About Our Work

1. OUR PROGRAMS OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES

ABOUT BOLIVIAN AMPUTEES

•  Bolivia is the most isolated and poorest country in South America. In the 2010 census, it was calculated that there are approximately 9,775,246 Bolivians. Indigenous groups, mainly Quechuas and Aymaras, make up 62 percent of Bolivia’s population. According to the latest ‘Human Development Report’ of the United Nations Development Program, Bolivia ranks 104th of 174 countries in human development and is the fifth lowest ranking country in the region.
• Bolivia is a landlocked country situated in the heart of South America. It is bordered to the north and east by Brazil, to the south by Argentina, and to the northwest by Peru. Within Bolivia’s borders lies part of the Amazon basin so-called the “lungs” of the planet, which is in danger of deforestation, biodiversity and lack of water. Los Andes is suffering from de-glaciation as well, risking the water supply to the Altiplano and El Alto from both flooding and drought.*UNICEF states that more than 1.4 billion people currently live below the international poverty line. Out of these people, approximately six million are located in Bolivia.*For many in Bolivia, it’s a daily challenge to provide even basic provisions and essentials for themselves and family, so developing one’s skills to fulfill a productive and creative role in society is virtually impossible – now image these challenges as an amputee.
• There is a minimum wage in Bolivia (often not complied with) of 1,488 Bolivianos (about $215USD) per month.
• In Bolivia, a basic below-the-knee prosthesis will cost around $1,800 USD (well below the $10,000-$15,000 average cost for a prosthesis in the United States). In 2012, it was estimated that more than 175,000 Bolivians were in need of a prosthesis (arm, finger, hand, foot, leg, or ear). The cost over a lifetime of replacements and maintenance can amount to thousands of dollars.  Most amputees from Bolivia are only able to dream of receiving a prosthesis – they certainly won’t be able to afford one.

*Partnering with Centro de Miembros Artificiales – Bolivian Rotary Club

• Centro de Miembros Artificiales is the only Bolivian non-profit organization creating prosthetics for these people in need.
• In partnering with Centro de Miembros Artificiales – Bolivian Rotary Club, we have raised funds to help cover the costs of the new location, raw material, salaries and other related operating expenses for a short period of time.
• Click here to read about a few patients who were helped by donations made to our organization.

 Jeff Vonder Haar donating  mobile aids in the city of Santa Cruz Bolivia

*Partnering up with Ortopedia Gascon- Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Elizabeth Bress was born without the fibula in her right leg due to a congenital disorder. Floreal  Gascon  from Ortopedia Gascon – a for profit company, was the prosthetist who helped  Elizabeth walk at 14 months of age. He fabricated a brace that would allow her to walk for the first time (this brace weighed four pounds alone).

From Left to right, Marisol Bress, Elizabeth Bress (wearing a four  pound orthotic) and Alicia Bress

At the age of 10, Elizabeth and her parents were advised by Floreal Gascon that an amputation of her lower leg would be recommended on or before her 15^th birthday – allowing for a prosthesis to be fit. This prosthetic leg would allow Elizabeth to perform normal day-to-day activities and play sports, to walk and play with her friends in school as well as to wear “normal” clothes that would improve her appearance and self-esteem. By the tender age of 11, Elizabeth had convinced (or forced) her parents to go along with the amputation and 8 months later Floreal Gascon provided Elizabeth with her first artificial limb.

Floreal Gascon’s compassion and understanding of disabled people in need perhaps began after he himself suffered a spinal cord injury at the age of 19.  The injury left him hemiplegic and in a wheelchair ever since.  That tragic experience and the difficult journey that followed only inspired him to pursue a career as a Certified Prosthetist and later owning and operating “Ortopedia Gascon” in Santa Cruz , Bolivia.

Sending out an SOS is honored to be working with Ortopedia Gascon.  Floreal has offered to give his time and expertise to low-income amputee’s we refer to him and charging us only for the cost of the materials to fabricate the prosthesis. We can’t thank Floreal enough for all that he has done and continues to do for the amputee community in Bolivia.

With limited funds, we must ensure that we are assisting those in dire need first so please have in mind, you MUST be a low income amputee to qualify.

The Ortopedia Gascon team

From right to left, Floreal Gascon-owner of Ortopedia Gascon, Elizabeth Bress, Prosthetist from France and the two Bolivian technicians

2. OUR PROGRAMS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES

ABOUT AMPUTEES IN UNITED STATES:

Sending out an SOS was founded in hopes of providing assistance to low-income amputee’s around the world wherever there may reside. Our focus has been in Latin America, specifically in Elizabeth’s home town of Bolivia, because the lack of government assistance and minimal charitable foundations for this cause in her country.

In order to help us in determining eligibility of an applicant, the following information will need to be provided: amputation history, consumers report request, insurance information (if any), federal income tax status and patient and prosthetist agreements. The review process takes up to eight weeks. During this time we will conduct a thorough screening process, review all information obtained and determine financial status.

To avoid conflict of interest, Sending out an SOS, its founders and affiliations will not fit or fabricate a prosthesis, rather Sending Out An SOS will be responsible for consulting and negotiating with the patient’s prosthetist to determine a fee schedule and subsequent reimbursement of products and services provided. All negotiated terms will include 6 months maintenance for a new prosthesis.

Please keep in mind that we will need to qualify the amputee that is to receive financial assistance.  As harsh as that may sound, we must determine if that person meets the criteria set forth and is in need of financial assistance.  With limited funds, we must ensure that we are assisting those in dire need first so please have in mind, you MUST be a low income amputee to qualify.

Founders Elizabeth Bress and Jeffrey VonderHaar are hopeful that with the scheduled launch of Elizabeth’s book in November of 2014, where Elizabeth shares her story of life as an amputee, her struggles growing up in a third world country, her journey to North America, and her success as an entrepreneur, will only bring more attention and ultimately more donations to this cause that means so much to all of us.

In the end, none of our efforts are possible without donations from caring individuals and organizations.

Use this link Apply Now to download application forms then email them back us through our contact page.

Elizabeth Bress with Sandra Coscio at the Contame TV show talking about the Sending Out An SOS organization