Shriners Hospital gives prosthetist opportunity to help children
Tara, 7, and Hamdani, 11, simply were children at play when a tsunami struck Indonesia in December 2004. Their stories were told in media accounts.
Tara, who was with friends, became missing for three days before her family found her in a shelter. But Tara’s leg was injured and it became infected. Doctors were forced to amputate it below her knee.
Hamdani, who had been playing soccer, grabbed onto a boat when the tsunami struck his village. But a tree, also caught in the waters, severed his right arm above the elbow.
Both of the children visited the United States last year, where they received artificial limbs at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, outfitted by Uniontown native Jeff Eichhorn.
“They were very sweet kids – going through something as horrendous as surviving the tsunami,’ said Eichhorn. “Both kids were swept away and barely got out with their lives.’
Eichhorn is director of orthotic/prosthetics for the Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia, one of 22 Shriners Hospitals throughout North America (including Montreal and Mexico City) that treats children with orthopedic problems free of charge. The Shriners of North America has operated the network of specialized hospitals for 75 years.
“We take care of orthopedic needs whether it’s scoliosis, cerebral palsy, spina bifida or amputation, either congenital or through trauma,’ said Eichhorn, a son of Theresa and the late Gilbert Eichhorn of Uniontown. “Any orthopedic need we will see and take care of absolutely free of charge to patients or parents. If you are on medical assistance or Bill Gates’ child, we still take care of you free of charge.’
Eichhorn believes the Indonesian children may live the furthest away from Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia than any of its other patients. But Eichhorn has seen children from many parts of the world while doing his job, including children from Iraq and Bosnia who were injured during war as well as children with congenital and traumatic amputations from China, Kenya, Libya, Ukraine, Siberia, Jamaica, El Salvador, Honduras, India and Pakistan.
Many of them are brought to Philadelphia through the nonprofit Global Medical Relief, founded by New York City native Elissa Montanti, who brings the children to the United States for medical services.
“Elissa has good connections throughout the world. They contact her and she contacts us,’ said Eichhorn.
For example, Global Medical Relief brought an Iraqi boy named Ahmad Sharif to Philadelphia last year. A bomb blast caused him to go blind and tore off most of his right arm.
Eichhorn, who fitted Ahmad for a new arm, spoke of the boy’s courage. “To me, he’s a hero,’ he said.
Cases such as these receive a lot of attention from the media. Eichhorn has been featured in newspapers and magazines such as Business News and People. He also was featured on the “Today’ show, CNN and on local newscasts. The week of the interview, he was anticipating coverage from the Hallmark Channel and local news affiliates in Philadelphia and New York as Shriners Hospital was expected to receive children from Pakistan for treatment.
But Eichhorn noted the media is interested in children in general. As a result, Shriners hospitals often are in the news.
Eichhorn said of the press coverage, “I feel positive with the attention the media gives us with articles and on-air time. Hopefully, other people will see them and contact Shriners Hospital to receive our help.’
That includes residents of southwestern Pennsylvania.
“They’re more than welcome to go to any Shriners Hospital,’ he said. “Being from that area, I would feel honored to help their child at the Philadelphia hospital. I like trying to give a little back to the community that gave so much to me growing up. I love Uniontown.’
Eichhorn has been with Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia for five years.
He began his education in Fayette County, graduating Fairchance-Georges High School in 1977. Eichhorn then worked a variety of jobs, including Albert Gallatin Home Health, before going to school full time at Harmarville Training Institute for Orthotics, where he graduated in 1987. He then accepted a job at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago as an orthotic technician and later became a prosthetist. He continued working while attending Northwestern University in Chicago where he received certification for prosthetics in 1989.
Eichhorn then accepted a position as a certified prosthetist at the University of North Dakota for 11 years. In North Dakota, Eichhorn met his wife, Gisele, a native of Manitoba, Canada. They have been married 10 years. Today, Gisele Eichhorn performs high-risk OB ultrasound at Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington, Pa., just north of Philadelphia, where the couple lives.
Explaining the difference between orthotics and prosthetics, Eichhorn said, “Orthotics is the bracing of a part of the body – a young lady who has scoliosis or a person who has a stroke and needs a leg brace. They still have the existing limb but it needs a brace. The prosthetic involves some form of amputation – it replaces a lost limb.’
Eichhorn said of his work at Shriners Hospital, “It’s the best job in the world. It’s amazing to be introduced to so many different cultures from around the world. But it’s also the ability not to worry about insurance but to do what’s right for the child so they can return to a more normal life.’
Children are treated at Shriners Hospital as long as they need care. This may involve a few weeks or months with return visits as needed. Shriners sees children from infancy to 18 years old and will take care of them until they reach age 21.
In addition, Shriners operates numerous clinics on the East Coast. Eichhorn is associated with the largest, which is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“I go down there four times a year. That’s awesome,’ Eichhorn said. “We see 600 to 700 kids. They are brought through the clinic and we schedule them for surgery in the Philadelphia hospital or arrange for them to have braces or prostheses. We see them and cast them for orthotics or prostheses. and make a return trip for a fitting.’
Children who come to Shriners Hospitals are usually glad to be there.
“When they’re getting a new leg or arm – especially a child who lost it from a traumatic accident and they come in on crutches or in a wheelchair, they know they are getting a new leg and they’re ready to get rid of their crutches or push aside the wheelchair,’ Eichhorn said. “When they see us, they’re pretty happy.’
The parents or guardians who accompany their children to Shriners also are grateful.
Eichhorn said, “They’re thankful for anything we can do for their children.’
A new limb can mean a big difference to these patients. Eichhorn noted there are children with prostheses who play football, basketball and baseball.
And no matter where they call home, Eichhorn finds the children much the same.
“Whether they come from Indonesia or Uniontown, kids are kids.’
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For more information on Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia, call 1-800-281-4050 and ask for admissions, which will send an application. Eichhorn also can be called at 215-430-4069.