Guest guest Posted July 26, 2005 Report Share Posted July 26, 2005 Publication Name: THE GAZETTE Publication Date: 12/13/2000 Headline: UI doctor concentrates on fixing infants' feet Byline: Section: B Page: 3 UI doctor concentrates on fixing infants' feet IOWA CITY GAZETTE IOWA CITY (AP) - Hundreds of parents from around the world are bringing their babies to University Hospitals because of Internet postings about an 86-year-old doctor. The parents have read about how Ignacio Ponseti uses his hands and old-fashioned plaster casts to fix infants' twisted feet. The flow of babies increases each time a parent gushes online about Ponseti's gentle treatment of clubfoot deformities. " That's what's bringing together the oldest of doctors with the youngest of patients, " said Audilet, who flew from North Carolina four times this fall to have Ponseti work on her 4-month-old daughter, Claire. Claire Audilet was born with clubfoot, which about one in 800 American babies develops while in the womb. Her left foot was curled in, pointing at her right leg.The girl's mother called Ponseti, who said he would help the little girl. " I'm 86, but I feel well, " Ponseti said. " This is a very satisfying way to practice. The parents are so elated. " All this is happening 16 years after Ponseti was told he was too old to work. He retired at age 70 because a university rule said he had to. His wife, Helena Percas Ponseti, remembers how frustrated he became. He felt unneeded, and he complained that surgeons were ignoring his ideas in favor of pointless operations. The retirement rule was lifted two years later. He returned to work, focusing on clubfoot treatment. Twelve years passed, and Ponseti appeared to be headed back into retirement at age 84. He stopped by the office a couple of times a week, treating a few babies from Iowa and nearby states. Then the hospital's Web site posted information about his method. Parents frantically researching their newborns' deformities latched onto the hopeful message, then passed it around on other sites. The phone started ringing. Ponseti practices nearly full time now and has treated hundreds of babies in the past two years. " He just works fiendishly, " said Stuart Weinstein, a UI pediatric surgeon. " I don't foresee him ever letting up. " For information on Ponseti's methods for treating children who have clubfeet, go to http://www.vh.org/Patients/IHB/Ortho/Peds/Clubfeet/Clubfeet.html on the World Wide Web. Shelle Havelick Gazette Circulation ext 8820 shelle.havelick@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2005 Report Share Posted July 26, 2005 Publication Name: THE GAZETTE Publication Date: 12/13/2000 Headline: UI doctor concentrates on fixing infants' feet Byline: Section: B Page: 3 UI doctor concentrates on fixing infants' feet IOWA CITY GAZETTE IOWA CITY (AP) - Hundreds of parents from around the world are bringing their babies to University Hospitals because of Internet postings about an 86-year-old doctor. The parents have read about how Ignacio Ponseti uses his hands and old-fashioned plaster casts to fix infants' twisted feet. The flow of babies increases each time a parent gushes online about Ponseti's gentle treatment of clubfoot deformities. " That's what's bringing together the oldest of doctors with the youngest of patients, " said Audilet, who flew from North Carolina four times this fall to have Ponseti work on her 4-month-old daughter, Claire. Claire Audilet was born with clubfoot, which about one in 800 American babies develops while in the womb. Her left foot was curled in, pointing at her right leg.The girl's mother called Ponseti, who said he would help the little girl. " I'm 86, but I feel well, " Ponseti said. " This is a very satisfying way to practice. The parents are so elated. " All this is happening 16 years after Ponseti was told he was too old to work. He retired at age 70 because a university rule said he had to. His wife, Helena Percas Ponseti, remembers how frustrated he became. He felt unneeded, and he complained that surgeons were ignoring his ideas in favor of pointless operations. The retirement rule was lifted two years later. He returned to work, focusing on clubfoot treatment. Twelve years passed, and Ponseti appeared to be headed back into retirement at age 84. He stopped by the office a couple of times a week, treating a few babies from Iowa and nearby states. Then the hospital's Web site posted information about his method. Parents frantically researching their newborns' deformities latched onto the hopeful message, then passed it around on other sites. The phone started ringing. Ponseti practices nearly full time now and has treated hundreds of babies in the past two years. " He just works fiendishly, " said Stuart Weinstein, a UI pediatric surgeon. " I don't foresee him ever letting up. " For information on Ponseti's methods for treating children who have clubfeet, go to http://www.vh.org/Patients/IHB/Ortho/Peds/Clubfeet/Clubfeet.html on the World Wide Web. Shelle Havelick Gazette Circulation ext 8820 shelle.havelick@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2005 Report Share Posted July 27, 2005 Thanks for the great articles... I have not meet Dr. Ponsetti himself , he is a man with a mission and a love for what he knows.... I am sure I can speak for all of us and say that we are all so very thankful for what he has dedicated his life to!!! bearalways03 wrote:Hi everyone I've located some articles, I thought you might enjoy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2005 Report Share Posted July 27, 2005 Thanks for the great articles... I have not meet Dr. Ponsetti himself , he is a man with a mission and a love for what he knows.... I am sure I can speak for all of us and say that we are all so very thankful for what he has dedicated his life to!!! bearalways03 wrote:Hi everyone I've located some articles, I thought you might enjoy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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