Martha was 13 years old when she became ill with
meningococcal meningitis. This led to amputations of both arms below the elbow
& both legs below the knee as well as scarring on much of her body. She
received extensive OT during inpatient rehabilitation using activity
modification, assistive devices, & prosthetic training to allow her to go
back to playing with her Barbie dolls, caring for herself, & attending
school. Martha received outpatient OT on numerous occasions as a young adult to
help her relearn how to accomplish daily tasks when she switched from
body-powered to myoelectric arm prostheses, and to help her meet the challenges
of attending college and driving a car. Martha is now in her 30s, employed
full-time as a service coordinator for Orange County Regional Center, and
happily married. I have been touched and honored that she has invited me to
celebrate milestones with her over the years including her school graduations and
her recent wedding. Martha is an inspiring example of OT helping people live life
to the fullest.
By Lisa Deshaies, OTR/L, CHT
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