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Waldo O. Esparza, BSCP/ Artificial Limbs, Genuine Caring
Author: | Monday March 07, 2005
Waldo O. Esparza, BSCP works closely with his patients, who often become friends. Above are from left: Jim Mason, Chris Miller, Waldo Esparza, Roy Stewart and Arthur Gagne, BSc, Resident Prosthetist. In second photo are Chris Miller and his wife Brittany.
Waldo O. Esparza, BSCP Artificial Limbs, Genuine Caring
They came together in the lobby of his office like family would gather around the kitchen table, sharing their stories, discussing the latest artificial limb technology and .... most of all.... talking about Waldo.
Waldo O. Esparza, BSCP fitted each of the men with upper extremity prostheses. It is his specialty and their successes with their new limbs are a testament to his work. The latest recipient is Chris Miller, 22, who was working on Dec. 19, 2003 in an FPL substation when he was electrocuted as 7,500 volts shot through his body. He survived the accident but subsequently lost both of his arms below the elbow.
Esparza and his colleague, Arthur Gagné, BSc, had just completed an “expedited fitting” for Miller, working just about every waking hour for four days to complete the task. “By getting the arms on the patient quickly, it is a way of jump-starting the rehabilitation and keeping the individual motivated,” Esparza explained.
Miller literally had just completed the fitting of his myoelectric arms and he joined other amputees to talk about their prostheses and their relationships with Esparza.
Waldo Esparza is not a difficult man to get to know. Outgoing and generous about discussing his approach to his work, the Cuban born prosthetist became interested in his chosen profession by accident. At the age of 16, he lost his left leg above the knee in a motorcycle crash in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he grew up.
“I went to rehab in Puerto Rico and I was motivated to learn about the profession,” he recalled. He later attended the University of Washington in Seattle and completed a four year program in prosthetics and orthotics. But if you want to learn about what motivates Esparza you only have to listen to his patients.
Jim Mason, 42, is one of the beneficiaries of Esparza’s training and passion for his work. Mason lost his right hand at the wrist in a July 4 fireworks accident in 2002. The fact that Mason had movement in his wrist might seem to be good news, but for prosthetists, the rotating wrist bones create a problem with the fitting of an artificial limb.
“They wanted to cut off more of my arm after the initial surgery but I looked into my options. I learned that Waldo goes the extra mile and I can tell you that the time he invests is far above the industry standard,” said the straight talking Mason.
Mason is intrigued with the artificial limb, and particularly the new state-of-the-art Pro Hand with flexion from Motion Control that Roy Stewart, 54, is showing off. Stewart is a professional musician who plays the trumpet at clubs in the Tampa Bay area. He started off playing piano but lost his arm at the age of eight in a vehicle accident.
Stewart has been fitted with a number of limbs over the years, most of them conventional body powered. “I didn’t think I could operate a myoelectric arm because I have an almost total shoulder disarticulation,” Stewart said. I was recommended to see Waldo by another prosthetist who referred to him as “the best man for the job.” Stewart is extremely pleased with his new arm and is quick to doff his shirt to demonstrate how it works. “You can see I’m not shy,” he laughed.
Three men, different ages and different backgrounds, but with a common challenge to move forward with their lives. They all agreed they found the practitioner to help them achieve their goals.
“I went to see four or five prosthetists but I connected with Waldo right away. I liked his personality and I also think Waldo has an insight because he is also a prosthetic patient,” Miller said. “I felt that Waldo understood more of what I went through and the joy of having something that works,” the young man concluded.
Doing things his way and taking the time necessary with each patient is one of the joys of operating his own clinic but Waldo has had extensive training and professional experience with the renowned Sabolich Prosthetic Clinic.
He also served as Upper Extremity Specialist for Florida Nova Care. After his son Daniel was born, Esparza decided it was time to go it on his own and opened his clinic five years ago. He and his wife Angela enjoy the Tampa Bay area and Waldo is an avid sailor. He is the holder of a bronze medal in sailing in the 1996 Paralympics Games held in Atlanta.
Esparza lectures in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and he expects that his practice will continue to grow, but never at the expense of his patients. “I will take as much time as necessary until everything is right. High volume is not our goal and many of our patients become our friends,” Esparza said.
Just ask Jim, Chris or Roy.
Ed. Ed. Note: Tampa Bay Artificial Limbs provides upper and lower extremity prosthetics as well as cosmetic restoration (partial hand and fingers). To learn more contact Waldo Esparza, BSCP or Office Manager, Ann Delgado by calling 813-801-9110. You can e-mail wespa69650@aol.com.
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