Boy without arms, leg gets life-changing help

An orphan from Tanzania who was born without arms or a right leg traveled all the way to New York to get some life-changing help. Joseph Letapuka, 13, got the chance to come to the U.S. to be fitted

News 12 Staff

Feb 18, 2014, 3:24 AM

Updated 3,732 days ago

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Boy without arms, leg gets life-changing help
An orphan from Tanzania who was born without arms or a right leg traveled all the way to New York to get some life-changing help.
Joseph Letapuka, 13, got the chance to come to the U.S. to be fitted for prosthetics thanks to an organization called the Living Water Children's Centre Fund. The prosthetics were made and fitted by Allied Orthopedics Prosthetic Rehab Center in Ozone Park.
The prosthetic equipment is designed to "grow" with the teen. The leg has a pipe that can be loosened and extended to accommodate Joseph as he matures.
After being fitted with his new limbs, Joseph got to try something fun for the very first time: riding a scooter.
Joseph says there are a lot of other firsts in his future. He hopes to one day become a pilot.


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