Many of the amputees who received treatment from the Real Life Prosthetics Global Missions Team had lost a limb— or two— due to conditions that might seem incredible to those living beyond the Third World. For example, Martha Dabila's leg was amputated due to poor medical treatment after a fall. Mr. Altozar lost his right leg below the knee due to infection from snakebite. Martha Luz's leg was amputated because of lack of medical care following an accident.

The patients traveled for hours, some by bus, some by mule, to receive treatment from the Real Life Prosthetics Global Missions Team during its whirlwind two-day mission.

Real Life Prosthetics, which is known for cutting-edge prosthetics work that utilizes highly advanced technology, completed its work under less than ideal conditions in the South American village. International travel and portability limited the technology and tools available, and facilities were rudimentary at best. The team conducted gait analyses and limb fittings in a hallway and fabricated sockets and joints in any empty room available. Local interpreters, medical personnel and ministry groups facilitated patient communications.

Despite the constraints, the Real Life Prosthetics Global Missions Team provided new limbs for 13 patients and conducted one-year follow-ups for an equal number of other patients. The team donated its time, professional expertise and materials needed for fabrication of the prostheses. It used prosthetic feet donated by the World Limb Bank, prosthetic components donated by the Maryland Amputee Network and ICEX sockets and liners provided by prosthetic manufacture Össur.

The 2005 Real Life Prosthetics Global Missions Team consisted of Jonas Seeberg, Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist, Chuck Fleming, Technician, and Greg Michalov, Certified Prosthetist. According to Seeberg, who is president of Real Life Prosthetics, the annual mission seeks to follow the same philosophy of restoring both body and spirit that is practiced at the Real Life Prosthetics office at home in Abingdon, Maryland.

"We strive to treat the whole person," he explained. "Of course we want to address the physical needs of the patients so they can live more productive lives, but we also want to bring them compassion and hope for the future. For many of these people it's the first time in a long time that they have been treated with respect and dignity."

Real Life Prosthetics has provided over 30 no-cost prostheses to South American amputees since it began conducting its Global Missions in 2001. For more information about Real Life Prosthetics, call 410-569-0606.