Responses: Amputee in need of care in Texas

Responses: Amputee in need of care in Texas

Jeff Erenstone

3/11/2015

Dear fellow Prosthestists


You have made me very proud and honored and be among you. I have included
the responses and my original post below. I include these in part to spread
the knowledge you have provided and in part in recognition of the warm
heart people who offered their assistance.


Thank You

-Jeff



*Original Post*
To Listserve,

I am been assisting with a volunteer group name Enable Community
Foundation. This foundation is helping direct and support the 3D
printing community known as e-NABLE. They have made great progress
correcting some of the myth about prosthetic costs and the functional
abilities of 3D printed prosthetics. E-NABLE members are regularly
contacted by amputee's in need. Below is an interesting case that I
don't have an answer for. I was hoping to get opinions by the
listserve on how to help this person in need.

 Hi Jeff,

Here is what she wrote me: I have a dear friend that is from Nigeria.
She was a nurse there and was able to get a green card and get out,
she now lives and works here in the US. Three weeks ago her little
sister arrived her to the states. They had saved money together to get
her sister her for medical attention she desperately needed for her
diabetes, Nigeria just didn't have the resources. That morning she
called me, she was so excited she was going to see her little sister
in just a few short hours, because of cost and visa requirements, she
hadn't seen her little sister for years. When she arrived to the
airport to pick her up she notice her sister was struggling walking,
it was a long flight, however she could tell it was more than just a
tired body. She sat her sister down to learn that her foot and leg
were completely numb.

She went right from the airport to Parkland Hospital (Dallas, Texas).
Where they immediately admitted her. They quickly diagnosed her little
sister with Gangrene. The next morning they amputated up to her knee.
It's now been almost 3 full weeks, her sister is being released from
the hospital tomorrow. The constant smile on her face is one of
someone with tremendous gratitude. She is so thankful to be alive, not
once has she cried and said poor me.
Because she is in the US with no insurance they are telling her they
will not help with a prosthetic, I am writing you to see if you could
help me help her?


It's actually been 4 weeks now & the sister was released last week.

Thank You
-Jeff Erenstone CPO



*Response from John*
Jeff!
  Thanks again to you & all your fellow prosthetists for stepping up &
offering to help out my friend's friend.

Regards,
John
------------

*List-serve Responses.*



Hello Jeff,

My name is Daniel Mincke. I am a co-owner and technical specialist with
Vertical Mobility Solutions located in Minnesota. If there is anything we
can do on the fabrication end to help this young woman, please let us know.
We would love to help in any way that we can. Additionally, we may have
some parts and components we could donate, if her K-levels and needs could
be diagnosed in clinic. Please let us know if there is anything we can do
to help.
Thanks Jeff.



Best Regards,


----------------------------------
Hello! I work at a pediatric hospital in Dallas and depending on the
childs age we may be able to help. Can you tell me a little more
information about the child? How old is she? Do they plan to live here
in the Dallas area? Is she getting rehab or PT after being released
from Parkland?

Thanks,
Don

Don Virostek CPO,LPO
Director of Orthotics
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
2222 Welborn St.
Dallas, TX. 75219
214-559-7440
<Email Address Redacted>

----------------------------------

List of organizations offering assitance:
<URL Redacted>


----------------------------------

There are a few groups like limbs for life available that help fund and
also many prosthetists have spare parts or used parts that legal due to
insurance can't be used on another insured patient but are typically in
fine condition so can be donated. Many prosthetists will make a socket for
someone like this in need as a donation and can use the spare parts of
older or deceased patients prostheses to make a limb. So there are many
options for this person. We often have people's older prostheses or
deceased people's prostheses in the office to get donated to overseas
clinics so most prosthetists have spare parts for donating.

Brittany Stresing, CPO

-----------------------------------

Have they looked at the Limbs For Life Foundation out of Oklahoma City?
They will provide $2500 for an AK and then they just need to find a
prosthetists willing to make a limb for that price. Obviously the
prosthetist isn't going to make any money but at the very least they don't
lose money if they use inexpensive components. I have friends at Cook
children's in Dallas(CPOs). Doesn't sound like this person is a child but I
might be able to help them find someone through my friends.

~Sarah Thomas, CPO

---------------------------------

My name is Kathryn and I am the Director of Patient Support Services at
Baker Orthotics & Prosthetics, a well-known O&P company in Dallas and Fort
Worth. We would love to help this little girl receive the prosthetic she
needs and see her return to her fullest capabilities. We regularly do
charity work for people in our area, and would love to this for this family.



For information about our company here is a link to our website:
<URL Redacted>



Please contact me at any time by email or phone- (972) 348-5295.



Thank you,



Kathryn McCravey




*Director of Patient Support ServicesBaker Orthotics & Prosthetics*

O: 214-879-0722
C: 254-396-7551
F: 972-692-7533


-------------------------------------


My name is Randy Duncan. I'm a CPO in Sherman, TX which is approx 60 miles
north of Dallas. I'm sure you already received multiple response to help,
but I would be willing to help this poor lady out. I frequently make
visits remotely in Dallas, so they wouldn't need to travel. My cell
number is 2148031108. Feel free to pass that along to whomever needs it.

Thanks.
Randy Duncan, CPO

<Email Address Redacted>


--
Jeff Erenstone CPO
Mountain O and P Services
7 Old Military Road
Lake Placid NY 12946

www.mountainoandp.com

Phone (518) 523-2419
Fax (518) 523-7192