When Anna was born she was diagnosed with Bilateral Club Feet. Her treatment included serial casting that began when she was only 3 days old; her casts too heavy for her to lift her legs. Unfortunately, her first round of treatment did not fully correct her feet and she had to endure another 12 weeks of casting and bilateral tenotomy. Today, Anna still has to wear foot braces at night and walking braces in the evening and even at 5 years old she is aware that her feet are alittle different from her friends. This however, doesn’t stop her from having fun, running, and being a beautiful and healthy little girl. Children’s Body-Image Foundation is here to help raise children’s body-image awareness and help improve children’s self esteem and help them get the necessary medical equipment/treatment they need.
“When Lucas arrived at Children’s, he was in a state of complete muscle paralysis,” said Dr. Rosalind Batley, Lucas’ attending physician in the Section of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Nationwide Children’s. “He was on a ventilator 24/7 and he was too weak to stand or sit up. He was on a feeding tube, basically bound to his bed. I had never treated a case of botulism in my 25 years of practicing Rehab medicine, and Lucas was a very, very sick young man.” “Therapy has made a night and day difference for Lucas,” said his mom Joann. “Initially he was depressed and discouraged, and I will admit there were times when I wondered what the future would hold. The Children’s Rehab team is amazing. Every week they set goals with him, they are upbeat, encouraging and positive. They manage to push him to do more than he thinks he can do while keeping the therapy positive and fun.” Lucas’s therapy includes physical, occupational, respiratory, recreational, speech, and massage, along with school tutoring on a daily basis. Lucas’ mom said this experience has changed their lives. We realize that life is fragile, and we live every moment in thanks for the care we’ve received. The doctors, nurses, therapists, friends, family and Co-workers have made all the difference.”
“Click here to make a donation to Children’s Body-Image Foundation”
