After losing both her legs during an artillery strike in Ukraine, Karolina, 7, is able to walk again thanks to the prosthetic legs and comprehensive rehabilitation she's received at Shriners Children's Boston.
BOSTON, April 20, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A 7-year-old girl, who lost both her legs during an artillery strike in Ukraine, has gained the ability to walk again after receiving prosthetic legs and undergoing extensive rehabilitation at Shriners Children's Boston.
Karolina came to Shriners Children's Boston in February. During her first weeks, the rehabilitation team in Boston focused on building Karolina's strength and balance before being fitted for prosthetic legs. The prosthetics and orthotics team from Shriners Children's New England in Springfield, Massachusetts, fabricated and made weekly adjustments to the prostheses to ensure Karolina's comfort and function. Through daily physical therapy sessions, Karolina quickly mastered the use of her prosthetic legs. By late March, she was ready to go home.
Karolina's perseverance and positive attitude were an inspiration to her care team.
"Karolina picked up the use of her prosthetics possible faster than any other child I have worked with," said Hilary Smith-Chong, physical therapist at Shriners Children's Boston.
"Working with Karolina has been incredibly rewarding," said Brock McConkey, manager of the pediatric orthotics and prosthetics department at Shriners Children's New England. "She is truly a hero for everything she has been through."
Since the war began, 11 Ukrainian children have received treatment in the Shriners Children's health care system – five at Shriners Children's Boston. Karolina's care was coordinated between Shriners Children's and Ukraine House, the foundation established by Ukrainian President and First Lady Zelensky. Relationships with additional humanitarian and government agencies were also integral to helping Karolina and other Ukrainian patients at Shriners Children's Boston, including the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Embassy of Ukraine, and the Consulate General of Ukraine in New York, along with assistance from the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security.
"Ukraine's medical infrastructure is understandably challenged at this time," said Kenneth G. "Kenny" Craven, Imperial Potentate (president) of Shriners International and chairman of the board of directors for Shriners Children's. "As our health care system continues to expand its global care network, our partnerships with organizations all over the world are growing. This helps increase access to our specialized care so our clinicians can help treat more children like Karolina."
Shriners Children's is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. Our multiple locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico provide advanced care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. All care is provided regardless of the families' ability to pay. Shriners Children's has treated more than 1.5 million children from more than 180 countries over the last 100 years.
For more information on the care provided by Shriners Children's, go to shrinerschildrens.org
View and download video: https://shriners.vids.io/videos/ea9fd8b41f14edc563/karolina-2023-story-v4
Media Contact
Ashley Ozols-Thomas, Shriners Children's, 1 813-499-4273, [email protected]
SOURCE Shriners Hospitals for Children
Share this article