192 chapter 23
THE STORY OF JéSICA
Jésica is a little girl who was paralyzed because
of an unnecessary injection she received when she
was 3 days old. Her mother does not know why or
with what she was injected. This is the story of her
rehabilitation at PROJIMO.
The injection resulted in
an infection that reached
her spine, and permanently
paralyzed her legs.
scar from infection
Misuse of medicines and especially
injections is a common and preventable
cause of disability. See Chapter 3.
Jésica’s feet became clubbed. When she tried to stand,
she developed large, infected pressure sores on her
knees and feet.
When Jésica first came
to PROJIMO at age 4,
the village team first
treated the infected
sores. Then they began
to cast her feet to
gradually straighten
them (see Chapter 60).
pressure sore
They left
‘windows’ in the
casts to keep
treating the
sores.
Little by little
the sores healed
and Jésica’s feet
straightened.
Here one of the
workers changes
her cast.
Disabled village Children