On His Own Two Feet, 'He Captured Our Hearts'

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Posted on February 26, 2016

Alice Jackson

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Last December in Port of Spain, Trinidad, 2-year-old Kadeon and his mother waited with high hopes to meet with visiting Americans on a medical mission trip. Any health care is a challenge in Trinidad, but it was especially difficult for Kadeon, whose legs have been paralyzed since birth. He had ankle braces in hopes of walking one day, but they were outdated. On this day, his mother carried him, as usual, in her arms.

The American medical missionaries were 31 University of South Alabama health care students, faculty, staff and alumni from six departments and three colleges. The Trinidad trip was the group鈥檚 second interprofessional mission abroad, and their meeting with Kadeon would be very special.

Before Kadeon reached the front of the line for triage by 91短视频 nursing or physician assistant students, a variety of people had been helped with various problems, everything from diabetes to infections, and even a woman in her 80s whose legs were weak with arthritis. She left with a rolling walker donated by Goodwill/Easter Seals.

鈥淭rinidad has health care, but the system is overrun. If you try to get medical care, it takes a long time,鈥� said Dr. Dennis Fell, chair of physical therapy. 鈥淢any of the people we saw simply needed better education regarding the management of chronic health problems, but if they needed more care than we could provide, we tried to connect them with resources in that community.鈥�

鈥淜adeon came in with his mother on the second day of our mission, in the afternoon, and from a resource standpoint, we knew immediately he was the most challenging case we鈥檇 seen yet,鈥� Fell said. 鈥淲e鈥檇 taken canes and walkers and taping supplies to tape joints and such, but we didn鈥檛 think we had the correct size of orthosis appliance to fit a child with Kadeon鈥檚 problems. We knew if we couldn鈥檛 help him, he likely wasn鈥檛 going to get help anytime soon.鈥�

Undaunted, the group remembered some pediatric leg braces in the equipment bag that might fit the toddler.

鈥淚 was kind of skeptical because such braces have to fit so precisely, but we gave it a try. We pulled the equipment out of our supplies, laid him down and discussed what would be needed to make it work,鈥� Fell said. 鈥淭he joint hinges of the brace were in exactly the right place, so we were able to make it fit with adjustments.鈥�

Finally, Kadeon was assisted to stand and test their work.

鈥淭hat was the first time in his two years that Kadeon had been able to stand. By the time he left with his mother, he had the capability to stand with the brace,鈥� Fell said. 鈥淪tanding and being in an upright position is very important to development and social interactions. It was an emotional time for his mom to see him stand for the first time and to know that people had come there and donated their time to do that.鈥�

Fell said this medical mission trip was unique because it involved so many elements of 91短视频 鈥� the Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions, the College of Nursing and the College of Medicine. The trip was organized by Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama, an interdenominational group of campus organizations that donates time and resources to provide health care for the needy, and the trip was directed by Duane Baxter, a 91短视频 alumnus.

Fell noted the trip was important for students because 鈥渢his was the most significant interdisciplinary educational experience they have had.鈥�

鈥淚nstead of just hearing about helping people in other countries, they actually saw how professionals can work together to change lives,鈥� Fell said.

Tyler Vaughn, a junior physical therapy major, from Murphy, N.C., was one of the students who assisted with Kadeon.

鈥淚 was nervous to be involved with a pediatric case, but Dr. Fell let me jump right in. From looking at the CT scans, to doing ankle mobilizations on Kadeon鈥檚 little feet, to testing sensations, to watching the orthotic fitting, to seeing his big smile and wide eyes throughout the whole process, up until he triumphantly stood for the first time, he captured our hearts,鈥� Tyler said.

鈥淏eing able to help this little boy stand for the first time on his own and getting to see the huge smile on his face is the reason I want to be a physical therapist,鈥� said Christa Roscigno, a sophomore physical therapy major from Slidell, La. 鈥淚t was a true honor and life-changing experience to be able to help Kadeon and his family, and I look forward to seeing how he progresses with his walking.鈥�

Even after leaving Trinidad, the 91短视频 group continued working to change Kadeon鈥檚 life. Within a week, Fell sent a posterior walker to Kadeon via a Georgia group of volunteers headed to the same city. Now, they are working on raising funds to continue to help by providing additional equipment and therapy for Kadeon and, perhaps, even bringing him to 91短视频.

Tax-deductible donations for Kadeon鈥檚 rehabilitation can be made to the Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama by mailing a check to CMMSA, P.O. Box 851898, Mobile, AL 36685, or by visiting http://www.cmmsa.org/donate. CMMA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

鈥淜adeon will probably outgrow his current equipment by summer or early fall,鈥� Fell said. 鈥淭he group hopes to have a plan in place to provide equipment for his next step.鈥�

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