In August 1993, the Bosnian boy Dejan Zvizdalo lost both his lower legs through a landmine. After years of suffering, the young leg amputee received help from Germany through the surgical supplies retailer Szabo in Velbert.
When Dejan Zvozdalo stepped on a landmine whilst playing with friends in a field directly alongside the school yard, he was only nine years old. After he had been operated on in the Sarajevo hospital, he was given two lower limb prostheses, with which he was capable of walking again, but with great effort. However these prostheses caused many problems and were a great burden to Dejan Zvizdalo, they fitted badly and the straps on the thigh were uncomfortable. In order to reduce the pain, the young Bosnian got used to adopting a protective posture, which caused further problems later on.
Despite everything, Dejan Zvizdalo did not give up. He finished school and then started training to become an air-conditioning engineer. But after successfully completing the training, Dejan couldn't find a job because his disability and, above all, the poor quality prostheses, meant he couldn't work fulltime. Although the disability allowance was sufficient for basic needs, the young Bosnian hoped every single day that his life would change.
Help from Germany from the surgical supplies retailer Szabo
Dejan Zvizdalo urgently needed support and an expertly-made prosthesis. After years of suffering, his calls for help were eventually heard. Pero Mandic, who had fled to Germany in 1992 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, told his friend Thomas Wolframm about the fate of his cousin Dejan. The man from Velbert wanted to help immediately and asked his brother Michael Wolframm, Chairman of the Velbert Kolping charity, for support, who immediately agreed to come on board. Together with Pero Mandic, Thomas Wolframm went to the MEDICARE trade fair in Düsseldorf, where he sought the support of prosthesis manufacturers. Fortunately, the two did not let themselves be discouraged by a few refusals and finally obtained a positive response: Thomas Oschlies from the company medi thought he could help Dejan Zvizdalo.
The first step had been taken, now the finance for the project ''Feet for Dejan'' had to be secured. Here too the readiness to help was enormous: The Kolping charity in Velbert supported Dejan Zvizdalo and, through various activities, collected about 2,600 Euros for the young Bosnian. Another 1,400 Euros was raised through private donations. The medi company paid the remaining costs. André Szabo from the surgical supplies retailer Szabo in Velbert said he was prepared to maintain the prostheses free of charge. Physiotherapist Andreas Weise offered his expert services to help Dejan overcome the damage he had caused through his protective posture and to show him how to handle the new prostheses safely.
Once the finance was in place and the tasks relating to the prosthesis manufacture and rehabilitation had been divided up, nothing more stood in the way of the project ''Feet for Dejan“ On the 10th September 2009, the Bosnian arrived in Velbert. The very next day, André Szabo made the plaster moulds for the sockets and the first fitting could take place only ten days later. Unfortunately, the sockets had to be corrected after the first fitting, but the waiting time was put to good use because, in the meantime, Dejan trained every day with Andreas Weise in the MediClin Rhine/Ruhr specialist clinic in Essen-Kettwig, which provided free treatment.
Finally the patient received his new prosthesis, which significantly increased his quality of life: The medi carbon foot Flex R has improved his gait and the medi liner relax is a great relief for the young Bosnian.
Today, Dejan Zvizdalo stands with both legs firmly on life's road. He has not yet given up his dream: the sport-loving Bosnian had always wanted to become a ski teacher and the hope that he will one day be able to fulfil this dream has been revived. The cooperation of many individuals willing to help him with the specialist clinic MediClin and the medi company has paid off; Dejan Zvizdalo travelled back to his homeland happy, immensely grateful and with new courage to face life.
