Nonprofits help kids with innovative prosthetics

Summer camps also provide children encouragement.

Faith Trznadel (left) had her lower leg amputated. Then Amputee Blade Runners stepped in to help.

Thousands of children are born with limb differences in the United States every year. Prosthetic limbs can cost from $5,000 to over $50,000, and many insurance carriers restrict coverage.

Unlike adults, children who need prosthetics can grow out of them as fast as they outgrow their clothes, creating a critical need for affordable, sustainable limbs.

The nonprofit sector is trying to help fill the gap in innovative ways, as well as creating communities where children can excel. For example, summer camps bring children together and provide athletic training and encouragement.

Faith Trznadel of Chicago was born without a tibia bone, and when she was 10 months old, doctors had to amputate her lower leg. Now 11 years old, she loves dancing and gymnastics, activities she is able to pursue because of Amputee Blade Runners (ABR). The Nashville-based nonprofit, which relies on corporate and individual sponsors and foundations for funding, provided her with a running prosthetic.

Joshua Southards, executive director of ABR, said that because most Americans in need of prosthetics are older, children are often overlooked. ABR works with children to provide what they need to take part in athletics.

Faith’s mother, Sheila Trznadel, is the former executive director of the NubAbility Athletics Foundation, which hosts camps for children with limb differences. NubAbility pairs children with counselors who look like they do to help build their confidence. The foundation hosts several camps a year in different locations. This year, there are two — one in Florida focused on baseball skills and one in Idaho that will feature snow sports.

“Kids come into our camp, and they’ll be hiding their hand or putting it in their pocket, and then realizing ... there’s nothing wrong with me,” Trznadel said.

At camp last summer, Faith met Abbey McPherren. “They just clicked,” Trznadel said. “They both did dance, cheer and gymnastics camp together.”

Abbey is a cheerful 11-yearold with dozens of gymnastics medals. She was born with symbrachydactyly. One child out of 32,000 births has this congenital condition, characterized by missing, shorter or conjoined fingers.

“I think people tend to be careful with kids who maybe only have one leg or only have one hand . ... (Abbey) has taught me a lot about bravery and being courageous,” said Abbey’s mother, Melissa McPherren. “There’s no limit you can put on any kid, with any limb difference or any difference.”

JEN OWEN / ENABLING THE FUTURE The e-Nable global community has created several prosthetic hand designs and prototypes.

CONTRIBUTED BY SHEILA TRZNADEL Faith Trznadel’s leg was amputated when she was 10 months old. Faith, now 11, loves dancing and gymnastics, activities she is able to pursue because of her prosthetic, which allows running.