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Belleville News Democrat September 25, 2005 SUNDAY MAGAZINE

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OING OUT ON A LIMB ecorated prosthesis reflects earer’s personality

Y JAIME INGLE ews-Democrat

hree-year-old Liana Burkhart is an expert at riding a wo-wheeler with training wheels. Helmet, mama," Liana reminded her mom, Ginny urkhart of O'Fallon, as Ginny handed her a white elmet with flowers on it. iana has another piece of special gear — a prosthetic

ower right leg and foot — but she didn't think twice about t before getting on her bike and riding to the end of the ul-de-sac.

ost people notice the whimsical Hello Kitty pattern on a ink background before they notice the lower leg itself. She got her first one when she was 2. It had teddy bears n it," said Ginny. rosthetic limbs help adults and children enjoy active,

ndependent lives. For Liana that means being able to wim and climb a kid-size rock wall.

or adults Howard Callahan, of Collinsville, and Paul uhl, of Belleville, it means being able to drive an utomobile.

All have personalized prosthetics from P&O Care, a clinic that specializ custom prosthetics (artificial limbs or body parts) and other orthotic dev braces that help a person walk, move or sit upright). Patterns available from P&O range from camouflage to birds, flowers, b cartoon characters. Howard's prosthetic lower leg is decorated with an American flag patte prosthetic lower leg is decorated with exotic birds. Liana's Hello Kitty Ginny Burkhart didn't know Liana could get a custom prosthesis until L with prosthetist Greg Doerr. "He said, 'Do you want me to decorate it?' I'm not sure if it was him or m Andrea or me who suggested Hello Kitty," said Ginny.

Liana Burkhart, 3-year-old daughter of Tom and Ginny Bborn without a right foot. Last year she began wearing a

aul Kuhl, owner of First Flight in Belleville, hose a tropical print with birds and palm leaves.

DERIK HOLTMANN / News-Democrat

Missouri care Center 1074 Old Des Peres Road Des Peres, MO 63131 314-775-2041

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Continued.

urkhart of O’Fallon, was colorful prosthesis.

Photo by ZIA NIZAMI / News-Democrat

Continued from front. S he and her husband, Tom, adopted Liana and her older brother and sister, Michael, 10, and Andrea, 5, from China. Liana was born without a right foot. Before she was born, a condition known as fibular hemimelia cut off blood supply to her right leg below the knee. Ginny and Tom knew of her needs before they adopted her. Liana walked as best she could on her partial right leg with a hop-like step, said Ginny. Liana came to the United States in December 2003 and got her first prosthesis in February 2004. "At first, she wasn't real enthusiastic about it, so Greg advised us to let her wear it for 30 minutes at least three or four times a day. Within days, Liana realized she could walk better and wanted to wear her teddy bear leg, or as sister Andrea calls it her "medical leg," said Ginny. The prosthesis fits over the partially formed fibula, Liana's lower leg. The Hello Kitty patterned fabric is laminated onto the hard plastic shaft that cups her knee. The decorated shaft connects to a rod that connects to a hard foot the same size as Liana's natural left foot. "She loves to have her toenails painted," said Ginny as Liana removed both shoes and socks. Ginny paints the toenails on her prosthetic foot, too. "She likes everything balanced," said Ginny. This is Liana's second leg, and she will likely need a new one every year because she's growing. Her prosthetic leg costs about $5,000.

Ginny and Tom knew Liana's first prosthetic leg was too tight because her knee area was red. "If it's still red after 10 minutes when you take it off, it's too tight," said Ginny. "She started walking with more of a hop, and Greg said it was time for a new leg." Greg said most children adapt quickly to their new limbs. "I fitted a little girl from Russia with two legs, and she was kicking a soccer ball the next day." Liana knows how to put the leg on all by herself, something Tom and Ginny learned during her physical therapy sessions. She wears it from the time she gets up to send her brother and sister off to school until she goes to bed at night. It allows her to keep up with all her friends during half-day preschool classes at Moye School in O'Fallon and at Little Gym classes in O'Fallon. As she watched Liana hop off her bike, Ginny said she already has an idea of what Liana's next pattern will be. "Blues Clues." Proud to be American For 86-year-old Howard Callahan, the prosthesis gives him mobility. He lost his lower left leg six years ago from poor circulation. He is a retired maintenance machinist for Switzer Candy Co. in St. Louis. "I'm proud to be an American," Howard said as his reason for choosing the flag pattern for his prosthesis. Continued.

Liana Burkhart, 3, puts on her prosthetic leg before riding with help from mom, Ginny (above)

ZIA NIZAMI/ News-Democrat

Howard Callahan prepares to walk on his newprosthetic lower leg.

Braces also can be decorated with prints and patterns.

Continued from previous page. He's a World War II veteran who was sent into battle shortly after the D-Day invasion of Normandy, Prance, in 1944. He waited patiently at P&O Care while orthotist and prosthetist Jon Wilson made adjustments. "I've had 19 legs, and this is the first one that doesn't hurt," said Howard as he stood and walked, holding on to parallel bars. He walks with a cane to keep his balance. Jon said P&O can transfer almost any design onto a prosthetic. "It has to be a water permeable fabric," said Jon. Most cotton fabrics work well, which means clients can bring in swatches of clothing, if they have a favorite garment they'd like to make part of an arm or leg. "It individualizes it for patients and returns them to a functional and active lifestyle. Why shouldn't they have some fun with it?" said Jon. Adult below-the-knee prostheses typically cost $10,000-$25,000 and usually last patients about five years. Durability depends on the person's activity level and changes such as weight gain. P&O does not charge a fee for adding personalized designs, which have been popular since the business opened three years ago. Jon said most adults choose to wear prostheses, while children use the leg prosthetics but not as many arms. W alking with birds Paul Kuhl, 66, owns First Plight, an exotic bird shop in Belleville. He chose a pattern with colorful macaws to over the prosthesis that attaches below his right knee. c

"They asked me what I wanted to do with it. My wife (Sandi) suggested a bird pattern," said Paul, who wore horts this summer to show off the colorful pattern. s

H is lower leg was amputated two years ago because of diabetic complications. He walks without a cane, mows his own lawn and is able to drive n ormally, using the right foot for the accelerator. T he leg gets second and sometimes third glances from strangers. That was the case when Paul and Sandi stopped at a rest area in Southern Illinois. "A guy was following me and said, 'I've been watching you. Where did you get that leg?'" Paul told him, and the tall man pulled up a pant leg to reveal his own prosthetic flesh-toned leg. For information, call P&O Care Inc. at 618-212-0006 or check the Web site pandocare.com

Orthotist and Prosthetist John Wilson, watches Howard Callahan try out his prosthetic leg.

DERIK HOLTMANN / News-Democrat

A rose-breasted cockatoo settles into the hand of Paul Kuhl, who owns First Flight in Belleville.

Linda Burkhart shows just how well her prosthetic leg works.

ZIA NIZAMI / News-Democrat

MAUREEN HOUSTON / News-Democrat