Patient Stories: Anton

Anton B came to us in April of 2024 through a non-profit focused on helping injured Ukrainian soldiers. (War Amputees’ Help Open Organization.) He sustained a left transfemoral amputation as the result of combat trauma. He is young and active and really wanted to get back to being able to work and run and exercise again. We helped facilitate appointments with our partners at Johns Hopkins Orthopedics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation where he received surgical and rehabilitation services as part of his overall care. We were asked to provide new prostheses for him following his residual limb revision surgery in preparation for his return home.

 The recommendation was a prosthesis for everyday use and a special use prosthesis designed for running.  His needs presented a complex situation – there were a number of challenges to meet.  Anton does not speak English. We had a limited budget, time, and other resources.  Then we learned that the military was recalling him home by October 10th!  He also wanted to get back to his family – Anton and his wife just had their first child, a baby girl.  We had to work with intention and patience and push through all these things to keep those big goals in mind. 

Anton and Dankmeyer had great team of people supporting this work which includes his US based non-profit sponsor who has done an incredible amount of work supporting his needs. The Dankmeyer administrative and fabrication teams worked diligently and quickly to support the clinical work and meet our deadlines. And, the Johns Hopkins Orthopedic Surgery and PM&R team provided guidance and a nearly perfect residual limb revision surgery and tireless rehabilitation service.  We all worked really hard together and pushed through the issues resulting in a really good outcome.

Before he returned to Ukraine, Anton had a good prosthesis set up, and certainly enough devices and component parts to be walking and learning to run.  Anton has a good arrangement to follow up in one of Ukraine’s new prosthetics/limb loss rehabilitation centers for long term care. Even after 34 years of work as a physical therapist and CPO, I professionally and personally learned a lot from our relationship. Some services can be very frustrating at times, particularly when there are barriers from externalities over which we have little to no control. Coordinating all these resources to meet these challenges and achieve success for Anton and all our clients is one of the most rewarding parts of practicing in this profession.

We wish Anton and his family safety and success in his rehabilitation.  Should he visit us again, we will welcome him with open arms.

 -              Mark Hopkins, Dankmeyer CEO, CPO, PT – and Anton’s prosthetist.

Patient Stories: Alan Lyles

“Many thanks for your professional assistance in designing and making my orthotic work.” 

This was Alan Lyles’ response to our August call for entries to win a new Dankmeyer T shirt.  He was specifically referring to his orthotist, Marlies Beerli-Cabell, CPO.  For a bonus entry to the contest, he submitted some pictures of himself wearing his orthosis – both at home, and in Finland.  Yes, that ankle foot orthosis gets around!  We asked Alan to tell us more about his travels.

As it turns out, Professor Lyles (Alan Lyles, ScD, MPH, is the Henry A. Rosenberg Professor of Government, Business, and Nonprofit Partnerships in the College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore) was living, travelling and working on a Fulbright Specialist project in Finland last spring, and some of the orthosis pictures were taken in the airport in Vantaa, Finland.  In his lectures as part of this project, he stressed that “managing the health and social services reform … in a sustainable way requires courage and strong will from decision-makers and management.” (Alan Lyles. Finland’s Lesson: Being Happy Takes Work. The National Interest Blog. August 16, 2022. )

(If you have access to LinkedIn, you can read a post in LinkedIn from the institution where Alan spoke. While the post is in Finnish, you can click on the Translate button to get an English translation. Click here.)

Alan Lyles has experienced social reform in a very personal and direct way.  A child of poverty in the rural South, he was surrounded by illiteracy in the majority of his family members and he had poor health – having tuberculosis at a young age.  An aunt took over his care when he was seven, and despite her own limited formal education, she realized that Alan should have what she did not.  Her persistent pushes and in high school his mother’s setting more ambitious goals, lead to his eventual advanced education.  Two years ago, Alan wrote describing his upbringing and the challenges of achieving literacy in the Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, NC). Click here to read the article.

Eventually having achieved his Doctor of Science (ScD) and his Master of Public Heath degrees, he is currently a professor at the University of Baltimore – a far cry from his rural South roots of seventy years ago. His social and economic environment as a child formed his views on the need for education, healthcare communication, and to some extent happiness.  He has come to understand that happiness takes work, compromise, trust and what the Finns call sisu – or grit.  Alan writes, “These are the same things that allow us to face the complex issues of our times, whether you are wearing an orthosis, have some limb difference, or face any variety of social or economic challenges.”

We appreciate that Alan chose to share his story with us.

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Patient Stories: Mr. Eddie Chapman

Meet Mr. Eddie Chapman!! He received his new osseointegrated body-powered transhumeral (above the elbow) prosthesis just the other day and he could not be happier!!!

Dankmeyer is at the forefront of and working alongside our various referral sources to incorporate osseointegration as an alternative method to traditional prosthetic fittings.

What is Osseointegration?

An osseointegration procedure is one that aims to enhance the function and mobility of people who have had an amputation. A metal implant is surgically implanted into the bone of the residual limb, which is attached directly to a prosthesis, removing the need for a prosthetic socket. In some cases, the surgery may take place in stages depending on which implant system is used. While osseointegration has been around since the 1950s in the dental field, the first osseointegration procedures for limbs were not done until the 1990s. There are pros and cons to this type of prosthetic use and you should work with your care team to determine if the osseointegration path is the right one for you.

We have a short video where Mr Chapman shows just a little of the osseointegrated device.

On this auspicious delivery day, his son even took off from a school field trip to take part in this new milestone for his dad!!

If you have any questions about the procedure or would like more information from your prosthetist, you can email info@dankmeyer.com or give us a call at 410-636-8114.

Story from Danny Weiser, Board Eligible Prosthetist Orthotist

Patient Stories: Ms. Laura Platter

Ms. Laura Platter has recently worked with our Western Maryland office staff, Rebecca (Becca) Frost, CPO and Heather Iman, Patient Services Representative , on a new Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis or KAFO.

Ms. Platter was diagnosed with cancer of the pelvis and spinal cord at 7 years old. She underwent extensive surgeries, including resection of the tumor, radiation, and reconstruction of the sciatic nerve (which provides control of the muscles of the left leg). Her first orthosis from Dankmeyer was an AFO, or ankle foot orthosis, for her left leg.

In 2015 her mobility was further impacted by a car accident. Her left leg was fractured, resulting in more surgeries. One operation fused the bones in her leg - meaning she has no movement in her left knee, ankle, or foot. As a result of all of the trauma, there is damage to her nerves, skin and bones which leaves Ms. Platter’s leg very sensitive to touch, as well as a limb length discrepancy (the left leg is shorter than her right leg).  

Ms. Platter has tried a number of different orthotic options over the years, but more recently has been using a walker and hopping to get around, which is tough on the rest of her body. While she has considered amputation, it is not an option at this time, so she has come back to Dankmeyer to find a creative solution.

Becca, along with our clinical and fabrication teams, has designed a new, unique KAFO for her. This new KAFO has a prosthetic foot at the bottom, allowing her to bear weight on both legs, correct her leg length discrepancy, and protect her sensitive skin. It also allows her to wear a regular shoe to match what she wears on the right side. The prosthetic foot helps to provide motion similar to an ankle, making it easier to walk around. In Historic Western Maryland, which has a lot of hills and brick sidewalks, this is a great mobility advantage.

Using this orthosis has allowed her to take her first steps without a walker for the first time in 15 years! Ms. Platter is so very happy with her new KAFO and relieved that for the first time in a very long time, she can walk without pain in her hands or legs, and without fear of falling.

We are so proud to be a part of Ms. Platter’s care team and can’t wait to see what she does with her new mobility! Take a look at this change from test walk to delivery video clip!

Patient Stories: Carly Pays It Forward

We have a very special story to share about something coming from a child’s heart.

Carly is one of Dankmeyer’s pediatric prosthetic patients. Her prosthetist is Mary Reedy, CP. Carly was very kind to bring beautiful pink spring tulips into the Baltimore Washington office on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, to thank everyone at Dankmeyer for helping her. They were placed on the counter in the administration area so everyone at the office that day could see them. Pictures were shared with satellite office staff so they could enjoy them as well.

Carly’s thoughtfulness did not end there. She came bearing gifts - gifts for other children.

During the early days of Carly’s rehab, she received a book called Molly the Pony. The story is about a horse who had its leg amputated and then received a prosthesis. Carly gifted three of these books, each with inspiring homemade bookmarks, and packaged in its own gift bag. She has requested we provide the books to any children who may need a little inspiration.

We are very honored that Carly entrusted us to pass on this kindness. She hopes that a new recipient could take a photo to be shared with Carly during her next appointment!