A Day with Shadrack – Living Boldly, Walking Proudly

For the month of April, Limb Loss Awareness month, we shared one of the most powerful stories we’ve had the privilege to hear: Shadrack’s. This is a reflection of that story.

Shadrack, a determined and outspoken man from Dar es Salaam, welcomed us into his world. We spent a day with him, listening, learning, and walking in his shoes. His story is one of courage, resilience, and unfiltere

“Huwa nawaambia, mimi nataka watu wajue kwamba kuna watu wa design hii. Ukificha watajuaje?” - Shadrack

His journey has been long and painful, starting with his first complications in 2004 and leading to his decision to amputate his leg in 2018. After years of failed surgeries and unrelenting pain, he made the decision to amputate his leg, not as a defeat, but as a turning point.

He’s open about the challenges that came after: emotional, social, and financial. He doesn’t shy away from hard conversations about stigma or the insensitive comments he hears. Instead, he uses them as teaching moments.

“Sikuwahi kufikiria kama siku ntakuja kukata mguu... Katika maisha yako, kuwa makini. Sisi ambao unaona tunavaa hivi vyuma, hatujapenda.”

Shadrack’s message is clear: Be kind. Be aware. Life can change for anyone.

Despite the odds, Shadrack found a way forward. He supports his family by working as a bajaji driver and picking up odd jobs. These jobs were once more accessible to people with physical disabilities. However, they have increasingly been overtaken by able-bodied drivers. Still, he pushes through, advocating not just for himself but for others like him, demanding the right to work and live with dignity.

And he’s not alone. Over 1.5% of the global population, about 118 million people, require prosthetic and orthotic interventions. Yet, access to quality care remains limited, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Tanzania.

At Trucare, we exist to change that.

We’re not just here to provide devices. We’re here to restore mobility, dignity, and hope. People like Shadrack inspire us every day to keep pushing, to keep innovating, and to ensure that no one faces limb loss alone.

Because at Trucare, we believe mobility is not a luxury. It’s a right.