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MSF: Iraq-Jordan: Mouna, a double amputee 5 part video series

A five part video series provided by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) on Mouna, a victim of the war in Iraq and a double amputee who was provided surgery and treatment by MSF surgeons, medical staff and physioterapists in Amman, Jordan. See this posting for background to the MSF programme: Report From Irak June 24th 2007 - Health

• Episode 1 – One day, three years ago… 

  "She was playing in the garden with her cousin," said her uncle. " A bomb exploded right next to her, less than a meter away. The explosion threw her across the room tearing one of her legs off. Her other knee and ankle were also injured… Her father was killed during the same explosion." … … …  "I’m going to get my false legs on soon. I think they’ll be easy to use," said Mouna. … … …  The smile has come back to Mouna’s face - the doctors here in Jordan have given Mouna hope. Every week, she casts herself a little further in the future, imagining herself going back to school, of studying and becoming a doctor. But as we’ll see, it will be no easy task reaching that goal … it will be about 5 months before she can walk again.

• Episode 2 – Her first steps

  Learning to walk again has become this 13 year old girl’s ultimate challenge… Encouraged by her uncle and prosthetics technicians, she focuses all her energy on trying to move her artificial limbs. It’s difficult for the moment, but she has time to learn … … … Mouna has one more exercise to do before this sessions is over. She has let go of the bars. She hasn’t experienced this sensation since the day that bomb tore her legs away while she was playing in the garden … … … Mousa Hermas:(in Arabic): "You think you’re going to fall if you let go of the bars? You won’t, I’m holding you. If you’re frightened it won’t work…OK, contract your muscles…I promise, I am holding onto you…Look you’re standing…" Does it hurt ? And your knees?

  Mouna, (in Arabic): Yes, it hurts

• Episode 3 – Put to the test

  After the fitting session with the prosthetics technician, Mouna is now waiting to see the physiotherapist again. Day in day out she fights to learn to live with her new legs.Mouna, (en arabe): "I want to walk again so I can leave hospital"   Mouna has been in Amman for 5 months … … … Yesterday, the technician told her that to be able to walk on her artificial limbs she’d have to build up the muscle in her thighs … … … She also needs to be able to straighten her knee completely… but she can’t do that yet.

• Episode 4 - Overcoming the pain

  Faris Bin Yassin, kinesiotherapist (English, but difficult to understand): "Because make the extension of the knee and movement of patella, before 3 weeks she has a fracture here because he wants the full extension,I have to make a small pressure here because this is painful’ … … … Slowly but surely, by stretching her muscles and freeing her patella, the physiotherapist helps Mouna reach closer to walking again. She will have to do these same exercises back at the hotel with her uncle. … … …  "It hurts when he gets me to move my leg."

• Episode 5 - Walking again

  Prothésiste: Walk towards me… grab my hands. Lift your head up, don’t be frightened. Take small steps. Turn round. Lift your head, lift your head up.

  Mouna: I can’t, I can’t do it.

  Prothésiste: Yes you can, I wouldn’t ask you otherwise.

  Prothésiste: Does it hurt?

  Mouna: No but I’m frightened you’ll let go.

  Prothésiste: Don’t be frightened.

  Mouna: I’m frightened that I’ll fall.

  Prothésistes : I’m holding you, you won’t fall, you won’t fall.

  Mouna: Don’t take such big steps…

  Prosthetics technician: You think I’m going to make you fall? Come on, let’s do it again, move your legs. Are you tired ?

  Mouna: Look! I just walked 7 floor tiles.

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Related: Wounded Iraqis cope with lifelong scars | Reuters

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - For generations to come, Iraqis will have to cope with the physical and mental scars of tens of thousands of people severely injured in the violence of the past four years.

They include thousands of amputees, many of them children. … … …

Read in full: Wounded Iraqis cope with lifelong scars | Reuters