Young boy from the Moot gets new prosthetic arm
"We hope now that his confidence grows and that embraces it"
A young Moot boy, who was born without a part of his forearm, received a life-changing gift recently, namely a new prosthetic arm.
This gift was made possible thanks to a doctor who knew his struggle all too well.
Carl Meiring, a grade 10 learner of Rietondale high school, was born without the lower part of his left forearm.
When he was younger, he had a revision operation to reshape his residual limb in the hopes of one day receiving a prosthesis.
Unfortunately, that day never came as the family did not have the means to afford one.
That was until CH Van Der Westhuizen Orthotists and Prosthetists heard of his story and decided to help them.
A plaster cast was taken to copy the residual limb and a test fit was done to make sure it fits well.
The final prosthetic socket was manufactured and then it was taken to get a custom spray job.
Meiring’s hobbies include playing video games, cooking and cricket.
All of these will now be made easier with the use of his prosthesis.
The boy’s favourite videogame is Call of Duty – Black Ops III, which is the reason he chose the logo for his arm.
He has not yet told his friends about his prosthesis, but rather wants to show them once school reopens.
Grandmother Truida Meiring said they are grateful for what Van der Westhuizen and his team did for her grandson.
“We do not have enough words to say thank you,” she said.
“Carl has been a different person since he got the arm.
“He was very withdrawn and actually ashamed of his arm and now it’s going to change him completely,” she said.
She added that her grandson used to be shy before his prosthesis.
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“We would wear his school blazer even on the hottest days to hide the amputation.
“We hope now that his confidence grows and that he embraces it,” she said.
Riaan van der Westhuizen, owner of the practice, said that this is not the first time and would certainly not be the last time that they will give back to the community.
“The Lord sends very special people across our road and Carl is one of those people.
“We were very blessed to be able to help this young man.
“It was remarkable to see the amount of confidence Carl gained since wearing his prosthesis.
“It is exactly this outcome we strive for and makes what we do so much more rewarding.
“It is by the grace of God that we are able to do what we do,” said Van der Westhuizen.
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