A Fab Collab With By Way of Dallas – Building Connection by Changing the Conversation

A Fab Collab With By Way of Dallas – Building Connection by Changing the Conversation

by | Aug 29, 2024 | Prosthetics & Orthotics

Cover story previously published in Rite Up, 2024 – Issue 2.
 
by Kristi Shewmaker
 
Hance Taplin is a connector. In 2011, he founded By Way of Dallas to connect both sides of U.S. Highway 75 through conversation sparked by streetwear that he creates. “I use the apparel as a vehicle,” Hance says. “When we do popups, my goal is to see a Highland Park mom converse with a South Dallas high school football player while waiting in line for the same product — two different people, celebrating Dallas.” His mission is to bring people together, despite their differences, by giving them something to talk about. And now, he is doing it at Scottish Rite for Children.

Last fall, By Way of Dallas and Scottish Rite joined forces to launch a movement about movement, where fashion meets function. For decades, Scottish Rite has created custom, state-of-the-art prostheses for children of all ages, and now, they bear artwork designed by By Way of Dallas artists, athletes and influencers. The list includes Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and photographer Jeremiah Jhass, Dwight Powell of the Dallas Mavericks, artist Temi Coker, and sports and comedy group Dude Perfect to name a few.

“Instead of the narrative being, ‘That’s Johnny who has a prosthetic leg.’ I want it to be, ‘Yo! Did you see Johnny’s leg? It’s so cool!’” Hance says. “Now, the conversation is changing.” Instead of differences separating people, whether that be through age, race or disability, Hance and his crew are creating art that builds connection and community.

“We all have our own prostheses within us,” Hance says, “but through art, we can connect and understand that we’re just like each other. Through this collaboration, we can show people how art and community and culture and innovative design can converge and really make a difference.”
 
Now, patients at Scottish Rite for Children who need a prosthesis can choose a By Way of Dallas design that speaks to them. Owen, Elena and Miles are a few of the first to sport their designs and start their own conversations.

Owen

“Owen has always been a social butterfly,” Amanda says about her 17-month-old son. “He is very active and loves crawling around and climbing up onto everything. We have fun seeing how he adapts and does things his own way.”

Amanda learned about Scottish Rite’s collaboration with By Way of Dallas through a post on Instagram. The collaboration launched shortly before Owen underwent amputation surgery on his right leg.
 
“At my 20-week prenatal anatomy scan, my doctor said that they couldn’t find Owen’s foot,” Amanda says. Later, a maternal fetal medicine doctor saw it but noticed that it was severely curved upward. It was not until Owen was born and referred to Scottish Rite for Children that he was diagnosed with tibial hemimelia, a condition in which a child is born with no tibia or one that is too short. Owen’s tibia was short, and he did not have a functioning ankle joint. In his case, the choice was to amputate or undergo many reconstructive surgeries throughout his life that may not have led to mobility.

“We wanted Owen to have every opportunity to run, jump, play, try different sports, dance — whatever interest he may develop,” Amanda says.
 
“It was difficult to get the diagnosis but a relief to have a clear path forward. Knowing that we were in one of the best places in the country to have to go through this, immensely added to our relief.”

A few months after surgery, Owen received a prosthetic leg with Hance Taplin’s design. Amanda was drawn to the pattern and bold colors. “I chose it because my husband was born and raised in Dallas,” she says. “It was a beautiful way to memorialize the landmarks, and it’s a cool testament to being in Dallas.”

She explained that she used to work for a British fabric company where they collaborated with brands who used their fabrics. “When I saw what By Way of Dallas was doing for these kids — taking the device and turning it into a conversation piece, but not about their disability, but about the artwork — I thought it was amazing,” she says. “I was excited that Owen’s first prosthesis would have this cool story behind it.”

Today, Owen is learning how to use his prosthesis. He stood up on his own for the first time. “We love showing off his tiny prosthetic leg,” Amanda says. “Rather than, ‘Oh my God, what happened to you?’ I want him to feel seen. The collaboration with By Way of Dallas is meaningful to us because Owen will be seen for something other than his limb difference.”

Elena

P-R-O-S-T-H-E-S-I-S. Prosthesis is a big word to spell on the board of an elementary school classroom, but that is exactly what Elena and her mother, Brittany, did the first week of school each year. “We talked about Elena’s prosthetic leg and gave the children an opportunity to ask questions,” Brittany says. “After answering their questions, the kids moved on. Then, she was just Elena.”
 
 A 12-year-old sixth grader from Temple, Elena loves to play brain games, like sudoku, and basketball in the backyard. Recently, she tried out and made the seventh grade cheerleading squad. “We’ve already started practicing after school,” she says.

Since age 3, Elena has had more than a dozen prosthetic legs as she has grown. “When we adopted her, her leg was locked at a 90 degree angle,” Brittany says. “We assumed we’d get her home and straighten it out, but you can’t just straighten out a leg that’s been locked in place for two and a half years.” Through a friend, the family discovered Scottish Rite for Children. “Elena had five major surgeries and got her leg within the first year,” Brittany says. After healing from surgery, Elena underwent physical therapy to learn how to walk with her prosthesis. “All of a sudden, she was upright, off and running,” Brittany says. “It was miraculous to watch.”
 
Now, Elena has two prostheses — an everyday walking leg and a sport leg that she uses for cheer. Shortly after the By Way of Dallas collaboration had begun, she had outgrown her prostheses and needed new ones. After reviewing the patterns, Elena chose artist Temi Coker’s design for her everyday leg, and she let Brittany select the design for her sport leg. Brittany chose Hance Taplin’s art, and Elena approved wholeheartedly.

On delivery day, Temi came to Elena’s appointment to meet her personally. “It was cool to see the person who designed my leg,” Elena says. “I told him, ‘The design is basically me in a leg.’ It’s very colorful, with this color here, that color there and all over the place.”
 
Elena kept the rest of her family in suspense until she got home to make the big reveal. “I like a surprise, and my sisters were like, ‘Show me, show me, show me!’” she says. Brittany added that her friends at school were also excited to see the By Way of Dallas designs.
 
Like her elementary school days, Elena still gets questions about her limb difference, but Brittany says that she has grown into the ability to answer them. They agree, it is better to ask than to stare. “I don’t remember having a real leg,” Elena says. “This is how it’s been for nine years of my life, so it’s kind of normal for me. Most of the time, it’s just me — Elena.”

Miles 

“Miles doesn’t know the words, ‘I can’t,’” says his mother, Angela. “He has always used the phrase, ‘I haven’t been able to yet.’”

An 11-year-old from College Station, Miles was born with symbrachydactyly, a condition that occurs when a child’s arm or hand does not fully develop. Miles is missing his left hand and forearm. His pediatrician referred the family to Scottish Rite for Children where he was diagnosed. “He was born exactly how he was supposed to be born because he has been able to teach so many people how to love other people better,” Angela says.
 
Miles grew up without a prosthesis, adapting in his own way to a life full of activities. He likes to draw and solve the Rubik’s cube. He finished his first season of basketball, and he loves swinging from the monkey bars at a ninja warrior gym. But, he wanted to achieve a move called the lache, where you swing from one bar, which is further than the length of your body, to reach the next bar. “He didn’t have the extra wingspan to hook his arm on the bar,” Angela says. “After trying for years, he was like, ‘I need something to help me reach that bar.’”

Cue prosthetist Dwight Putnam, who was delighted to not only build Miles’ first prosthetic arm but also to fit him with a customized hand attachment that could grasp the bar, making the lache a reality. When it came time to select a pattern, Dwight noticed that Miles was wearing a Dude Perfect hat and showed him their By Way of Dallas design. “The only YouTube video group Miles watches and is obsessed with is Dude Perfect,” Angela says. “The pattern was meant for him.”

 

At Miles’ next appointment, Dude Perfect walked into the room and presented the arm. “I was very surprised and extremely happy,” he says. Angela said that he was so proud, he wore it to school the next day, walking with a little extra swagger. In response to his new arm, Miles says, “A lot of people ask where I got it, say it’s really cool and try to figure out a way to try it on.”

Recently, Miles competed on FOX’s MasterChef Junior, which gave him the opportunity to combine two more passions — cooking and advocating for children with limb differences. “It means so much that I get to represent kids with limb differences, that they get to see someone like them,” Miles says. “But, I think it’s actually more important for people not like us, because we know what we can do. It’s everyone else that doubts us and tells us we can’t. I hope I’m able to show kids and everyone watching that their limb difference doesn’t have to limit them from doing really big and amazing things!”


Learn more about the By Way of Dallas Collaboration.

Read the full issue.

Get to Know our Staff: Philip Pitt, Prosthetics & Orthotics

Get to Know our Staff: Philip Pitt, Prosthetics & Orthotics

by | Jul 9, 2024 | Prosthetics & Orthotics

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite for Children? My job at Scottish Rite for Children is as an orthotics and prosthetics technician.

What do you do on a daily basis or what sort of duties do you have at work? On a daily basis, I fabricate all types of prosthetic and orthotic devices. I also see patients for repairs of their devices as needed and manage an inventory of supplies used for fabrication.

What was your first job? What path did you take to get here or what led you to Scottish Rite? My first job was a housekeeper at a summer camp in the mountains. After that, I worked at a hospital in Southern California in the orthotic and prosthetics department for seven years before ultimately relocating to Dallas to work at Scottish Rite.

What do you enjoy most about Scottish Rite? The thing I enjoy the most about Scottish Rite is being able to help provide great care and devices for the children that come through the organization. I also think participating in the 2023 Amputee Ski trip to see the work we do in action was an awesome experience.

Tell us something about your job that others might not already know? We have a building next to the parking garage where all our prostheses are fabricated. 

Where is the most interesting place you’ve been? The most interesting place I have visited is a tie between London, England, during a trip to Europe and Vancouver, British Columbia.

What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play? My favorite sport to watch is baseball.

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to? If time travel was a thing, I would go back to any time in the 90s.

What’s one fun fact about yourself? A fun fact about me is that I am a certified scuba diver.

A Newfound Freedom to Walk

A Newfound Freedom to Walk

by | Nov 6, 2023 | Prosthetics & Orthotics

KaDeyja, of San Antonio, enjoys watching Cocomelon® and listening to her favorite song, “The Wheels on the Bus.” During her physical therapy session at Scottish Rite for Children, this animated music video set the tone, creating a playful atmosphere and soundtrack to a pivotal day in her life. At 16 months old, KaDeyja achieved a milestone that any doting parent would record in a baby book — taking her first step. But for KaDeyja and her parents, this accomplishment was extraordinary.

KaDeyja was born with limb differences affecting her right arm, left hand and both legs. Hand surgeon and Director of the Center for Excellence in Hand, Scott Oishi, M.D., FACS, manages the treatment plan for her hand. Chief of Staff Emeritus J. A. “Tony” Herring, M.D., manages the treatment plan for her legs.
 
“In the beginning, she couldn’t roll over,” Stephanie, her mother, says. Later, she had difficulty sitting up and keeping her balance. “We would prop her up with a Boppy® pillow,” she says. For many months, Stephanie carried her everywhere. Eventually, KaDeyja figured out how to sit up and maneuver on her own by scooting on her bottom.

When KaDeyja was developmentally ready to begin walking, Director of Prosthetics Don Cummings, C.P., L.P., fitted her for two prosthetic legs. And then, the big day arrived. KaDeyja tried out her new legs with assistance from physical therapist Megan Mendoza. Pushing a baby doll in a shopping cart, KaDeyja took one step and then another.
 
“When she took her first step, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s doing it!’” Stephanie says. “It was very emotional.” With focus and determination, KaDeyja was walking. Every step was a triumph. As the medical team cheered her on, she walked over to each person in the room and gave them a high five.
 
“Scottish Rite for Children has given us hope,” Stephanie says. “It’s a forever kind of journey at Scottish Rite. They are a piece of our family.”
 
Read the full issue.

Ayden the Inspiration – Resilience and Determination Despite Trauma

Ayden the Inspiration – Resilience and Determination Despite Trauma

by | Aug 8, 2023 | Prosthetics & Orthotics

Cover story previously published in Rite Up, 2023 – Issue 2. by Kristi Shewmaker    Ayden, age 13 of Valley View, describes himself as outdoorsy. He learned to ride horses before he could walk. Every day after school, he feeds his flock of sheep that pasture next to the house his father built for the family. When his dad gets home from work, they drive across the highway to feed their horses, ponies, cows, chickens and homing pigeons. Born and raised in the country, Ayden lives with his parents Liz and Sergio and his younger sister and brother on some land they simply call home.   Ayden’s family is close-knit. His grandparents, Liz’s parents, live just across the pasture. Every Sunday, Ayden hops the fence and runs to their house where his grandma makes breakfast for everyone. After their family meal, the guys get to work doing chores around the property.
In February of 2022 while working on the farm, Ayden suffered a traumatic injury with heavy farm equipment and lost his arm. He was transported by CareFlite® to Children’s Medical Center Dallas, a Level 1 Trauma Center, where pediatric orthopedic surgeons Corey S. Gill, M.D., M.A., and Jaysson T. Brooks, M.D., performed an amputation and reconstruction of Ayden’s right arm above the elbow. “I didn’t think anything could be done to save any part of his arm,” Liz says, “but they did an amazing job, and I’m thankful for that.”

A few weeks after surgery, Ayden and his family reunited with Dr. Gill at Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center in Frisco. They also met the multidisciplinary team of experts who would care for Ayden, including pediatric psychologist Emily Gale, Ph.D., prosthetist Dwight Putnam, C.P., L.P., and occupational therapist Lindsey Williams, O.T.R., C.H.T. “When you lose a limb, the family goes through a process of grief,” Dr. Gill says. “So, it’s really important for our Psychology team to work with them early on.” During his recovery, Ayden and his family toured the Prosthetics Lab at the Dallas campus to learn about the possibility of wearing a prosthetic arm and how it could be customized for him. “It was important for Ayden to know that whether he has a prosthesis or not, it does not define him,” Dr. Gill says. “He could do things with it or without it, but he was going to be great regardless.” Ayden decided to move forward with the arm. After his limb had time to heal, he would return for an evaluation with Dwight. In the meantime, Ayden began occupational therapy with Lindsey twice a week. Initially, she focused on caring for his residual limb, including massaging his scar to desensitize the limb in preparation for wearing a prosthesis. “The day I met Ayden, he was very quiet,” Lindsey says. “He was trying his best, but he didn’t yet know the potential that he had. We were just trying to get rid of his phantom limb pain, trying to cope in that way.” Phantom limb pain occurs when the brain perceives tingling and painful sensations in the limb that is no longer there. To resolve the pain, Lindsey used mirror therapy to trick his brain into thinking his right hand was there. Because Ayden lost his right arm, and he was righthanded, they also focused on dominance retraining, or training his left hand to become the dominant hand. They worked on strengthening the grip of his left hand, as well as coordination, fine motor skills and handwriting.
After the swelling subsided in Ayden’s limb, Dwight recommended a body-powered prosthetic arm. Built specifically for Ayden, the arm attaches to a prosthetic socket that fits onto his residual limb. The prosthesis is worn with a harness that loops around his left arm. The movement of his shoulder creates tension in the harness that is transferred to a cable system, which moves a terminal device in the form of a hand or a hook. Initially, Ayden chose the hand so that it would look like his fingers. The hand has a tripod grasp, meaning the first two fingers and thumb pinch together to grab objects.

For many months, Ayden worked with Lindsey on completing tasks with his left hand as well as learning how to use his prosthesis. They problem-solved daily activities, like how to get dressed, button buttons and zip zippers. In one session, he learned to tie his shoes with one hand. They also worked on two-handed tasks, like scooping ice cream, opening a sauce packet, and cutting apples and avocados.   “Ayden has grown so much,” Lindsey says. “He comes to appointments prepared with a list of things he wants to work on. Early on, he wanted to help his mom. He brought in clothes to fold and hang. He wanted to be able to take out the trash.”
After a year, Ayden decided to try the hook on the end of his prosthetic arm. He wanted to use it to feed his sheep. The pinch on a hook is stronger and can grasp heavier items. Before his injury, Ayden fed his sheep by pouring grain out of a five-gallon bucket into a trough. Lindsey taught him to use the hook to hold the handle while his left hand tilted the bucket. “Almost instantaneously after we added the hook,” Dwight says, “it has increased his abilities to do the things he used to do and contribute to his family.”

“I think he will continue to explore and find things he wants to do with his prosthesis,” Dr. Gill says. “Whether it is for things around the farm or adaptive sports, it’s our job to help him succeed in whatever he wants to do, and I think he will.”   Now, Lindsey is preparing Ayden for high school. She is teaching him one-handed typing using a Dvorak keyboard, which locates the important letters directly under your hand. They just put new stickers on the keys. “Lindsey has really been a blessing to us,” Liz says.   The best part of his care journey, Ayden says, has been getting help from Lindsey. “I’ve learned that I can still do everything the same,” he says. Liz adds that Ayden says he wants to be Dwight, and later in his life, he wants to build prosthetic limbs.
 “At Scottish Rite, they care more about the kids than anything else,” Sergio says. “They actually take care of you. They don’t care if you’re Hispanic, White, Black — whatever color you are — they treat everybody the same.”   In a recent session, Ayden and Lindsey played Jenga®. Ayden grasped a block with his hook. As he wiggled it, it looked like the tower might fall. “But, he got it out,” Lindsey says, “and when it didn’t fall, he had the biggest smile on his face.”

“Nothing is off the table for Ayden,” she says. “The injury was so traumatic for him. It could’ve defeated him, but he has just soared.”

“We can’t thank everyone at Scottish Rite enough,” Liz says. “Something that has been horrible and tragic is turning out to be something wonderful and positive for our child.”

Read the full issue.

American Society of Hand Therapists – Prosthetics Series: Pediatric Upper Extremity Prosthetics

American Society of Hand Therapists – Prosthetics Series: Pediatric Upper Extremity Prosthetics

by | Apr 21, 2023 | Press Coverage, Prosthetics & Orthotics

On this episode, we are joined by Dwight Putnam, a certified prosthetist who works at a pediatric hospital in Texas. He brings a unique perspective to his job as a prosthetist as he previously worked as a professional sculptor. In his job, Dwight works with kids born with congenital hand differences and he builds terminal devices that allow them to participate in the activities that are meaningful to them.

Listen to the podcast.

Limb Loss and Limb Differences: Terms You Need to Know

Limb Loss and Limb Differences: Terms You Need to Know

by | Apr 19, 2023 | Prosthetics & Orthotics

There are many different words that are used to describe limb loss and limb differences. These medical terms allow patients and their families to effectively communicate with their health care provider. This glossary of words and phrases will help you learn some of the terms used to describe limb differences and limb loss. 

Acquired amputation: The surgical removal of a limb(s) due to complications associated with disease or trauma.

Alignment: The position of the prosthetic socket in relation to the foot and knee.

Amputation: The surgical removal of all or part of a limb due to disease or injury.

Atrophy: A wasting away of a body part, or the decrease in size of a normally developed extremity or organ, due to a decrease in function and/or use.  After amputation, for example, some of the muscles in the remaining (residual) limb often atrophy over time since they are not being used as actively as before. 

Bilateral: Occurring on both sides, as in loss of both arms or both legs.

Check or test socket: A temporary socket, often transparent, made over the plaster model to aid in obtaining proper fit and function of the prosthesis.

Congenital limb deficiency: An absent, shortened or abnormal limb present at birth.

Custom fit: Fitting an individual with a device that is made from a scan or cast of the individual’s unique anatomy and fabricated according to the needs of that individual.

Extremity: A limb of the body, as in upper or lower extremity.

Gait: Referring to the manner or style of walking.

Gait training: Part of ambulatory rehabilitation, or learning how to walk, with your prosthesis or prostheses.

Lower extremity (LE): Relating to the leg.

Nylon sheath: A shear nylon interface worn close to the skin on the residual limb to reduce friction and to help wick away perspiration from the surface of the skin.

Orthosis: A external device that is used to protect, support or improve function of parts of the body that move, i.e., braces, splints, slings, etc. It can include anything from an arch support to a spinal orthosis. Orthoses is plural.  

Orthotics: The profession of providing devices to support and straighten the body (orthoses).

Orthotist: A skilled professional who designs, fabricates, fits and maintains orthotic devices that are prescribed by a physician, generally as a collaboration regarding the biomechanical goals of the orthosis and the patient’s needs.

Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency (PFFD): Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency is a complex congenital difference in which the femur (thigh bone) is short or even mostly absent, making that leg significantly shorter than normal. PFFD includes a wide range of severity and multiple treatment options based on how big the length difference is, the child’s age and development and whether other parts of the limb or other extremities are involved.

Prosthesis/prosthetic device: An artificial limb, usually an arm or a leg, that provides a replacement for the amputated or missing limb. Prostheses is plural. Generally, the word prosthetic should be used as an adjective. If referring to an individual’s replacement artificial limb, it should be called a prosthesis not just a prosthetic.

Prosthetics: The profession of providing those with limb loss or with a limb difference (congenital anomaly) a functional and/or cosmetic restoration of missing or underdeveloped human parts.

Prosthetist: A person involved in the science and art of prosthetics; one who designs and fits artificial limbs.

Pylon: A structural part, usually a metal alloy or composite tube, that provides a relatively light weight support structure between other components of the prosthesis such as between the socket or knee unit and the foot.

Residual limb: The portion of the arm or leg remaining after an amputation, sometimes referred to as a stump or residuum.

Revision: Surgical modification of the residual limb.

Socket: Part of the prosthesis that fits around the residual limb.

Symes: a type of surgery for amputation through the ankle joint, generally retaining the heel pad so that the residual limb can tolerate more loading through that area.

Upper extremity (UE): Relating to the arm.

Van Nes (Rotationplasty): Rotationplasty is a surgical reconstruction occasionally indicated for bone tumors near the knee or for PFFD.  There are many variations of this surgery, but in general the limb is shortened, and the anatomical ankle and foot are moved up to about knee level and rotated around so the heel faces forward.  Once healed the person with a rotationplasty can eventually be fitted with a “below knee” prosthetic leg where the foot rests inside a custom socket and the rotated ankle is protected with metal joints and a thigh cuff.   The ankle then controls the prosthesis much like a knee but with slightly less overall range of motion.