Lifting up through learning

In 2008, volunteers began exploring how the sewing teachers and students could share their skills by making therapy garments for burn patients.  In looking how to provide a better assistance to burn patients after they receive initial treatment and during their rehabilitations process, Dr. Leandro Perez (Lenin Fonseca Hospital) shared with
W/NP how important it is to provide therapy dressing to the patient’s burns.  Another physician W/NP works closely with, Dr.Geraldine Cross, expressed how sad it is to let burn patients go after they have received the initial treatment, and during their rehabilitation it is hard to accomplish the appropriate healing process without the therapy dressing.

The W/NP Learning Center program  has responded to this unmet need by providing needed skills and materials to burn patients.  In 2010 W/NP made arrangements with Vivian Pellas Hospital to receive Boanerges Berroteran, employee from Lenin Fonseca hospital, to learn how to make the therapy dressing garments.   Taking the first step, Linda Schober from Wisconsin found an Industrial serger sewing machine for this project, and it was sent in the next shipment to Nicaragua. For two years, the initial idea of this project has not taken place.  Finally, in 2013 the funds were received and the project began to take form.

The Learning Center Therapy Dressing project officially began in April 2013.  The volunteers in coordination with Dr. Leandro have provided services to over 60 people.  Over 200 custom fit garments have been made.  Every patient is a challenge as some need more than one garment and some of their affected areas are difficult to fit.  The process to fit and make the garments can take up to 2 hours or more if needed.  Patients feel the program has provided personal and instant attention as they receive their garments the same day of their appointment.

In a few cases, such as the brothers Carlos and Rafael who were badly burned in a sugar cane fire, they need to return to get additional garments.   During the first phase of their recuperation process, they were measured and each received their first set of garments on April 10, and July 31^st began the second phase where they received 10 additional garments to replace the old ones.

A key component to this project, were Lynda Pracht’s efforts with the Chica Nica Project. The advanced sewing skills acquired through sewing the Chica Nica doll dresses have contributed to the quality construction of burn dressing
garments.   The Chica Nica project has 35 members from different Learning Centers and four ladies from Chica Nica are part of therapy dressing project staff.  Quality control workshops provided by Lynda Pracht for 14 years have given the women opportunity to put into practice these past four months how to make masks, gloves, pants, shirts, sleeves, foot and ankle leggings, and different parts of the body garments that burn patients need to wear after the initial treatment and during the therapy process.

The Burn Therapy Dressing project is moving to the next level where all the creativity of these ladies is important. 
We are exploring ways to provide plastic surgery patients the specific garments needed, keeping quality, comfort and good price in mind for a sustainable alternative.  So far the Therapy Dressing service has been recognized
as a needed social project especially for people who lack resources and are in need of treatment for their wounds. 

W/NP is proud of the volunteerism exhibited as every volunteer makes a difference.  Volunteers such as Lynda Pracht are making the difference as she cultivated the ladies involved with the Chica Nica project who are now working with the Therapy Dressing project successfully.

We welcome your support to help continue this much needed service for people who have been badly burned and are without any other options for treatment.  Thank you for your consideration and support.