Spirit Intact, Soldier Reclaims His Life
By Alvarez, Lizette; New York Times, p. MB1Publication Date: July 4, 2010
Article features a U.S. Army soldier undergoing physical rehabilitation after having both arms and legs amputated following injury in the war in Iraq. The article outlines postsurgery recovery of the 23-year-old Army Specialist at Walter Reed Army Hospital, where his left arm below the elbow was fitted with a rubber myoelectric hand that responds to muscle impulses, while his right arm, amputated above the elbow, received a body-pressure hook put on mainly for therapy sessions. He is able to write with his left hand and mastered standing on his C-Leg X2 leg prostheses within two months, after which he reportedly has been able to walk for about 15 minutes at a time. Physical and occupational therapy consists of situps and body lifts to build up core strength, walking with the support of parallel bars as needed, writing, picking up small items like popcorn and positing a pin on a beret, feeding himself with a swivel spoon, and typing on a BlackBerry with a Fluffy Finger, an upside-down pencil-like instrument specially made for the task. The patient's brother, with financial reimbursement from the Army, provides assistance with tasks of daily living. Funds for building a wheelchair-accessible home for the veteran are being raised by several charities, including Building Homes for Heroes. As of the publication of the article, the amputee was on a waiting list for receiving a double hand transplant at the University of Pittsburgh.
Assistive Products Discussed: C-LEG (MODEL 3C100)
Published by: New York Times Company (Website:http://www.nytco.com)
Link to text: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/nyregion/04soldier.html
