02/08/2023
News
Good Samaritan.. and prosthetic repairer

By Renaud Cyr6:30 AM - August 2, 2023
Reading time: 3 minutes

Raymond Veilleux working on the repair of the prosthesis. Courtesy Photo
Raymond Veilleux and Lise Drapeau were quite surprised when they saw Mark Kouprie and Dan Ouellette arrive at the podiatry practice La Pédicurie located in their home in Forestville.
The two friends from British Columbia and Manitoba began a motocross journey on the Trans Canada Adventure Trail, a circuit of approximately 15,000 kilometers inspired by the country's motto: "from coast to coast. the other ".
When he was criss-crossing the trails and forest roads behind Forestville on Sunday July 16, Mark Kouprie encountered a small problem with his motocross.
"My motorcycle had an electrical problem whicho forced me to kick the starter", confided the British Columbian joined by the Journal.
Mark Kouprie and Dan Ouellette began their journey in Newfoundland and Labrador to finish their race in Edmonton. Facebook picture
He breaks his foot
The man, who wears a prosthesis at the level of the tibia, had a second bad luck.
"My prosthetic leg was taking damage with every kick, and eventually it broke. So we carried out a small temporary repair and went out into town to find a prosthetist's clinic," he says.
Unable to find adequate help at the CISSS de la Côte-Nord, Forestville pavilion, they went to Raymond Veilleux and Lise Drapeau, who has her podiatry practice, to repair her prosthesis.
" He had trouble going down the stairs, and I saw that his artificial foot was completely broken ", says Lise Drapeau.
Raymond Veilleux and Mark Kouprie. Courtesy Photo
The big story of a small pipe
At this time, the artificial foot attached to the prosthesis was twisted and was in the vertical axis.
The nearest prosthetist clinic being in Chicoutimi and Rimouski, the men were lucky to meet Lise Drapeau's spouse, who immediately took an interest in their story.
" I brought them into the garage the next day and we sat down, I asked him to show me his prosthesis ", recalls Raymond Veilleux with a smirk.
" I had a piece of carport frame pipe lying around, about the size of the end of his artificial leg ", he adds.
The Forestvillois, who has several years of experience in mechanics, forest roads, manual and mechanized logging under his hat, has seen others.
By drilling holes and putting in nuts, Raymond Veilleux manages to put Mark Kouprie's artificial foot back in the right axis.
"I made some adjustments at first, and then he tried it and everything worked. He even did a little dance", he reveals.
Mark Kouprie and Dan Ouellette are back on the road, and will finish their race in Edmonton in the next few days.
The language barrier did not last long between the two English speakers and Raymond Veilleux. On this subject, Lise Drapeau says of her spouse " that he is doing well ".
"We continue to hear from them and communicate. They are very nice guys", emphasizes Raymond Veilleux.
" This little tip, I never thought it was going to be so useful as to be talked about like that ", concludes the ingenious retiree and now new prosthesis repairer.
