Patient Stories: Donald Greenfield

Left Turn. Right Turn. About-Turn. Halt.

Military commands? While Donald Greenfield experienced similar commands after enlisting in the Army fifty years ago, in this story, these particular words, accompanied by “Sit”, “Down”, “Stay”, “Stand” and some form of Recall, are more appropriate for competing his dogs in American Kennel Club (AKC) Obedience Trials.  These commands form part of a dog’s “basic training”, so to speak – and Donald undertook obedience training his dog Star after an accident left him a below knee amputee twenty years ago. After twenty-six years as a brakeman and conductor for the CSXT railroad, he retired following his accident, but wanted to stay active. His wife Robin suggested that training their Golden Retriever would allow him to do just that in a new way. He thought that would be fun, so Donald signed Star up for a class at Catoctin Kennel Club of Point Of Rocks, MD. She was a natural, and they did very well by earning a Utility Title.

Long before training Star, Donald had been an active sportsman since growing up in Brunswick, Maryland near the Potomac River. This is where he grew to love the outdoors and wildlife and learned to hunt and fish.  It wasn’t long after graduating from Brunswick High School that he left the Potomac behind.  U.S. involvement in Vietnam had escalated following the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident, and in December 1965, Donald enlisted in the U.S. Army. After Paratrooper School at Fort Benning, GA, he was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Ben Hoi, Vietnam. November of 1967 saw some of the heaviest fighting in the Central Highlands, about 280 miles north of Saigon near the Cambodian border. He was on Hill 875, Dak To, first serving as a radio operator for the Company Commander. Both sides in this battle sustained heavy casualties, with the 173rd particularly hard hit. After 28 months of service in Vietnam, he is the recipient of two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He was a Sargent E-5 when he left the army. 

The railroad and family followed his military service. After his retirement and Star’s success, Robin and Donald brought two Shetland Sheep Dogs (Shelties) into the pack – Chase, a Blue Merle and Lucy Lu, a Bi-black.  Robin thought Donald should try his hand at something new - agility training. Agility was originally designed to resemble equestrian jumping sports - to demonstrate dogs' natural speed and agility.  Some say that this was a natural extension of military and police dog training – for dogs to make their way through a sort of obstacle course, by running, jumping, climbing and scaling objects. “Sit” and “Stay” commands were expanded by “Jump”, “Tunnel”, “A-Frame”, “Teeter”, “Tire” and “Weave” (among others) – the handler all the while running with the dog around a complicated course.  Because of the running, he wasn't sure this was something he could do with his prosthesis. Robin’s good friend Carol Guth at Breakaway Action Dog Club (BAD) in Frederick, MD assured Donald he could do it. Within a few years of beginner’s classes, Chase and Lucy Lu began to earn agility titles.  Donald and the dogs were having lots of fun.  Donald became a member and eventually an officer of the club. It wasn’t long after that when he became an agility instructor at BAD.

During this time, Mystic joined the family as a rescue dog.  Now eighteen, Donald says she is a nice dog who had clearly had some training before they got her and despite being deaf, she doesn’t want to be left out of the action.  (She is in the foreground of this picture.) The newest members of the family are two year old River and six month old Breeze - English Cream Golden Retrievers. While their family pedigree includes Master Hunters, Donald does not plan to hunt these two or do fieldwork, as Goldens often do.  Instead, he will continue to do agility for fun, and obedience trials – like their predecessor Star.  They are very smart and quick to learn, but their training is on a brief hold until Donald gets a new prosthesis.  Sadly, Robin and Donald recently said farewell to their Lucy Lu.

Along with all this agility action running about, Donald continues to enjoy hunting and fishing with his son Brian, and grandsons Adam and Joshua.  He says, “I thought I was done for after losing my foot in the accident. Thanks to my lovely wife, friends, prosthetists Mark (Hopkins) and Mary (Reedy) at Dankmeyer, I've been able to stay an active person to enjoy life to its fullest.”  A number of new awards and ribbons await River and Breeze, and their handler, Donald Greenfield.  Today, the only use of “Halt” in this decorated Army veteran’s vocabulary is for his four legged trainees.

“Obedience trials are a sport and all participants should be guided by the principles of good sportsmanship both in and out of the ring. Obedience trials demonstrate the dog’s ability to follow specified routines in the obedience ring and emphasize the usefulness of the dog as a companion to man. All contestants in a class are required to perform the same exercises in substantially the same way so that the relative quality of the various performances may be compared and scored. The basic objective of obedience trials, however, is to recognize dogs that have been trained to behave in the home, in public places and in the presence of other dogs in a manner that will reflect credit on the sport of obedience at all times and under all conditions. The performance of dog and handler in the ring must be accurate and correct according to these regulations. It is also essential that the dog demonstrate willingness and enjoyment while it is working and that a smooth and natural handler be given precedence over a handler moving with military precision and using harsh commands.”  From the American Kennel Club Obediance Regulations.  For more information about Obedience Trials click here,  and Agility Trials, click here.

 

Patient Stories: Tod*

(This story is courtesy of the parents of a minor patient, who happens to be three years old.)

Our little boy was born prematurely via emergency c-section with a very rare in-utero phenomenon that damaged the bottom of his right leg and his right foot. The injury was becoming life threatening, so at 3 days old, he had a below-the-knee amputation. It was a long, nerve-wracking day for us as new parents, still recovering from birth, still acclimating to the NICU. However, he came through it all safely, was off of the morphine in just two days, and came home a week before his original due date.

The next year flew by with all of the usual baby milestones. Our boy was a super fast crawler and a busy explorer. Just after he learned to pull himself up, a few weeks before his 1st birthday, he got his proto-type prosthetic to learn to toddle properly. His first leg did not have bendable joints because the first lesson little kids have to learn in standing and walking is balance.

Today, our little boy is an active, happy 3-year old. He has a bendable knee now, which acts as a great shock absorber as he runs, climbs and slides. He is fearless in trying new things and going to new places. He is always the last child to come in from the playground when his preschool teachers call the class to line up. He is learning to swim and loves to meet animals, anytime and anywhere. His normal is our normal, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

(*We, as parents, have chosen to keep our son’s real name and face private. However, we are happy to share some of our parenting story if it helps others.)

Patient Stories: Jenny Windsor

When most of us get on an airplane, we don’t think much about it.  We maybe put something in the overhead, sit down, shove something under the seat in front of us, and then buckle in.  Jenny Windsor has spent a lot of time flying and her routine is somewhat different.  She says it can be hard for an amputee to sit for as little as three to four hours on a plane – your limb goes to sleep, you can get pressure sores, so she finally decided not to be embarrassed, and pull the residual limb out of the socket and let it rest, or she takes the leg off and puts it next to her.  Now, that could be a conversation starter!

Jenny is a very active forty nine year old, who, as a nineteen year old college student, was in a motor vehicle accident and spent four months in the Baltimore shock trauma facility.  After many surgeries, she made a difficult decision to have an amputation.  A lot of pain, swelling, and exhaustion were part of her rehabilitation, and she feels like her youth and good health gave her an advantage in her recovery.  She also credits her prosthetist and Dankmeyer for her leg and its fit – finding the right prosthetist being critical to recovery and success.  

A little over fifteen years ago, in order to remain active Jenny adopted a yellow lab puppy, Lilly.  As an 8 week old puppy, Lilly forced Jenny to stay active.   When her leg would hurt, or she would develop blisters from too much activity, her dear four-legged companion was there for her.  

Jenny, who also liked to hike and ski, eventually started looking for something far more strenuous, maybe an obstacle course-type event.  Last year, she participated in a couple of fitness boot camps at RAW Fitness VA, where the class dragged tires around, did burpees, pushups, kettle bell swings - basically two hours of various strenuous activities. This prompted her to want to try a Rugged Maniac obstacle course race scheduled for October. An injury caused by improper over training forced her to reschedule her competition for June of this year. At the same time she needed to see Lilly through her final illness.  

This past winter she and her husband Jack (and team member) started back in training at Baydog CrossFit in Severna Park, MD.  While she would like to work out every day, due to the physical requirements of CrossFit and a demanding work schedule she is currently limited to three days a week.  The goal is to be strong enough to work out six days a week and participate in the CrossFit Open as an “Adaptive Athlete” in 2017. (#TeamSomeAssemblyRequired) The vigorous workouts include jumping rope, push-ups, sit-ups, a variety of weight training exercises (squats, clean and jerk, snatch), rowing and other cardio work.  

Jenny has an enormous amount of support from the coaches and classmates at Baydog CrossFit.  For a couple of months, no one there knew she was an amputee.  She didn’t reveal her prosthetic leg and kept it covered by wearing long sweat pants.  She didn’t want “special” attention or to be limited with her workout due to the perception of being “handicapped”. She came to realize that in order to meet her goals as an adaptive athlete, she needed to reveal the prosthesis and place her trust in the coaches to not see her any differently than anyone else in the class.  While she does have some limitations because of her amputation, Jenny works together with her coaches to figure out the best course of action if she can’t perform an exercise the traditional way.

CrossFit teaches functional movement patterns – movements you use every day.  Jenny sees it as preparation that will help make her become strong enough to compete in and finish the Rugged Maniac 5K race.  The Maniac event requires participants to make their way through a number of difficult obstacles – some of which include mud, ropes and heights.  She was initially concerned about losing her leg in the mud! After researching the event and planning with her prosthetist Mary Reedy, after the event, when the leg is covered in mud, she will simply hose it off. Then, she will take it in to get the foot cover removed and cleaned out.  Problem solved!  

Recently, when she and her husband took a break and went on a vacation to the Grand Caymans Jenny took along her “back-up” leg to use for swimming. She could not risk damaging her every day leg by swimming with it, insurance does not cover more than one leg at a time for most amputees. #NotaLuxury. For a long time, she avoided swimming, because she was self-conscious about her leg and scars.  This time, when she was out on the boat, she simply sat down and switched out legs – she decided she didn’t care what people might think.  So, she swam with the rays, strolled on the beach, and snorkeled for a week, and after that experience has decided she wants to learn to dive.

As if that isn’t enough, part of the fun thing to know about Jenny is that she is a genuine award winning CASI (Chili Appreciation Society International) chili cook when she is not being a corporate controller and an athlete!  In January, she and her husband were members of the winning “High Sierra Cooking Team” at the US National Open Championships in Terlingua, TX. In fact, it was while she was competing with her brother at a chili cook-off that she met her husband-to-be over ten years ago.  And if chili doesn’t do it for you, she is also a member of the Kansas City BBQ Society and is the head cook for Black Cat BBQ, one of a small, growing number of woman lead BBQ teams.  While it has its rewards, being a winning BBQ/chili chef is a lot of hard work.  She has been cooking at competitions for more than ten years. Being a pit master means she is on her feet long hours moving heavy bags of charcoal and equipment around.

Jenny credits her mom as being an awesome cook who has given her many of the great family recipes.  Would she share any of her award winning chili recipes? Maybe, but she really does want to share some of her experiences as an amputee.  Jenny says that you can do whatever you want to do.  It doesn’t cross her mind that she cannot do something.   She feels it is important to stay fit and healthy.  Staying active means using that leg as long as possible – giving in to occasional pain and exhaustion comes with being an amputee but giving up is not an option.  And, she wants to share this philosophy and her experiences with others.  She recently discovered all of the resources available through the Amputee Coalition, and will be training with them to be a Certified Peer Visitor.   Chili, BBQ and mud – a winning combination that is sure to entertain, and inspire others.

Patient Stories: Angela Manning

What do you call an amputee who is active in going to the gym, peer mentoring, working with lawmakers on disability issues, political campaigning, and travels? Well, you call that person an active amputee, and in this case an amputee activist, too.  And you call this specific force of nature Ms. Angela Manning.  

Originally from Longview, Texas, Angela moved to the Baltimore area in 1996.  A little over four years ago, she became an above knee amputee after a series of vascular setbacks arising from diabetes.  Since then, some additional health issues have tested her positive outlook, and she found herself increasingly relying on her wheelchair, scooter and walker to get around instead of her new leg.  But this was just a bump in the road.  She wasn’t going to let herself get “stuck in a deep hole of feeling bad about the way things were.”  She insists that you shouldn’t let your mind control your body on bad days.  "Have your anger and move on out of it.”   This echoes a sentiment expressed by her brother when she was in inpatient rehab shortly after her amputation.  Her brother and sister had been in Baltimore to help with her recovery.  She recalls that while in rehab, she fell some time after her brother had already returned to Texas.  When she called and told him so, he told her “You only have one leg.  You are going to fall. Did you get up? You just have to get up!”

As part of her self-motivation, she expressed an interest in peer mentoring to her prosthetist, Mary Reedy (CP).  Mary suggested that she attend the annual Amputee Coalition conference. It hosts workshops on a variety of topics (including the peer mentoring), as well as a wide range of activities and group support.  So, Angela registered, grabbed her sister and flew to Phoenix, AZ in July of 2015.  She saw so many amputees at the airport that she was shocked! Never in one place had she seen so many people in circumstances similar to hers.  The annual conference is the largest gathering of those with limb loss in the country.  The events and demonstrations that were a part of the conference were eye-opening.  There were rock climbing activities, dancing, therapy sessions, support groups, and the workshops on peer mentoring she was particularly interested in.  

She met people from all over the world, and embraced the fellowship and energy around her.  This conference packed some serious emotional wallop – when she saw so many other amputees in one place doing all kinds of activities she never dreamed of doing, she decided to face fears about her health and amputation and just dive in! Literally – she participated in a swimming event and had the time of her life.  She had “more fun on one leg than she had ever had on two!”  She left inspired to work harder to walk again.

On her return, Angela arranged a meeting with her vascular surgeon and his staff at the University of Maryland, to become a peer mentor to other amputees.  She is there to provide answers to other’s questions, share her own experiences, and be a sounding board – she listens.  In the process, she also motivates others, as her enthusiasm is infectious.  Her stories will have you laughing through your own tears, or just laughing so hard that you cry!  And she dresses to impress, saying she “wants to look good and feel good” and encourages others to do the same. 

At one amputee support group that she attends, an attendee groaned, “I just want to walk.”  Angela told them, “You are walking! You just have to do it our way.”    This is a woman who sees herself standing tall and walking in high heels, even when she isn’t physically wearing them.  Angela’s goals include starting a Meetup group online for people with amputations to engage in activities like bowling, dancing, to hang out and have fun, and to plan trips together.  Amputees are family.  She says, “Life is not over, and we have a right to enjoy life just like everyone else.”

She is going back to the convention in 2016, where she aspires to be a speaker.  This year, the meeting will be in Greensboro, NC, where there will be three days of “networking, education, clinics, exhibits, and adaptive sports and recreation.”   Since Greensboro is much closer to Baltimore than Phoenix is, she thinks she will drive this time, and more than likely will convince a whole busload of people to go with her.  And, probably she will pack her dancing shoes.

Patient Stories: Casas and Flynn

While each of these patients could tell a complete and engaging story on their own, they were willing to quickly share some of their recent accomplishments.

Jose Casas

Jose Casas is one of Dankmeyer’s international patients and a member of the Peruvian military. Captain Casas became a below knee amputee as a result of trauma, and has been focused on returning to a number of highly physical activities. He has participated in the Amputee Walking School here, and recently competed, representing Peru, in an international competition in Brazil.  Besides his running leg, he uses a special prosthesis for swimming.

[Jose Casas es uno de los tantos pacientes internacionales de Dankmeyer y miembro de las fuerzas militares de Peru. El Capitán Casas recibió una amputación por debajo de la rodilla (en su pierna izquierda) como resultado de un trauma en su pierna. Hoy en día gracias a su personalidad y habilidades, se ha enfocado en regresar a actividades físicas de alta intensidad. Hace poco participó en la Escuela de Amputados (Amputee Walking School) aquí en Maryland, y recientemente representó al Peru en una competición internacional en Brasil. Ademas de su prótesis para correr, el usa una prótesis especial para nadar.]

Jose Casas gives his new leg a test run at Dankmeyer, Inc. in Linthicum, MD.

Jose Casas competes in Brazil.  

Eric Flynn

Eric Flynn,  a very active ten year old, has bilateral knee disarticulation level limb loss.  Herecently participated in an event that involved a LOT of mud. The legs can be hosed off, as perhaps Eric was!  Eric also participated with Team Dankmeyer in the Color Run in 2013.  Some of his previous sockets sport favorite team emblems.