RIYADH — Matilda came to King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s (KSrelief) prosthetic limbs center in Poland sitting in a wheelchair. The eight-year-old Ukrainian girl though devastated had hope in her eyes.
Matilda was sad because the ongoing war in Ukraine had robbed her of her childhood. She had been no different from other children her age, playing and having fun. In an instant, her life changed forever. She lost both her legs below her knees in an explosion.
But when she reached KSrelief's prosthetic limbs center in the Polish city, there was hope she would find a treatment that would restore at least part of what she had lost.
What happened to Matilda shook her parents psychologically. She was no longer able to move, walk, or play as she used to, and she could not sit normally.
As the painful reality of an uncertain future for her beloved daughter stared at them, Matilda's parents found themselves in a helpless situation. They were unable to meet the huge financial costs of her treatment and they no longer knew how to act or where to go.
Amid this suffering, hope emerged. KSrelief launched the "Prosthetic Limbs and Rehabilitation Program" for war and disaster victims in Poland. Matilda's parents heard about the Saudi program, which provides free services to amputees and other victims of the Ukrainian war. After the Ministry of Health in Poland, which was implementing the KSrelief project, included their daughter's name on the list of amputees, they realized that their child might get a new lease of life.
Through a complex logistical process, Matilda was transferred to the Prosthetics Center in Poland. Her treatment journey began with a thorough medical assessment. A comprehensive medical file was created, and a treatment plan was developed that took into account her physical and psychological condition.
The treatment plan for Matilda took into account the level and type of amputation, and the characteristics of the remaining part of her legs, in addition to her individual goals, expectations, desires, and needs to obtain the desired service.
The specialized team determined the final measurements of the limbs and the necessary materials according to her condition and needs, to begin the manufacturing and preparation processes of the limbs. Matilda then entered the pre-installation rehabilitation phase to improve her health and psychological condition and alleviate pain.
This phase helps her strengthen her muscles, increase flexibility and endurance, and improve balance and the ability to move and travel. The team was also keen to teach her how to deal with the amputation and adapt to the changes in her body and life.
