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The world of a War Amp champ Making life whole with prosthetics
the latter option. “It was really hard to decide to take a part of your child’s body off,” Moira says. “With reconstruction, you’re in for a lifetime of surDaniel Palmer geries, but the kids who get ampuNews staff tation get on with their life.” Penny said Tytan’s condition Two-year-old Tytan Beckford darts down the hallway of isn’t incredibly rare – the most Queen Alexandra’s Fisher Build- famous case is likely runner Oscar ing towards the laughs of his older Pistorius – and children lead relatively normal lives after surgery. sister, Zamira. “We take off the front part of the As he weaves around the cumbersome adults in his way, Tytan foot, but the tissue on the back looks the part of any excited tod- of the foot is very specialized for weight-bearing. dler ready for a game of hide and “With reconstruction, If we can align that tissue with seek. the bone, that’s “Right now, you’re in for a lifetime Tytan quite likes of surgeries, but the kids ideal. And that’s what we’ve done walking on the end in Tytan’s case,” of his legs, but the who get amputation get Penny said. rule I’ve got is if he on with their life.” Tytan’s monthly goes outside, he - Moira Beckford regimen includes has to put sometwo visits to the thing over them,” says mother Moira Beckford fol- Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health, where prosthetist lowing close behind. When Moira was 20 weeks preg- and orthotic resident Stephanie nant, an ultrasound determined Lung acts as both healthcare proTytan was missing fibula bones in vider and confidant to the Beckboth his tiny legs. The prognosis fords. She said Tytan’s bulbous feet meant one of two options: years of painful reconstructive surgery are beneficial because they allow – a move rarely recommended for “self-suspension” of any for bilateral fibular hemimelia – prosthesis. Other amputees can or the removal of most of Tytan’s require thigh corsets and pin-lock mechanisms to keep an artificial feet before his first birthday. Moira and her orthopaedic sur- limb attached. “When Tytan’s older as well, the geon, Dr. Norgrove Penny, chose
Daniel Palmer/News staff
Moira Beckford, left, with her children Tytan, 2, Zamira, 8, and 10-month-old Jetlun at Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health. Tytan was born without fibula bones and had surgery before his first birthday to remove most of his feet. prosthesis is going to hold onto him naturally,” says Lung, examining the delicate skin around his legs for blisters. The Beckfords lovingly refer to Lung as the newest member of the family. This week, she’s pleased to see Tytan attempting to slip on
his “stubbies,” the foam and plastic stilts that raise his centre of gravity to better replicate having feet. “I see kids a lot more often than I do adults,” she says. “I need to see Tytan often to make sure everything’s fitting correctly and deter-
mine whether or not we need adjustments due to his growth.” Prosthetic replacements can be outgrown annually during the first few years of an amputee’s life.
PLEASE SEE: Prosthetics support, Page A7
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