Andrey Kazbanov, 10, is a bilateral above-knee amputee after a railroad accident. He became a patient of the US-Russian Prosthetic Rehabilitation Bridge Program, since the following two conditions were met. He couldn't wear prostheses unless a surgical revision of both his stumps would be done, and his local healthcare providers in Stavropol could not perform such surgery.

After a successful stump revision at the St. Petersburg Albrecht Center for Prosthetics, Andrey received a two new prosthetic legs and special gait training.

However, his rehabilitation plan one more component that is new in Russia: during his three-month stay at the Children's institute at the clinic, Andrey was given basic computer training, which will be the first stage of his computer education. Andrey, his mom, and the US-Russian rehabilitation team consider that the computer is no less of an important tool for Andrey than his prosthesis. It gives him self-confidence and joy. It could also be a means for communicating with the outside world, and for employment in the future. The US Consulate in St. Petersburg supports the plan of establishing a computer center for children amputees at the Albrecht Institute.

The Parametric Technology Corporation, Waltham, MA (www.ptc.com) donated its advanced software Pro/ENGINEER for the Center. The Company licensed to the IPRLS two seats for installation of this software in the US and in Russia.