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.

Maria is now two, she’s young enough to be just starting to teach her brain how to balance on two feet. Walking is still rudimentary for her. So it’s an ideal age to get her accustomed to a prosthesis.
At her age and size, the prosthesis can be pretty basic and relatively inexpensive. It is held in place with a waist harness.

She will soon out-grow it. But we at FAKS want to get her started. She is scheduled to have the device fitted on May 20, 2019. It should be even easier for her to learn walking with a prosthesis than it was for Levin (age 19), Mario (age 11) or Dani (age 8), all of whom are functioning well. FAKS could not help Maria without her family’s commitment, the help of specialists in Guatemala, the coordination of the Hueheutenango Rotary club. Your generous gifts pull it all together.

Maria will be another “Functionally Active Kid” – what we aim for at FAKS.

As of December 2022, Maria Christina is six years-old and will be fitted with a more sophisticated prosthesis – one with an articulated knee. That should smooth out and normalize her gait.