Hope in Times of Despair for Finger Amputees
Naked Prosthetics enables ‘life after amputation’ for 28-year-old Nelisiwe Nare
On the 18th of June 2020, a seemingly ordinary day at the office took a different turn for 28-year-old Nelisiwe Nare. At the time, Nare was based in the Northern Cape where she worked in the mining industry as a Process Engineer. That night, Nare’s hand got caught between a rotating drum and a lip plate of a magnetic separator. As a result of severe tissue damage, the ring and middle fingers on Nare’s right hand were amputated.
“When I awoke from surgery, the first thing I did was check my hand – only to realise that my fingers were no longer there,” says Nare. What followed was a long journey of healing, physical therapy and planning for the future.
Resilient and self-motivated, with a firm belief that anything is possible, Nare was determined to find a prosthetic that would enable her to return to as normal a life as possible. “My goal was to find a functional prosthetic. I was less concerned with hiding my injury or that my fingers had been amputated. My focus was on function, more than anything else.” This is why the usual aesthetic prosthetic hands that were on offer were not an option as they would not provide the functionality she was looking for.
At that time, there was nothing available on the local market that met Nare’s needs. After extensive research, she came across Naked Prosthetics – a provider of functional devices for partial hand and finger amputees. “Their devices were cool, functional, and unlike anything else I had seen. They aligned perfectly with the functional experience I was looking for.”
Nare was put in touch with her prosthetist who worked closely with Naked Prosthetics to understand the exact nature of Nare’s injury, type of amputation, her goals for the device and exactly how she hoped to use it. This included exact measurements and casting as well as being able to select her colour of choice.
“I remember the day I was able to collect my device,” continues Nare. That she was able to write on paper and type on a laptop on her very first use of the device was amazing and an experience in itself. “It’s a testament to how these devices are designed with movement, purpose and hand function in mind,” enthuses Nare.
“It allows me to do many of the things I used to do and is exactly what I had hoped for. As someone who spends a lot of time working on a laptop, the device has made a huge difference. Without it, my hand would very quickly tire, to the point where I’d feel like something was missing.”
Össur South Africa recently announced the availability of Naked Prosthetics to the local market. “The loss of a finger can be severely debilitating, impacting one’s ability to carry out seemingly ordinary yet essential everyday tasks – let alone the potential impact on one’s career and professional life,” says Dewald Grey, a Prosthetic Clinical Specialist with Össur South Africa. The resulting lack of mobility is also not limited to the area of amputation only, with many amputees experiencing a loss of mobility beyond the area of amputation. No fewer than 5% experience a resultant impairment of the entire body and as many as 75% of heavy manual labourers are unable to return to work.
“We aim to provide finger and partial-hand amputees with functional, high-quality solutions that seamlessly integrate into their lives and empower them to live a life without limitations – resuming employment and engaging in the activities they love,” says Grey.
“I believe prosthetics is one of the most evolving areas in the medical field,” Grey continues. “The use of 3D printing and precision engineering has led to highly advanced, functional prosthetic fingers. We also have different types of finger prosthetics for different needs – each one tailored precisely to the individual user’s amputation and specific hand structure.”
“I love my device. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to access something that has shown me that amputation isn’t the end but, rather, a new beginning. Plus, I look super cool wearing it and it opens up opportunities for me to share my story and challenge stereotypes,” continues Nare. Her advice to anyone facing a similar injury, “no matter the extent of your amputation, it’s important to realise that life doesn’t stop when you lose your fingers.”
“Embrace what was and what’s to come, your amputation, scars, failures, stares and figuring it out! Embrace the ignorance, awkwardness and kindness. Most importantly of all, embrace the superhuman strength that comes with limb loss. My life before the amputation doesn’t compare to what it is now. I am more confident, I know there’s nothing I can’t do, and I am functional.”
Nare is currently exploring the land of the emirates while pursuing her Master of Management degree in Digital Business at Wits Business School.
