When you arrive at the Botta factory, you come across people wearing white gowns you walk through a busy workshop, and you quickly realise that the most important place is at the back of the workshop because that's the focus of all the activity. This is where you'll find the patients in two comfortable and attractive rooms.
""It's just great !
You're together, you see the others, you talk and you don't feel lonely."
Nyima
"Mr Botta called me 2 or 3 times, to ask me to speak to some old people, to help them through this stage"
Laurette
The meeting
"Partner in a struggle"
Fortunately, or unfortunately, the meeting with an orthopaedist often takes place after the accident. Many of us prefer to look away or deny such an eventuality. But some of us face it head on, using the word 'partner' to characterise the special relationship that develops between the patient and the orthopaedist, in a struggle for life
They remember ...
Heinrich was referred to Botta by a hospital in Berne (Lory).
He's been seeing Michel Botta regularly for 3 years.
A diabetic who has had 2 legs amputated, he was forced to make very frequent visits, especially at the beginning.
Fabienne and Enrica came from Rome by train 2 days ago. Neither the train nor the hotel is reimbursed, and the same goes for the prostheses.
Both had had unsatisfactory experiences in Italy, the United States and elsewhere, when a friend put them in contract with Botta in 1996.
Since then, they have come to appreciate the high-quality prostheses on offer, and make the trip once or twice a year.
Today Laurette lives in Moutier.
She first met Mr Botta back in 1982.
She was then living in Paris and was losing hope of finding a prosthesis for her foot. A teacher talked to her about Botta.
From that time on, she's never even thought about changing her orthopaedist.
Nyima is from Tibet.
In 1978, as a refugee in India, she had the good fortune to meet her "sponsor" living in Lausanne. A year later, he had her come to Switzerland, where she met Pierre Botta.
She wanted it known just how much this man had helped her, more than a father or a friend, "deep within".
He was, and still is, the witness to all the major events in her life, such as her marriage and the birth of her children.
"People arrive at Botta looking sad and leave with a smile on their face".
