesis to a patient, they undergo evaluations. For instance, in our initial evaluation, we ask patients to pick words that mean something to them. Santiago’s answer touched us as it was different from other patients: he chose the words gratefulness and disappointment. He elaborated saying that gratefulness pertained to the people who give him coins in the street and organizations like BWD and CREO who are willing to support him.
“I am happy because they (the CREOTEC team) told me that I will be able to pick up a pickaxe so I will start planting and harvesting potatoes.”
– Santiago
Santiago said that he chose disappointment because that’s how he felt towards his loved ones and communities, who have not been there for him when he needed them most. Sure enough, he had come alone to complete the initial and final evaluations.
When Santiago finally received his prostheses, he was so excited to practice using them. He hopes to begin farming and providing for his family again. Santiago has been very satisfied with our assistance and was very grateful to CREOTEC and with BWD.
” I thank the Matt Foundation and CREOTEC for giving me these little hands. I never thought I would have my hands back. It will help me a lot.”
– Santiago
(Please note that the patient’s name has been changed)
If you would like to help more Bolivian amputees like this one, then please donate now.
