Spotlight on Sierra Leone - Meet Kadijatu
- Koalaa
- Dec 11, 2023
- 2 min read
Kadijatu’s first experience with prosthetics was when she received her Koalaa prosthetic, at the age of 7.
Meet Kadijatu, who is 9 years old and lives with her family in Waterloo, Freetown.
Kadijatu was born with a below elbow limb difference, meaning her right arm did not develop fully at birth.
She enjoys using her Koalaa prosthetic to do laundry with her sister, to help her mum with cooking and to do her friend’s hair. Here’s what she told us about her Koalaa.
What do you think of your Koalaa prosthetic?
When I first saw the prosthetics, I liked them but I was very surprised how it works.
My mum gave me the courage to use it and she was happy because I was using it.
My younger sister likes my Koalaa too and when I put it down she will try to put it on like I do!
Grandma is very happy because she was the one who first saw about Koalaa. I used to ask her, ‘how can I get my arm back’ and when Koalaa came along, Grandma said ‘what you were asking me for is now here!’. That made me want to practice with it.
What is a typical day like for you?
My normal routine after school is that I will get my uniform laundered and hang it up for the next day, then go to fetch water, because you have to take a bath in the evening. I then help with anything, anyone wants. They will call me and say ‘come help us with this’.
We like playing games too. One of the games we play is where one team is in the middle and the other team is at the other end. They throw balls at you and anyone the ball touches is out of the game.
What is it like having a limb difference?
When people ask me about my limb difference, I tell them that my arm is the same as theirs. But it has a difference. That's what I say, we have the same arm.
Sometimes people treat me differently because my arm is not complete like theirs. But I like the way I am, and nothing is a problem.
You can read the other blogs in this series here:
What a sweet story. It's amazing that Kadijatu got her first prosthetic at 7 - I can't imagine waiting that long for something that could make such a difference. It makes you think about all the different medical standards around the world too, like how units like mmol/l to mg/dl vary by country. Access to healthcare really does look so different everywhere.
I really enjoyed reading about Kadijatu! The way you highlighted her journey and struggles is inspiring. henry stickmin It reminds me of the character progression we see in games like Henry Stickmin, where choices shape the story. Keep sharing these stories; they resonate deeply!
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I appreciate the depth of research and clarity in your writing. The way you presented complex information so simply is remarkable. sprunki shifted
I check Facebook Games when I'm looking for something social to play. They have multiplayer browser games that are easy to share with friends. The casual puzzle and card game sections are where I spend most of my time.