Tiny Steps, Big Dreams: Maria's Story
No one is certain how this happens – or even if this is what happens – but we think that, as a few fetuses develop, one or more of their appendages get strangled by tough threads of tissue inside the uterus. The rapidly multiplying stem cells that grow into fingers, legs, arms or faces become ensnared in these Amniotic Bands, resulting in fused or webbed fingers, missing legs or arms, and cleft palates. We suspect that this is what happened to both Dani and Mario as well.
When Maria was two, she was just trying to stand up and balance. Walking was still something new for her. So it was an ideal age to get her accustomed to a prosthesis. At that age and size, the prosthesis can be pretty basic and relatively inexpensive. It is held in place with a waist harness.
She soon out-grew it. FAKS scheduled her to have a straight-leg prosthesis fitted on May 20, 2019. FAKS could not help Maria without her family’s commitment, the help of specialists in Guatemala, the coordination of the Hueheutenango Rotary club. Generous gifts pulled it all together.
At age nine, Maria Christina was walking on a more sophisticated prosthesis – one with an articulated knee. That should smooth out and normalize her gait.
Maria is another “Functionally Active Kid” – what we aim for at FAKS.
