George the unstoppable conquers leg-length discrepancy

I stand here today with two legs the same length, thanks to Dr. Kasser, but I am grateful to him for so much more. People tell me all the time that I have a positive attitude. Perhaps that’s because, thanks to Dr. Kasser, I believe that anything is possible. George Davies, a senior at Bancroft School in Worcester, Massachusetts, faces every challenge, every obstacle and every situation with a sense of what’s possible. He rows varsity crew, plays the electric guitar, and after two years of independent research he’s off to Scotland’s University of St Andrews to study biochemistry. Dr. James Kasser, Boston Children’s Hospital’s surgeon-in-chief, diagnosed George when he was 3 months old with Fibular Hemimelia, a rare genetic absence of the fibular bone and a condition which results in the affected leg growing at a slower rate than normal. Without treatment, George’s right leg would have been six inches shorter than his left. His parents had two options: amputate George’s foot and have him fitted with a series of prostheses throughout his life or sign him up for a series of limb-lengthening operations. Jen and Paul Davies did their homework. They spoke with other families whose children had undergone leg-lengthening operations. “The apparatus is dramatic and scary looking, but the kids seemed fine. We decided it was the best option for George,” recalls Jen. The Davies family opted for a series of limb-lengthening surgeries with Kasser. George the unstoppable ...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories Dr. James Kasser leg length discrepancy Orthopedic Center Source Type: news