Spring 2015 Pick Your Practitioner and Succeed Kay Thompson: The Drive Toward Independence Ability Distributing the Limb Loss Resource Guide Published by EDGE Custom Publications, a division of Western Media LLC. RemarkAbility Power to the Patients Meet Brian Kaluf, CP, BSE ABILITY LOCATION: What if somebody told you that you could Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina only shop at one grocery store? Or only take INTERESTS: Biking, camping, and fly fishing your car to one mechanic shop? You would reject the idea as absurd. As a healthcare FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT GREENVILLE: consumer, you have the right to choose “I love pursuing outdoor activities in the beautiful among many provider options to receive the Blue Ridge region.” best experience and outcome possible, but unfortunately, many patients do not realize ADVICE TO FELLOW CLINICIANS: “Helping this. Patients can unknowingly become part patients to understand the physiological and of a vertically integrated healthcare organi- biomechanical principles that affect their functional ability and mobility not only can make the patient experience more zation and not realize that they can inter- beneficial to them, but can also make it more enjoyable for the clinician.” view, research, and choose an independent prosthetics or orthotics provider. For Brian, the prosthetics profession bridges the gap Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics is well between the aware of our patients’ right to choose creative problem solving of engineering and the rewards to be gained from providers, which is why we strive to clinical patient care. maintain a patient-centric practice model. As a student athlete at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, Brian Our use of trusted central fabrication earned Academic All-American status in the 400 meter hurdles. After facilities, as well as electronic medical receiving a bachelor of science degree in engineering in 2008, he accepted records, allows our practitioners to devote a research employment position with the University of Stuttgart, Germany. more of their time directly to patients. And During his 18 months overseas, he researched and designed advanced by continually analyzing the results of our prosthetics and artificial muscle systems. He then returned to the United sophisticated patient satisfaction survey States and earned his prosthetics certificate from Northwestern University system and outcome protocols, we ensure Prosthetics-Orthotics Center, Chicago, in 2011 and completed his residency that we always deliver the best experience at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago later that year. and outcome possible. Brian joined Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics in September 2011 and was For many people living with or facing appointed managing practitioner of the Greenville, South Carolina, patient limb loss or limb paralysis, the process of care facility when it opened several months later. He is certified to provide selecting a prosthetist or orthotist can be the Ottobock Michelangelo hand, Touch Bionics i-limb ultra revolution intimidating. Starting on pg. 8 of this issue hand, BiOM powered ankle-foot device, and Freedom Innovations Plié 3 of Lifenhanced, however, readers will find microprocessor-controlled knee, among other devices. vital information about how to choose their In addition, Brian serves as Ability’s clinical outcome and research director. ideal provider—at Ability or anywhere else. In 2014, he was appointed chair of the American Academy of Orthotists and At the end of the day, the professional who Prosthetists Outcome Research Committee, and the Journal of Prosthetics & delivers your prosthetic limb or orthotic Orthotics published the results of a retrospective chart review he conducted of brace—and cultivates the lifelong patient the clinical outcomes data Ability had gathered on its lower-limb prosthetics care relationship that comes with it—is up patients. He has helped to develop Ability’s outcome measure protocols for to you. lower- and upper-limb prosthetics patients and lower-limb orthotics patients. Brian’s professional pursuits and passion for cycling often intersect. In Sincerely, August 2014, he volunteered for and helped sponsor the International Jeffrey Brandt, CEO, CPO Cycling Union Para-cycling Road World Championships in Greenville. Founder, Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc. In October 2014, he helped plan and host the inaugural Orthotic and Prosthetic Activities Foundation First Cycle Clinic, where 47 participants had access to U.S. Paralympic cycling coaches. As an aside, but still related to cycling, Brian recently proposed to his girl- friend of several years, Ashlee. He had purchased matching cruiser bikes, and proposed while the two were on a ride through Greenville’s downtown park. On the cover: Ability Frederick, Maryland (From left:) Tyler Manee, CPO; Ability patient Noah Grove; and John Jacobs, CPO. 2 Spring 2015 AbilityPO.com Ability News Ability Now Distributing the Limb Loss Resource Guide In its ongoing effort to educate prosthetics 1 DEALING WITH AMPUTATION AND ITS AFTERMATH patients, Tips for Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics is now offer- Thriving after Human Resilience after Amputation Amputation Carl Brashear, the subject of the movie Men of 7 ing the Limb Loss Resource Guide as a helpful reference. DEALING WITH Believe strongly in your Honor, lost his left leg after a pipe struck his potential. Limb loss does not leg during a bomb recovery operation in 1966. have to prevent you from going In 1970, he became the U.S. Navy’s first black 1 to school, having a job, getting The guide includes information for lower- and upper- AMPUTATION Master Diver. Brashear used to say, “It’s not a married, having children, sin to get knocked down; it’s a sin to stay down.” participating in sports, and limb loss patients, and it is free to patients and their AND ITS AFTERMATH enjoying a full life. Set a goal, and work toward it. As a new or prospective amputee, your mind is probably There is no doubt that Sarah Reinertsen was born with proximal overflowing with worries and questions that you can’t answer: amputation will have a femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), a birth Your goal can be big or small as significant impact on your anomaly that most commonly involves a 2 long as it gives you something families across all 11 of Ability’s patient care locations. life—physically, emotionally, deformed hip and a shortened femur bone. to strive for. Focus intensely on financially, and socially. She had her left leg amputated above the your goal, and move toward Regardless of the number of knee when she was 7 years old. In 2004, it step by step. Break large, Published in 2014, the 128-page guide contains in- “How will I pay my bills?” limbs you’ve lost and at what she participated in her first Ironman World overwhelming tasks into smaller, “What will level, if you want to do the Championship—a grueling 140.6-mile more manageable ones, and take happen to things you did before and live triathlon in Kona, Hawaii—becoming the them on one at a time. your life like you always have, first female leg amputee to ever attempt the Set another goal (and another, formation about preparing for, adapting to, and living my career?” you’re going to have to work race. Although she failed in her first attempt, and another…). Once you’ve harder. And if you want to do she returned to Kona in 2005 with the motto achieved your first goal (perhaps “ Will I be able to new and different things— “Unfinished Business” and became the first 3 standing again), set another live beyond your former life— female leg amputee to finish the race. with limb loss. Its content is designed to guide prosthe- date, marry, and one (perhaps taking your first which is what many amputees have children?” choose to do, you’re going to step), so you’ll always have have to work a lot harder. Hugh Herr lost both of his legs below the something new to achieve. As you tics patients through their first three years of adapting knees from severe frostbite after an ice- accomplish each goal, your self- Fortunately, there are ways climbing trip on New Hampshire’s Mt. esteem will grow, motivating you to help minimize the negative Washington went horribly wrong. After his to achieve even greater successes. to amputation, and it addresses topics including post- “Will I always be dependent on others?” impact of amputation on your amputations, Herr earned a doctorate degree Accept the support of family, life. In fact, that’s what this from Harvard University and is now head of friends, and other amputees. guide is all about. Throughout the Biomechatronics research group at the 4 these pages, you will discover Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Research living with limb loss. operative care, emotional adjustment, healthcare team a wealth of information and Media Lab. In 2011, TIME magazine named Learn from others and be open “Will I ever be resources to help you deal Herr as the “Leader of the Bionic Age” because 5 to considering their advice. ?” with your limb loss and of his work in creating bionic limbs that emulate happy again?” “ Is my life over regain your life. the function of natural limbs. Don’t give up. If you fall or get selection, and financial management of prosthetic care knocked down, dust yourself off Although it might seem These are just a few examples of the thousands of people who have 6 and look for alternative ways That last question is perhaps the most frightening and unfathomable to you gone on to live amazing lives after losing limbs. to accomplish your goals. “Fall all-consuming one. It may be difficult to accept now, now, when put in difficult seven times, stand up eight,” and devices. The guide also has a section that contains but the experiences of thousands of amputees Whether you want to explore new opportunities as an amputee, circumstances, human advises a Japanese proverb.