By Alexander Germanis
In 1843, Charles Dickens introduced the world to a character so memorable; the name Scrooge is still synonymous with ‘miserly cynicism’ in the modern day. However, the unjust suffering experienced by a child, Tiny Tim Cratchit, softened the old man’s heart more than any other memory or fear Scrooge experienced during his harrowing Christmas Eve.
Unable to walk, Tiny Tim was a tragic figure — a young boy incapable of experiencing childhood the way most children did. However, had Tiny Tim access to the aid available at Comprehensive Prosthetics and Orthotics (CPO), his childhood may have been far more favor-able.
Although CPO helps people of all ages in Central Illinois, their certified orthotists and prosthetists take a particular joy in providing the care necessary for those children who were previously unable to live lives like those of their peers to experience the simple joys of childhood.
From Many Paths — One
Originally opening in Peoria in 2005, Comprehensive Prosthetics and Orthotics has since spread to 20 locations in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. With a goal of being a worldwide caregiver in the field of orthotics and prosthetics, it is staffed by certified and licensed experts from a variety of backgrounds. The one thing they all have in common is their love for the job.
“It has been an absolute delight to celebrate our 10 year anniversary of CPO in Peoria this year. Although CPO has been in business for 10 years, the relationships we have estab-lished over the last 20-30 years have really assisted our growth in Central Illinois,” says Amit Bhanti, president and CEO of CPO.
Making up the other part of the team in Peoria, and CPO headquarters: Don Goertzen, CP, LPO, BOCPO, a co-owner of CPO and an amputee himself, which gives him an empathetic connection to many of CPO’s patients. Other team members include, Todd McAllister, CP, LP, Raju Roy, CPO, Dennis Dillard, a certified pedorthist and orthotics technician.
Fit the Head; Fit the Body
There is no age limit to those needing CPO’s services. Although it is not surprising to see a full-grown adult in need of orthotic or prosthetic care, to think there are those who are not yet able to speak benefiting from it can be somewhat shocking.
There are many reasons a child may need orthotic or prosthetic intervention. “Sometimes infants are seen days after birth due to hip dysplasia and need an orthosis for proper hip positioning. Some children are seen at several months old needing a cranial helmet for deformational plagiocephaly,” explains Amit Bhanti.
“We also see children for ankle foot orthoses (AFO), which can be for many different reasons.” Amit continues, “Sometimes it’s more for stabilizing the child’s feet as they grow and then they grow out of the need for the devices. Other times, it may be needed for the rest of their lives. During the adolescent years we tend to see more patients needing spinal orthoses, such as those for scoliosis, or sports injuries requiring varying types of supportive devices or even protective face masks.”
Fortunately, less common are the children who require more permanent solutions due to a lack of an upper or lower extremity. There are several reasons a child may be seen for prosthetic intervention. Oftentimes, a child is born missing an upper or lower extremity or even part of an extremity that leads to an amputation. Sometimes it may be trauma and many times it is due to cancer.
Adapt to Survive
Losing a limb is a trial with which most people are unfamiliar, so being able to understand how anyone, least of all a child, can live a normal life afterward may seem an impossible task. It becomes even more miraculous then to discover many of these children thrive after an amputation.
Children adapt well to most any situation and that is usually the case with amputation as well. Some children are born with a deformity of an extremity such as fibular hemimelia. This is when a child is born without the fibula (the small bone in the lower leg). When the leg can no longer be managed through orthotic care, the decision to amputate oftentimes needs to be made in order to be functional.
“It’s exciting to be present for their first steps on their prosthetic. Every day I have a sense of purpose and am humbled by many of my patients and their will to succeed, no matter what” says Don Goertzen.
“It’s very gratifying when things go really well and patients are excited about being able to walk or function normally again,” Amit concurs. “It’s a transition to get to that point; there’s a lot of work involved. It’s exciting when they’re happy or when their parents are happy.”
2015 marks the 10-year anniversary of CPO’s existence. The company started with one office in Peoria, IL, and has expanded to 20 offices within the 10 years. The continued success of aiding the “Tiny Tim’s” in the area has CPO services on its way to achieving its goal of becoming the global leader in orthotic and prosthetic care. “As the company continues to grow, we are all here to live up to our mission statement as well as provide the best services and patient care possible,” Amit concludes.
CPO provides patients in Central Illinois with prosthetic and orthotic devices and care, and also houses an on-site fabrication department where custom orthoses and prostheses are designed and created for each patient. CPO can be reached by calling toll-free 888-676-2276. Visit the website at www.cpousa.com.