Surviving and Starting Over After Suffering an Amputation in Earthquakes in Venezuela
After Venezuela’s June 24 earthquakes, which killed more than 6,300 people, at least 200 survivors reportedly underwent amputations. Seventeen-year-old athlete Dennis Castillo was trapped for 28 hours and lost her left leg; she later agreed to surgery after her father explained that her injuries threatened her life. The Fundación Dos Santos’ Fondo Humanitario 77 has raised about $453,000 toward a $2 million goal to help survivors obtain prostheses, while some devices cost as much as $30,000. Rehabilitation requires prolonged physical and psychological support, and the disaster has exposed a longstanding shortage of prostheses in Venezuela. Dennis hopes to obtain a sports prosthesis so she can train again.

Reporting styleInformative
Primarily factual reporting, with empathetic personal testimony and descriptions of the survivors’ challenges.
