Patient Stories: Casey Hill and his Wood Cheneau Rigo Brace

I was diagnosed with scoliosis in June 2018. My doctor sent me to see Marlies Cabell (Dankmeyer CPO) and I got my first Wood Cheneau Rigo (WCR) brace in September 2018. It was pretty cool because it looked like carbon fiber. I come back every couple months so we can make adjustments as I grow. That way any spots that bother me can be fixed. It took some getting used to, but now it’s just part of everyday life & part of my daily routine.

I got my second WCR brace in July 2019 because I had grown so much that I needed a new one. This time I choose arctic camo as the design! We went to see the orthopedic in October 2019 and he did X-rays. They showed I had grown a little more than 3” in just one year’s time and there was no change to the curvature of my spine! This was great news because we knew the WCR was doing what it was supposed to be doing.

I wear the brace almost all of the time, but I am still able to play the sports I love. I currently play football (#92), basketball, and rugby. I wear the brace for the time I’m supposed to and choose to take a break to play sports. I put the brace back on after my practices and games are finished. It’s all about managing when I’m allowed to take breaks.

My dad has scoliosis too and just had spinal surgery. This helps me to understand the importance of wearing the brace because I don’t want to end up having surgery like he did. Wearing the brace is really not that big of a deal because it has become part of my normal routine and now I don’t really even notice it. Now that I have had a brace for a year and a half I think it’s pretty cool because it makes me different and I like that! - Casey Hill

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Patient Stories: Diane Clark starts a Cumberland Support Group!

We are incredibly happy to let our Western Maryland community know there is now a support group for those living with limb loss or limb difference! The group also welcomes their families, friends, and caregivers.  This group was organized locally by long time amputee Diane Clark, who many of you know.  Diane has contributed to our patient stories several times. She also recently appeared on WCBC 107.1 Radio with our Cumberland clinician Mark Treasure, CP, BOCO.

While there are other support groups in other parts of the state, Western Maryland has been without. Diane has worked really hard to get this group going and she would like to see you all at the next meeting. This new group (which is going to need a name!) meets on the last Friday of each month at 6:00 pm at the Allegany College of Maryland in the Allied Health Building in room 237 (which is on the upper level). We appreciate that ACM has provided this space for the meeting. NOTE: There will NOT be a meeting in November. The next meeting will be 12/26/2019.

The group is new and needs to grow, so Diane asks for anyone with limb loss or limb difference in the area to please come and show your support of each other. Dankmeyer is not affiliated with this group, only to show our support and help Diane get the word out! So, if you know of anyone who would like to come, please spread the word and bring them along.

For a list of all support groups in the Maryland area, you can visit our Support Group page by clicking here.

Patient Stories: Master Mearkle and Mr. Ewing at the Walk/Talk

September 21, 2019 the Dankmeyer Cumberland staff got to celebrate a special day! All of the Dankmeyer Cumberland team, including clinician Mark Treasure and Patient Services Representative Heather Iman with her two daughters Kayla and Sarah, were joined by Dankmeyer’s new Prosthetist Assistant Dawn Miranda in order to support Kaleb Mearkle at the Children’s League 2019 Walk/Talk event.

The Children’s League is an 85 year old non-profit that operates and manages the Cumberland Scottish Rite “Rite Care” Childhood Speech and Language Disorders Clinic as well as the Cumberland Cleft Clinic.

Kaleb invited Dankmeyer to participate several months ago, and when long time patient Mr. William “Bill” Ewing found out about it, he jumped at the chance to be a part of the event. Many years ago Mr. Ewing had been the beneficiary of the Children’s League’s services. Team Dankmeyer gathered at the Dankmeyer Western Maryland office on National Highway to start the morning with a cup of coffee and then off they headed to the Allegany County Health Department for the event.

The sun seemed to shine extra bright over the Children's League event. Team Dankmeyer arrived at the grounds ready to have fun and fellowship with a great organization and the families of special needs children. You could feel the children’s energy as they all donned their bright pink Tshirts. The children vote and choose the color each year and Dankmeyer was one of the proud Tshirt sponsors. The morning began with the line up of the teams and families to be ready for the walk. The national anthem was sung and when it finished the crowd clapped and prepared to walk the laps.

The Chick-fil-A cow, Buffalo Wild Wings mascot as well as the Cellular One phone mascot joined in the fun. There were balloon animals being made as well as face painting! Heather and Dawn took advantage of that to have the Dankmeyer green ribbon emblem painted on their faces! Children got to pet ferrets, touch a giant turtle and hold a sweet young alligator who loved to have his chin scratched. Refreshments were served by the Children's League volunteers. Prizes were given to teams at the end and closing words of thanks spoken. Team Dankmeyer vowed to gather again next fall for this very worthy cause! (Submitted by Dawn Miranda.)

Patient Stories: William Ewing and WCBC Radio

William “Bill” Ewing took some time out from his morning August 12, 2019 to do a morning radio interview with Cumberland office clinician, Mark Treasure, CP, BOCO on WCBC Radio AM 1270 with host Dave Norman. Following in fellow patient Diane Clark’s footsteps, Bill Ewing talks about his 60 years as an amputee after overcoming cancer as a teenager. In fact, Mark and Bill talk about Diane and an amputee support group that she is working on organizing in the Western Maryland area.

In the interview, Bill states that you are “not dead when you have an amputation” and talks about growing up on a “farmette” and being involved in forestry. He also belongs to a musical group called "The Notables” that plays in nursing homes and other facilities. He is a very active man who likes to work.

Bill, Mark and Dave continue to discuss current technology in prostheses, which they believe means fewer amputees end up in wheelchairs, like Dave Norman’s father did. Bill has a microprocessor ankle, which means that he has a lot more stability in his device than he had in the first prosthesis he had 58 years ago!

You can listen to the lively interview here.

Patient Stories: Amputee Coalition National Conference 2019

So. Many. Stories. Attending the Amputee Coalition’s National Conference is like attending one big storytelling festival for those with limb loss and limb difference - along with lectures, exhibits, and a number of “first time” activities - such as swimming and dancing. With over 1000 attendees at the summer 2019 three day event, the theme of “People, Purpose, Passion” is one that resonates with the diverse crowd of amputees, family, friends and healthcare professionals.

The proceedings opened July 18, 2019 in San Antonio with a flair - featuring dancers in traditional costume performing a traditional dance to encouragement and cheers. Opening remarks featured a panel of those with limb loss and limb difference. Each had a story to tell. Motivational speaker, athlete, and amputee John Register shared his journey and uplifting message. These stories are often shared experiences of trauma and disease, fear and uncertainty, and ultimately triumph and hope! Shouts of “Amen”, cheers, whistles and clapping greeted the speakers as their words resonated in the meeting room. The message was clear. Become an educated consumer. Learn to be your own advocate and advocate for others. Create a new normal that leads to transformation. Share and learn from each other. Try new things. You are not alone!

A number of classes were available to encourage attendees to participate in their “First Swim” or “First Dance”, sponsored by OPAF. This organization believes in “Changing lives through adaptive recreation.” The First Dance class featured professional ballroom dancer and instructor Adrianne Haslet, who lost a leg in the Boston Marathon terrorist bombing. Lining up class members in two facing lines, she taught Rhumba and of course, the Texas Two-Step. The big closing event on Saturday is a dance party, and those who needed a little dancing class were being well prepared.

Breakout groups for amputees with similar levels of amputation were frank and personal, with people sharing anything and everything they could think of that might help the others. There were also classes for those who wanted to learn how to start or run support groups and also, the day before the conference started, Certified Peer Visitor (CPV) classes. Many attendees noted that if they had had access to a CPV, they would have been much comforted before undergoing their own amputation.

There were also several sessions that encouraged amputees to take the AC training courses to become a Lead Advocate - to be able to advocate at the local, state and federal level when called upon. Advocates play a vital role in changing policies for amputees - including insurance policies. A number of advocate roles are available, with an advocate program for non amputees also in the works. If you are interested in the training program and need more information, click here.

Attendees gathered together in groups and excitedly shared information about the exhibits, classes they had attended, or even their tourist experiences on the San Antonio Riverwalk. Colorful laminations featured glitter, unicorns, sports teams and other themes. Pediatric amputees who hadn’t known each other previously ran around in excited groups of instant new friends. It didn’t matter if you were upper or lower, bilateral, a toddler, a seasoned amputee, or still sorting out your first prosthesis and first steps, the ebb and flow of people and story filled the meeting spaces:

“Here, let me get that for you. We have to help each other.”

“Make a conscious effort to choose happiness.”

“How did you lose your leg?”

“I went from the amputee club to the cancer club.”

And humor that perhaps only amputees can appreciate:

“We just taped my skin back on.”

“An amputation extended my expire by date.”

“I always danced with two left feet.”

A T-shirt said “My other leg is on lay-away.”

“People, Purpose, Passion” is a theme that will be carried forward as attendees take this message and their enthusiasm back home to their families, coworkers, support groups and their local communities. This conference is a celebration of life, shared experience and purpose.

Next year’s conference will be held in Washington, DC.