Orthoses for Others

My name is Jake Young, and I am 17 years old. When I was 4, I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. I had corrective surgery to lengthen my right heel cord, and I have been wearing a leg brace ever since. Recently, while I was cleaning out my closet, I came across some of the braces that I had outgrown and collected. It seemed like a waste to throw them out, so I asked my orthopedic surgeon, Dr. James Gamble, at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University, if there were any organizations that recycled used braces.

I was informed that used orthoses such as my outgrown brace cannot be re-used in this country. Dr. Gamble introduced me to a project he’s involved with, Operation Rainbow, which donates medical expertise and equipment to third-world countries. Operation Rainbow referred me to another organization, Volunteers for Inter-American Development Assistance (VIDA). VIDA collects and sends medical supplies to low-income communities in Latin America. I have also connected with Children of the Americas (COTA), a nationwide organization that provides medical and surgical treatment to children throughout South America.

I believe it is essential that orthoses that cannot be re-used in this country should be given to people in third-world countries who are not fortunate enough to have access to these medical devices. I have created a network to communicate with orthopedic surgeons, with families whose children quickly outgrow orthoses, and with the orthotists who make these devices. My plan is to advise these three groups about recycling orthoses, and to direct and facilitate the donation of used orthoses to VIDA and COTA, who have graciously offered to collect, warehouse, and ship all orthoses they receive.