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Betty Allen

Betty Allen often enjoyed riding her Harley and being outdoors. Betty lost her right leg above the knee in September 2005, when she was pinned by a car in a parking lot. Since receiving her prosthesis and utilizing the stability of the C-Leg (microprocessor knee), Betty has been able to return to everyday household activities, in addition to recreational bowling and gardening. One thing her C-Leg prevented her from doing was swimming, which is why her prosthetist introduced her to the Aulie Knee.
The Aulie Knee is made of nylon, which will not rust like metal. It’s light-weight, durable, and suitable for all activity levels. When we told her to jump in the pool with her swim leg on, to her surprise, she returned and said, “It doesn’t even fall off when I dive in the swimming pool!” Despite having her knee locked in a straight position, Betty finds herself using the Aulie Knee for more than just water activities. She uses it more and more around her home, in the garden, and even using her push-mower, because she likes the peace of mind knowing that it is pin-locked and it will not bend until she removes the pin. “I don’t have to think about it,” she commented about preventing her prosthetic knee from bending, particularly if she catches her toe while walking. She says that having to remove the pin whenever sitting or kneeling is far outweighed by the benefits of knowing how stable it is. “I haven’t fallen yet,” Betty added with a thankful tone. She also likes the ability to walk barefoot and not having to worry about it getting dirty or wet. Having a spare leg with the Aulie Knee has improved Betty’s quality of life. She looks forward to her next vacation snorkeling in the Caribbean.

Abdul Mohammed

March 23, 1998, Abdul Mohammed thought he would never be able to “face the world” again. Once an active man, he questioned how he would survive with “only one” leg. Lying in his hospital bed, he mourned the loss of his right leg and wondered how he would ever be able “to look into the faces of people he loved and see their reactions.”

For the first few months following his first amputation, Abdul remembers “hiding out” in his homec¹he felt alone and scared. But then something wonderful happenedc¹“an angel appeared at my door”. Abdul’s angel happened to be his new, super friendly and “slightly pushy” neighbor. She would visit him every day, and every day she raved about the senior center down the street. For months, she encouraged him to join her at the center and for months he refused. Then, one day, he decided to “go and see what all the fuss was about!”. Since that fateful moment many years ago, Abdul has gone to the Senior center everyday.

He describes that first day at the Senior center as “coming home”. “It was like the Old Harlem Boys Club” he says, with activities catered to him and his peers. He began going to the gym and soon he was joining his peers at dances and jamborees. He laughs as he recalls the first time he danced at one of the senior functionsc¹“I had taken my sister with me and she just wouldn’t let me sit in the back of the room. I was frightened that my leg would fall off or that I would embarrass myself but my sister refused to let me sit in the shadows?.she drug me to the dance floor and I have been dancing ever since”.

Now, seven years later and a second amputation, this senior with diabetes is no longer afraid to “face the world”c¹now he does it as an active and proud 65 year old bilateral transtibial amputee.

Cathy Fish

Cathryn broke her ankle in three places in August, 2005, when she accidentally tripped over her dog. As an active woman who enjoys taking her dog on long walks and swimming for exercise, this set-back caused her daily activity level to drop substantially. With a tender ankle, and developing arthritis, Cathy was forced to utilize a large walking boot and a Roll-About (scooter) for over a year. Friends and family had to drive her around or pick up groceries for her, since she was not able to drive.

Cathy visited Dr. Labib, who referred her to Atlanta Prosthetics & Orthotics (AP&O) for an Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) to aid independent standing and walking. Unfamiliar with orthopedic bracing, Cathy came with an open mind, and was excited to hear the good news that a brace could help her get back to her normal routine.“I just want to be able to walk my dog and go on long walks again!” said Cathy. Sure enough AP&O was able to supply Cathy with a custom-made metal AFO to provide support, reduce pain, and increase her independent mobility.“It’s exciting for me! It feels safe. I feel confident when I walk again!” Cathy said with a big smile and excitement in her voice. Cathy can’t wait to get back to the active lifestyle that brought joy to her life.

Shea Cowart

“When I was six, I got meningococcemia which is a form of bacterial meningitis. I wound up having both my legs amputated because of the gangrene that set in. Soon after, I met Jim and got my prostheses. I really wasn’t bothered about my legs until high school, when all the other girls were wearing skirts -- all I would ever wear were pants. But I had always been interested in sports which was the thing that changed my life.

Jim thought I needed some physical exercise and encouraged me to go to a disabled track meet. I couldn’t believe all those athletes there, doing what they were doing. So I started running and training and wound up in Sydney with two gold medals for running in the 200 and 400 meter races at the Paralympics in 2000. There are no words for what that felt like.

Jim is very wonderful, like part of my family. Whatever the goals of the patient, he’s always willing to help patients accomplish them. He continues to make my prosthetic legs and helps me accomplish my goals, which includes going to school for physical therapy.”

Morgan Champion

“Four years ago, I gave birth to fraternal twins, both girls. It wasn’t long before I started noticing that Morgan wasn’t developing correctly. To my disbelief, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. You can imagine what a challenge it’s been to try and make her life comparable to her sister’s. I was so grateful when I found out about Marc and AP&O because it was critical that I find someone who can communicate with my daughter about her braces.

Marc goes above and beyond what he’s called to do to help. And it’s remarkable how he can connect with Morgan and how she feels comfortable with him. He tells her exactly what he’s going to do. She doesn’t get upset when we go to see Marc and that makes a big difference. Thankfully, because of him, Morgan is doing what her sister and other girls her age are doing, like ballet and tap.”

Marc made a whole new brace of lightweight materials and different joints. It is a lot more comfortable, keeps my leg straighter and is just better all the way around. Also, I love to go horseback riding and this brace makes that easier now. With my old brace I had to hold onto my right leg because it wouldn’t automatically lock when getting off the horse. Now, for the first time, I can dismount like everyone else.”

So Marc made a brace for my leg which has allowed me the ability to run and move better. I wear the brace at football practice and during the games – it really helps me play better. This brace has let me continue playing football. I don’t know if that nerve will come back, but I want to continue playing and receive a scholarship. This brace will probably help me do that.”

Jim is very competent and knows his craft. He is innovative and knows about the latest prosthetic components to help his patients accomplish what they want to do. Plus, he’s personable, caring, friendly and up front - he’s for you. Jim helped me get back to work and back into the mainstream of life. I’m functional again.”

M.C.

One of the benefits of working in the orthotic and prosthetic field is the potential of being able to improve someone’s quality of life. M.C., an 11 year old aspiring violinist, came to Atlanta Prosthetics and Orthotics, Inc. in January with hope that we could assist her in overcoming a challenge. M.C. was born with a congenital deformity of her left forearm and hand. She has function of her extremity and is able to perform activities of daily living despite the deformity. However, M.C. was having a difficult time holding a bow in the correct position for playing the violin. From the beginning there were several positives on her side. First, M.C. has the motivation to set goals and the determination to achieve them. Second, her family is very supportive and is always there to say, “yes you can”. And finally, she has a caring violin instructor that invested the time to attend the medical and prosthetic/orthotic appointments to ensure that we would be able to create a device that would be most beneficial for her.It was imperative for us to learn the necessary motions and hand positions used in playing the violin. Her instructor was able to demonstrate the most appropriate bow angle/position to create the proper tones and pitches. Our challenge was to create a low profile and lightweight device that could be easily donned/doffed while not limiting the range of motion needed to achieve use of the bow.

A mold was taken with plaster of paris to create a model of her ideal hand position while holding the bow. The mold was modified to ensure a total contact fit so she felt the external device was secure on her limb. A plaster thumb was then added for opposition. 1/8 inch polyethelene plastic was vacuum formed over the mold to create a plastic shell. This was the beginning of the functional device. After the initial fitting, a crepe wedge was added to provide a grip between the slick surfaces of the bow and the polyethelene shell. A single velcro strap was used to resist movement between the device and her limb, in essence making a positive bond between her and the device. Other minor modifications were performed and a positive outcome was achieved. M.C. is now able to play the violin and we are proud to have helped in achieving her goals.

Christy

Christy sustained injuries in a car accident in 2005 which resulted in the amputation of her right arm above the elbow.  Muscle and nerve damage left her with insufficient range of motion to use a conventional body powered prosthesis, and no discernable muscle signals to operate a myoelectric device.

She was successfully fit in our Athens office with an Otto Bock Sensor Hand modified to operate using a switch located in her harness system with suspension provided by an Alpha locking liner.
Being a fast learner, Christy was able to quickly master opening and closing the hand and even reached out for a Mountain Dew when offered to her by the AP&O staff.