Inaugural trip to Zambia : 2012
September 2012 was the very first trip to Mapanza, Zambia. John Brinkley, ocularist, and Chris Reiff, prosthetist, saw a total of 14 patients in need of prostheses and ocular prostheses.
The work area on this first trip was on the front porch of one of the missionaries' homes at New Day Orphanage, where prosthetic fabrication was completed. Prosthetic Promises has come a long way over the years!
The experience of this first trip was the catalyst for John and Chris to form a non-profit organization, Prosthetic Promises In His Name, to continue this work.
Patients boarding the New Day bus at a radio station near Macha, Zambia, on the way to the Macha Missionary Hospital. For PPIHN's first trip, patients were seen at the Macha Hospital for initial evaluation. Photo courtesy of Overturf Media
This boy faithfully kept his favorite shirt in pristine condition during the casting process. Here he is being fitted with a protective sock while a cast of his leg is made by Prosthetic Promises founder and prosthetist Chris Reiff. The boy did not have any family with him during the process to get his new leg fitted. Photo courtesy of Overturf Media
Prosthetic Promises specialists can work in some interesting conditions. The "fabrication area" for the first trip in 2012 was a front porch of one of the missionaries' homes at New Day Orphanage. Photo courtesy of Overturf Media
Patients boarding the New Day bus at a radio station near Macha, Zambia, on the way to the Macha Missionary Hospital. For PPIHN's first trip, patients were seen at the Macha Hospital for initial evaluation. Photo courtesy of Overturf Media