Walk of hope for amputees

Poor amputees need not be out on a limb, thanks to the humanitarian efforts of Thai surgeon Therdchai Jivacate. – Photos from Prostheses Foundation of HRH The Princess Mother

A Thai orthopaedic surgeon has devoted his life to making free prosthetic limbs for poor amputees.

When he was a young lad, Assoc Prof Dr Therdchai Jivacate loved to read about air raids and aeroplanes. He imagined that one day he would take off to conquer the skies as an air force pilot. But his parents disapproved of this. They drilled some sense into Therdchai, the second of five children. Their words sank in and set him thinking about his future.