RIYADH — Matilda came to King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s (KSrelief) prosthetic limbs center in Poland sitting in a wheelchair. The eight-year-old Ukrainian girl though devastated had hope in her eyes.
Matilda was sad because the ongoing war in Ukraine had robbed her of her childhood. She had been no different from other children her age, playing and having fun. In an instant, her life changed forever. She lost both her legs below her knees in an explosion.
But when she reached KSrelief’s prosthetic limbs center in the Polish city, there was hope she would find a treatment that would restore at least part of what she had lost.
What happened to Matilda shook her parents psychologically. She was no longer able to move, walk, or play as she used to, and she could not sit normally.
As the painful reality of an uncertain future for her beloved daughter stared at them, Matilda’s parents found themselves in a helpless situation. They were unable to meet the huge financial costs of her treatment and they no longer knew how to act or where to go.
Amid this suffering, hope emerged. KSrelief launched the “Prosthetic Limbs and Rehabilitation Program” for war and disaster victims in Poland. Matilda’s parents heard about the Saudi program, which provides free services to amputees and other victims of the Ukrainian war. After the Ministry of Health in Poland, which was implementing the KSrelief project, included their daughter’s name on the list of amputees, they realized that their child might get a new lease of life.
Through a complex logistical process, Matilda was transferred to the Prosthetics Center in Poland. Her treatment journey began with a thorough medical assessment. A comprehensive medical file was created, and a treatment plan was developed that took into account her physical and psychological condition.
The treatment plan for Matilda took into account the level and type of amputation, and the characteristics of the remaining part of her legs, in addition to her individual goals, expectations, desires, and needs to obtain the desired service.
The specialized team determined the final measurements of the limbs and the necessary materials according to her condition and needs, to begin the manufacturing and preparation processes of the limbs. Matilda then entered the pre-installation rehabilitation phase to improve her health and psychological condition and alleviate pain.
This phase helps her strengthen her muscles, increase flexibility and endurance, and improve balance and the ability to move and travel. The team was also keen to teach her how to deal with the amputation and adapt to the changes in her body and life.
The Long-Awaited Moment
After weeks of evaluation and rehabilitation, the day Matilda had been anxiously awaiting arrived. When the two limbs were fitted, Matilda stood up with the help of the medical team. For the first time after she was injured, a beautiful face was beaming and her parents’ eyes brimmed with tears of joy.
Step by step, Matilda learned how to regain her balance and walk again. She returned to the life she thought she had lost.
KSrelief’s support was not limited to the physical aspect. A specialized team gave her psychological support to help her accept her new body and enhance her self-confidence. They began training her on how to use the prosthetic limbs in her daily life, from walking to running and playing again, and on how to put them on and take them off correctly.
Matilda underwent regular follow-up sessions to ensure that she was adapting to her prosthetic limbs. She no longer needed to rely completely on others, but rather regained her independence, and was able to return to normal life.
Hope Restored, Pain Relieved
The “Prosthetic Limbs and Rehabilitation Centers” are a continuation of Saudi Arabia’s pioneering role in the field of humanitarian work at the international level. The Kingdom underscored the importance of alleviating human suffering so that people can live a dignified life by extending humanitarian and relief projects implemented by its humanitarian arm — King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.
Since its launch in 2020, the program has extended services to more than 109,000 beneficiaries by 2024. They received 298,999 services free of charge. These include 10,851 modern prosthetic and orthotic limbs, rehabilitation services for amputees fitted with prosthetics, and technical and psychological rehabilitation. Physical therapy, technical and medical consultations were given to 98,612 beneficiaries.
The ratio of female beneficiaries reached 33% against 67% males. Medical injuries reached approximately 24%, while conflict-related injuries as a result of landmine blasts, leftover weapons, and ammunition constituted approximately 76% of the total amputation cases that benefited from the program’s services. — SPA