Myself, Jaco Deist, and a patient by the name of Callan Erasmus are scheduled to visit Touch Bionics in Scotland on the 26th of October, 2019. I cannot wait to go again, my first trip with my patient, Bridgette Mokena, was a truly unforgettable experience for the both of us. I trust that this time will be just as, if not more spectacular for myself and my equally eager patient Callan.
How I Came to Meet Callan Erasmus
Callan came to the practice in September of 2017 after he had experienced an accident while using an injection molding machine. Callan’s day-to-day professional life involves the use of an injection mold to create specific parts and components for companies who manufacture them into everything from lawnmowers to street lamps.
During his work-related accident, while repairing the injection mold machine, molten plastic was injected into Callan’s hand at high pressure. As a result, his hand has been burnt to the point where he can no longer use it, his hand is no longer a functional part of his body. Despite several failed attempts to repair the grisly damage to his hand, it remains ineffective and nonfunctional.
In July of 2019, Callan made the difficult and brave step to have all the fingers on his damaged hand amputated and is now left with only his palm.
The Next Steps for Callan and Deist & Associates
Currently, Callan is receiving assistance from us with compression therapy. Compression therapy for Callan means using this technique as a means of shaping his residual limb into a small and evenly shaped limb. He has done brilliantly and we have made a silicone socket for Callan’s residual limb as can be seen in the photos and video below:
Myself, Jaco Deist, and a patient by the name of Callan Erasmus are scheduled to visit Touch Bionics in Scotland on the 26th of October, 2019. I cannot wait to go again, my first trip with my patient, Bridgette Mokena, was a truly unforgettable experience for the both of us. I trust that this time will be just as, if not more spectacular for myself and my equally eager patient Callan.
How I Came to Meet Callan Erasmus
Callan came to the practice in September of 2017 after he had experienced an accident while using an injection molding machine. Callan’s day-to-day professional life involves the use of an injection mold to create specific parts and components for companies who manufacture them into everything from lawnmowers to street lamps.
During his work-related accident, while repairing the injection mold machine, molten plastic was injected into Callan’s hand at high pressure. As a result, his hand has been burnt to the point where he can no longer use it, his hand is no longer a functional part of his body. Despite several failed attempts to repair the grisly damage to his hand, it remains ineffective and nonfunctional.
In July of 2019, Callan made the difficult and brave step to have all the fingers on his damaged hand amputated and is now left with only his palm.
The Next Steps for Callan and Deist & Associates
Currently, Callan is receiving assistance from us with compression therapy. Compression therapy for Callan means using this technique as a means of shaping his residual limb into a small and evenly shaped limb. He has done brilliantly and we have made a silicone socket for Callan’s residual limb as can be seen in the video below:
And then, off to Touch Bionics in Scotland!
At the end of October Callan and I are scheduled to visit Touch Bionics in Scotland. There, myself and the Touch Bionics team will fit him with i-Digits, similar to the one Bridgette has had for over a year. i-Digits acts as functional mechanical “fingers” which will be attached via a socket. The digits or “fingers” are operated by sensors located within the socket. These sensors can pick up even the smallest electric currents generated by the muscles of the partial hand inside (Callan’s palm).
Watch the video as we test the sensors and our progress so far:
Watch this space for more updates as we approach our trip to Scotland and Callan’s progress in the weeks to come before our trip to Scotland. We are both so very excited!