Australian Dentist Creates First Prosthetic Foot For Koala

This handsome Koala certainly lives up to his name -- Triumph. Meet the adorable koala Triumph, who was born with a foot missing. Triumph was taken into care back in 2017 after being spotted with his dying mother in New South Wales. 

Vets soon realized Triumph was missing a limp, due to an inexplicable birth defect. They could also tell that his missing limp would sometimes cause him pain. His rescuer and vet nurse, Marley Christian, from Friends of Koala, began to dress Triumph's stump in dolls' socks and little booties. They have discovered that when doing so, it helped relieve some of the sensitivity Triumph was feeling. 

Marley Christian searched the globe for someone to make a prosthetic, unfortunately, no one was willing to take on the task. "We were told it had not been done and it could not be done," Marley Christian told ABC. 

An American company that specialized in animal prosthetics decided to take Triumph's case, but sadly, they could not manufacture a design that would comfortably stay on. It wasn't until Marley Christian mentioned Triumph's case in passing to an Australian dentist, Lismore dental prosthetist Jon Doulman, who then volunteered to help build Triumph a prosthetic foot himself. 

And he succeeded. 

Story via ABC

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  • 01

    This is Triumph, before his new and improved prosthetic foot:

    Head
    Via (Supplied: Brad Mustow)
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  • 02

    And here is his rocking the new foot Dr Jon Doulman created.

    Hand

    Jon Doulman told reporters, "I take impressions of mouths, and all dentures are different, and it just dawned on me that I should have a go and see if I can manufacture something for him." He then took an impression of Triumph's stump and created a boot-like prosthetic made of rubber and attached with velcro. 

    Via (Supplied: Brad Mustow)
  • 03

    According to Marley Christian, the moment Triumph got his new prosthetic, his whole demeanor changed!

    Eye

    He immediately began grooming, climbing, and crawling as the new foot stayed in place! "He's able to move a lot better, he's a lot more active. It alleviated the discomfort from his stump, and it assists him with running, he can jump, and it's stopped a curvature in his spine because he needed that extra length! 


    Via (Supplied: Brad Mustow)
  • 04

    Congratulations, Triumph! We are so unbelievably happy for you and your new qualify of life! And of course, to Marley Christian for searching endlessly until she found the remarkable Jon Doulman who made it all happen! You guys are our heroes! 

    Via New York Post

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