A Prosthetic Is an Extension of a Child's Identity

At first, a prosthetic may feel like a foreign object.

But over time, it transforms into more than just a replacement for a missing limb; it becomes an extension of the person, a reminder of the ability to keep moving forward.

Mauricio, a 9-year-old patient at Shriners Children's Mexico, understands this well. He frequently visits the hospital to renew and personalize his prosthesis in a way that suits him best, helping him feel genuinely like himself.

Mauricio was born with a congenital condition called agenesis of the left foot, meaning the lower part of his leg was absent. Faced with this challenge, his mother, Lili, began searching for treatment options for her son. When Mauricio was just one year old, they learned about Shriners Children's Mexico thanks to a family member, who was also a patient.

Mauricio began traveling from his hometown of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, to Mexico City, where he received his first prosthetic. At first, adapting to his new prosthesis was a complicated process, but over time, the adjustment was so successful that today Mauricio plays soccer and considers himself the best defender on his team.

The use of his prosthesis has significantly improved Mauricio's quality of life, and he feels comfortable wearing it. Each time he gets a new prosthesis, he loves to personalize it with designs that reflect his personality. This is essential for him, as he believes it makes the prosthesis a true extension of himself.

So convinced is he of the importance of personalizing prosthetics that, along with his mother and some volunteers, he collects yards of fabric, which they donate to the hospital on each visit, giving other patients the opportunity to make their prosthetics a part of their identity.

This noble gesture made Mauricio the perfect candidate to become the Patient Ambassador for Shriners Children's Chihuahua, the fifth outpatient clinic located in Mexico.

Now, Mauricio and his mother won’t need to fly and be separated from the rest of their family to receive treatment in Mexico City, as they can access high-quality care in the same state they live in, reducing travel costs and time.