Holiday Travel for Amputees

The holidays are always filled with traveling. Whether you are traveling to and from stores or to and from family members homes, getting around can be tricky with all the added traffic - especially with a disability. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, over 49 million Americans — nearly 20 percent of the population — are living with a disability. And of these 49 million Americans, 1.7 million are amputees. Here are some great tips for traveling over this holiday season.

What to do before your trip:

Check to make sure that your prosthesis is in good working condition, is clean and is working properly. The last thing that you want is for something to go wrong with your prosthesis while traveling. Make sure to clean the socket before heading out and check the liner to assure that there are no rips or tears before traveling.

Remember to pack these items:

• Extra prosthetic socks and socket liners
• A spare suction valve
• Duct and filament tape to repair straps or buckles
• Plastic bags to protect your prosthesis if you wear it around water or sand
• Phone numbers of specialists in the areas you will be traveling

The holidays are a wonderful time of year to be visiting family and you will want to avoid any unexpected hassles. If you have any other questions about traveling over the holidays visit greatstepsop.com.

Employee Spotlight: Scott Porter

Technician, Scott Porter, has grown up working construction – it was what he knew and what he excelled at. Then, in 1996, Scott lost the lower part of his right leg in a car accident.  He tried to go back into construction, but the physical demands of the job were just too high.  That was when Scott became interested in the orthotic & prosthetic industry and asked his prosthetist if he knew of anyone who was hiring.

Scott was soon hired by Bracemasters Orthotic & Prosthetic Fabrication in Wisconsin.  Scott quickly found that construction was not the only thing he excelled at and was promoted to supervisor after just one year.  He continued to work at Bracemasters for another five years but still found something was missing. He decided he would like to give fewer orders and work with his own two hands.

Scott tried a few jobs; even attempted to go back into construction.  Fortunately, an old boss told Scott about Great Steps Orthotics & Prosthetics.  Scott became interested and was soon hired.

As a technician, Scott manages various jobs at Great Steps. He also coordinates with other technicians to assist clients that come in for repairs.  Scott’s favorite part of working at Great Steps is working directly with our practitioners.  Bracemasters was a central fabrication facility that made orthotics & prosthetics for multiple O&P facilities.  The ability for Scott to work directly with the practitioners not only allows him to learn more about what works for patients and what doesn’t but it also allows him to get his work done more efficiently by having the practitioners at hand when questions arise.

Scott’s favorite part of working in the field of orthotics & prosthetics is being able to help people.  Having firsthand experience with disabilities, Scott knows how challenging they can be, but also how to help others overcome them.  So, next time you visit Great Steps, be sure to say hello to Scott!

Interview with Great Steps Intern Tyler Spiczka

Over the last fifteen years, Great Steps Orthotics and Prosthetics has had a commitment to quality prosthetic and orthotic care. We keep our patients up-to-date with the latest technology and resources, but did you know we also offer internships? Our latest student to complete an internship was Tyler Spiczka.

Tyler is a recent University of Minnesota graduate with a degree in Biomedical Science. He was informed about the internship at Great Steps by his mother, who works at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School. An employee of Great Steps was in the area to promote their services, and Tyler’s mother thought he would be interested since he had always been intrigued by prosthetics and orthotics.

During his internship, Tyler spent Mondays and Fridays at Great Steps. On Mondays, he shadowed Prosthetist and amputee Fred Kjorlien and learned how to build and modify prosthetics. Some other opportunities Tyler had while interning at Great Steps included learning how to laminate casts, pulling test sockets, grinding rough edges on sockets, and putting leg components together.

On Fridays, Tyler shadowed Prosthetist Josie Johnson, who is also an amputee, and met with patients. He learned the proper way to communicate and consult with clients.

The most rewarding part about interning at Great Steps, in Tyler’s mind, was that he got to witness patients walking for the first time with their new prosthetic leg; some of the patients had been bound to a chair their entire life. Tyler enjoyed the look of relief on the client’s faces as their lives changed dramatically.

Tyler is grateful for his internship at Great Steps. Working with the human body is always something he has enjoyed and feels reward in working with people who are unable to be mobile. By conducting his internship in a business that is family run and close knit, Tyler got to know everyone well and was treated like one of the Great Steps family.

Patient Interview: Buddy Gau

Great Steps specializes in orthotics and prosthetics, and the services we provide for our patients is broad and expansive. We were fortunate to interview one of our patients- Buddy Gau- about his experience with our facility and our doctors and staff.

Buddy Gau is from Little Falls, Minnesota and is very active. He enjoys spending time with his three daughters and two grandchildren. He also enjoys running and teaching and helps out his neighbors and friends by mowing and snow blowing yards. It is safe to say that Buddy is on his feet most of the day.

After experiencing pain in his knee, Buddy visited Dr. Virgil Meyer of Little Falls Orthopedics to help find a solution to his pain. Dr. Meyer referred Buddy to Dave Kinsley of Great Steps for orthotics to help align his knee.

Buddy has been going to Great Steps for the past 10 years and says he is greeted with a smile every time he walks in the door. After a short wait, Buddy and Dave usually spend the first few minutes of the appointment catching up on things like sports, family, and everyday life. Buddy says he appreciates how Dave is able to squeeze him in for an appointment at the last second if he needs his orthotics tweaked.

We then asked Buddy what he thought of Great steps. We quote, “I can’t live without my orthotics and I hope Dave never retires.” He concluded the interview with, “I highly recommend Great Steps and would encourage others to visit them.”

Thank you, Buddy, for informing us and others about your experience with Great Steps. We look forward to working with you in the future. For more information about our Orthotics Services, visit us at http://www.greatstepsop.com/

Limb Loss Awareness Month

Those who live with an amputation show courage every single day of their lives. Limb loss is defined as the loss of all or part of an arm or leg due to trauma, infection, diabetes, heart diseases, cancer or other diseases. According to the Amputee Coalition, more than 500 Americans lose a limb each day and over 200 million are currently living with limb loss. In honor of these courageous individuals they have dedicated the month of April to Limb Loss Awareness Month.

Limb loss affects every generation, from young to old and people from all over the world. To raise awareness for those living with limb loss, the Coalition also dedicated Saturday, April 25, 2015 as “Show Your Mettle Day.” The Coalition is hoping that all amputees will proudly wear their “metal” – prosthetic devices or wheelchairs - on this day. Showing your mettle will help show your support for individuals and caregivers within the amputee community and can provide an opportunity to those living with limb loss to connect with one another from all over the country.

Regardless of the month, we should always celebrate those who continue to live life in the most positive ways despite their difficulties.  In honor of Limb Loss Awareness Month, be sure to “Show Your Mettle”, wear it proudly, and help empower both amputees and those affected by limb loss to achieve their fullest potential.  It’s time to strut your stuff and show the world what you are made of!