Guest guest Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 , The following is part of an essay of sorts I had started on. You are welcome to use any, all, or none of it as you tackle this project of yours. shaw *********** Dr. Ignacio V. Ponseti came to the United States from Spain to complete his medical training in 1941. Through hands on treatment and research he discovered, then refined, his non-surgical approach of correcting clubfeet by 1948. For the past fifty-seven years he has continued to strive for perfection in his treatment that is now known as The Ponseti Method. For years his method has been one of the world's best kept secrets as the medical community continued to ignore his success despite several long term studies proving the effectiveness of his method (including one 40 year follow up study of patients treated with his method). At the age of 70 years old, the University of Iowa, where he practiced, forced Dr. Ponseti to retire. Two years later, he convinced the University to take him back, where he continued to perform his miracle on otherwise crippled babies. When he was 84, he was once again heading in to retirement - then the internet happened. Word spread like wild fire. Families traveled across the USA and around the world seeking out his method of treatment. Since then the popularity of his method has grown until an entire clubfoot clinic has been named appropriately after the man who has given his life to giving children happy feet. It wasn't until December 1999 that a few parents started the nosurgery4clubfoot internet group at Yahoo! - and suddenly parents world wide had a choice. The group has grown and thousands of babies have avoided the pain and perils of traditional surgical treatments. Word continues to spread about this astonishing, dedicated man and his incredible journey to correct this potentially crippling, life altering condition, but time is ticking. Dr. Ponseti will celebrate his 91st birthday in June of this year (2005). He continues to serve parents and babies in his clinic at the University of Iowa; he continues to teach any doctor willing to learn, and finally, albeit slowly, the list of qualified Ponseti Method physicians is growing annually. There are two forms of clubfeet. The first is relatively minor and known as Positional Clubfoot often due to a lack of amniotic fluid in the uterus cramping the baby's development. The second is Congenital Clubfeet, it is considered idiopathic, meaning doctors are not entire sure what causes it , but suspect it caused by an unknown genetic factor coming in to play affecting the baby at approximately 20 weeks post conception. There also appears to be a slight inheritance factor involved as well, although not always. Because clubfoot is not present in the early weeks of development when most ultrasounds are performed, the condition is often not discovered until the child's birth. The Ponseti Method of Clubfoot correction is superior to the traditional method of treatment in that the baby's bones are gently persuaded to move in to their natural position through a process of systematic serial castings. No surgeries take place. No bones are cut, broken, or pinned back together. No muscles or tendons are stripped. No joints are penetrated. The method is completely non-intrusive. Done correctly the foot is allowed to continue its natural progression in to adulthood allowing these child to live normal, active lives. With correction performed properly by a qualified physician and with the parent's diligent and dedicated use of the DBB (Dennis Brown Bar/Splint), babies treated by the Ponseti Method enjoy a 95% success rate, i.e., they will never need a surgical attempt at correction. For more information about the clubfoot deformity, please contact the University of Iowa Clubfoot Clinic at (319)356-3469 or visit http://www.vh.org/pediatric/patient/orthopaedics/clubfeet/index.html for medical reports, articles, FAQ's, testimonials and photos. Parents or family members of a clubfooted baby are urged to join the nosurgery4clubfoot group at Yahoo! groups, nosurgery4clubfoot for advice and support. Ponseti Method Non-surgical Clubfoot Correction Links and Contact Information § Dr. Ponseti's University of Iowa (Virtual Hospital) Web Site: " To Parents of Children Born With Clubfeet " Phone: (319)356-3469 Web Address: http://www.vh.org/Patients/IHB/Ortho/Peds/Clubfeet/Clubfeet.html § Find a Ponseti Certified Doctor: http://www.vh.org/pediatric/patient/orthopaedics/clubfeet/physicians.html Phone: (319)356-3469 § Angel Flight - A National Charitable Patient Air Travel System http://www.angel-flight.org/ 1- § Mc House at the University of Iowa Phone: Web address: http://www.uihealthcare.com/PatientsVisitors/Mc/index.html § Makers of the Ponseti Method Dennis Brown Bar (DBB) Splinting Systems: Designs jmitchell@... M. J. Markell Shoe Co. Markellshoe.com Tel: § Find a clubfoot family that has utilized the Ponseti Method near you http://ponsetikids.freeservers.com/ § Testimonials and photos of from Ponseti Method Families: http://www.vh.org/pediatric/patient/orthopaedics/clubfeet/patientlist.html Re: Ponseti's Wish Lots of good ideas out here. I'm trying to write up some of the ideas into something organized -- what are everyone's thoughts on how this should be presented? I mean, I don't just want to say we want to nominate him and here's what the wish is. I think we need to give a little background on him and the method but I'm not sure how much is too much, kwim? I started writing a paragraph, which has turned into this LONG explanation...how much background information do you all think is necessary? > > > > Did everyone see that I posted Ponseti's wish? I > > > just wanted to > > > leveryone that I had spoken to him and have already > > > posted our > > > conversation. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home > > > page > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jenni- > > Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in DBB > nights only for left clubfoot. > > > > __________________________________________________ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Well what can I do to help you? Just let me know, seriously. s. Thanks ee, This is nice. I will see what I can incorporate although I unfortunately don't know how much time I have to devote to this the rest of the week. Have some deadlines at work and I must actually try to focus on work instead of Yahoo for a while! : ) > > > > > Did everyone see that I posted Ponseti's wish? I > > > > just wanted to > > > > leveryone that I had spoken to him and have already > > > > posted our > > > > conversation. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home > > > > page > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jenni- > > > Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in DBB > > nights only for left clubfoot. > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Well what can I do to help you? Just let me know, seriously. s. Thanks ee, This is nice. I will see what I can incorporate although I unfortunately don't know how much time I have to devote to this the rest of the week. Have some deadlines at work and I must actually try to focus on work instead of Yahoo for a while! : ) > > > > > Did everyone see that I posted Ponseti's wish? I > > > > just wanted to > > > > leveryone that I had spoken to him and have already > > > > posted our > > > > conversation. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home > > > > page > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jenni- > > > Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in DBB > > nights only for left clubfoot. > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 I would love to . s. Re: : Ponseti's Wish - Well, ee, I will give you what I have so far, kind of jumbled and way too long, but touches on most of the points I wanted to make. If you want to see what you can do with it so I can stop obsessing and do some work, that would be great! thanks! ************** What in this world is more powerful than the love of a parent for their child? When a parent finds out that their child has been born with a birth defect it can be devastating. However, there is one birth defect that affects 1 in 1000 children in the US and even more worldwide, that is completely correctable; it's known as clubfoot. Many people don't even really know what clubfoot is until they find out that their child has it. Clubfoot is a condition in which the infant is born with one or both feet twisted inward and pointed down. Left untreated, clubfoot is severely disabling as a child will learn to walk on the sides or even the tops of their feet. I am writing to nominate Dr. Ignatio Ponseti to be granted a wish on your program. For over 50 years Dr. Ponseti, Professor Emeritus of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Iowa College of Medicine has been telling his colleagues that surgery is not the proper method for correcting clubfoot in infants. Surgery leaves the foot stiff and weak, and by time most patients reach their 20's and 30's they suffer from severe arthritis and stiffness. Ponseti advocates using a non-surgical method he perfected in the late 1940's. The Ponseti Method for clubfoot treatment is a non-surgical procedure that begins with the orthopaedist's understanding of foot anatomy mechanics. The technique involves manual manipulation and straightening of the foot and the application of toe-to-groin plaster casts. These casts are changed weekly after the clinician manipulates the foot to gradually achieve normal muscle and bone alignment. Five or six cast changes are sufficient to correct most clubfeet. This treatment is followed by the baby wearing a brace to maintain the correction. Despite the success of the method, it continues to be a struggle against tradition to raise awareness of it. Only a handful of the orthopaedic surgeons in the US, and fewer abroad, are currently certified in this non-surgical method. Unfortunately, the term " Ponseti method " has become a buzzword or " catch phrase " within the orthopaedic community, and, as such, is sometimes misused. Many doctors claim to be using the method, when, in fact, they are not following the protocol properly. Dr. Ponseti is now 91 years old, having returned to his practice after retirement, to continue to help children born with clubfoot and to train other doctors, both nationally and internationally in the method. There is a growing community of parents who advocate his method and would also like to see him recognized for this lifetime of achievement. We are dedicated to helping him train more doctors and spread the word that clubfoot correction, when done properly, can be done without surgery in 95% of cases - thus giving thousands of children the opportunity to grow up with normal functioning and pain-free feet. Dr. Ponseti has been helping children for so many years - and there are hundreds of parents who would like to take the opportunity to tell him thank you, whether he worked on their children's feet, or trained the doctor who did. Dr. Ponseti's only wish is to be able to contribute more than he already has - he would like a donation to be made to the University of Iowa Foundation: Clubfoot Clinic Fund. This foundation supports research and development for new shoes and braces, it helps pay for shoes and braces for the poor, it supports bringing in doctors to train with Ponseti and the development of clubfoot projects in 3rd world countries. Additionally, we would like to organize a " reunion " of his patients, and patients who his method has helped in order to thank him for his work. > > > > > > Did everyone see that I posted Ponseti's wish? I > > > > > just wanted to > > > > > leveryone that I had spoken to him and have already > > > > > posted our > > > > > conversation. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > > Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home > > > > > page > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > > > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jenni- > > > > Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in DBB > > > nights only for left clubfoot. > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Thanks ee, This is nice. I will see what I can incorporate although I unfortunately don't know how much time I have to devote to this the rest of the week. Have some deadlines at work and I must actually try to focus on work instead of Yahoo for a while! : ) > > > > > Did everyone see that I posted Ponseti's wish? I > > > > just wanted to > > > > leveryone that I had spoken to him and have already > > > > posted our > > > > conversation. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home > > > > page > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jenni- > > > Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in DBB > > nights only for left clubfoot. > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Thanks ee, This is nice. I will see what I can incorporate although I unfortunately don't know how much time I have to devote to this the rest of the week. Have some deadlines at work and I must actually try to focus on work instead of Yahoo for a while! : ) > > > > > Did everyone see that I posted Ponseti's wish? I > > > > just wanted to > > > > leveryone that I had spoken to him and have already > > > > posted our > > > > conversation. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home > > > > page > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jenni- > > > Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in DBB > > nights only for left clubfoot. > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Well, ee, I will give you what I have so far, kind of jumbled and way too long, but touches on most of the points I wanted to make. If you want to see what you can do with it so I can stop obsessing and do some work, that would be great! thanks! ************** What in this world is more powerful than the love of a parent for their child? When a parent finds out that their child has been born with a birth defect it can be devastating. However, there is one birth defect that affects 1 in 1000 children in the US and even more worldwide, that is completely correctable; it's known as clubfoot. Many people don't even really know what clubfoot is until they find out that their child has it. Clubfoot is a condition in which the infant is born with one or both feet twisted inward and pointed down. Left untreated, clubfoot is severely disabling as a child will learn to walk on the sides or even the tops of their feet. I am writing to nominate Dr. Ignatio Ponseti to be granted a wish on your program. For over 50 years Dr. Ponseti, Professor Emeritus of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Iowa College of Medicine has been telling his colleagues that surgery is not the proper method for correcting clubfoot in infants. Surgery leaves the foot stiff and weak, and by time most patients reach their 20's and 30's they suffer from severe arthritis and stiffness. Ponseti advocates using a non-surgical method he perfected in the late 1940's. The Ponseti Method for clubfoot treatment is a non-surgical procedure that begins with the orthopaedist's understanding of foot anatomy mechanics. The technique involves manual manipulation and straightening of the foot and the application of toe-to-groin plaster casts. These casts are changed weekly after the clinician manipulates the foot to gradually achieve normal muscle and bone alignment. Five or six cast changes are sufficient to correct most clubfeet. This treatment is followed by the baby wearing a brace to maintain the correction. Despite the success of the method, it continues to be a struggle against tradition to raise awareness of it. Only a handful of the orthopaedic surgeons in the US, and fewer abroad, are currently certified in this non-surgical method. Unfortunately, the term " Ponseti method " has become a buzzword or " catch phrase " within the orthopaedic community, and, as such, is sometimes misused. Many doctors claim to be using the method, when, in fact, they are not following the protocol properly. Dr. Ponseti is now 91 years old, having returned to his practice after retirement, to continue to help children born with clubfoot and to train other doctors, both nationally and internationally in the method. There is a growing community of parents who advocate his method and would also like to see him recognized for this lifetime of achievement. We are dedicated to helping him train more doctors and spread the word that clubfoot correction, when done properly, can be done without surgery in 95% of cases – thus giving thousands of children the opportunity to grow up with normal functioning and pain-free feet. Dr. Ponseti has been helping children for so many years – and there are hundreds of parents who would like to take the opportunity to tell him thank you, whether he worked on their children's feet, or trained the doctor who did. Dr. Ponseti's only wish is to be able to contribute more than he already has – he would like a donation to be made to the University of Iowa Foundation: Clubfoot Clinic Fund. This foundation supports research and development for new shoes and braces, it helps pay for shoes and braces for the poor, it supports bringing in doctors to train with Ponseti and the development of clubfoot projects in 3rd world countries. Additionally, we would like to organize a " reunion " of his patients, and patients who his method has helped in order to thank him for his work. > > > > > > Did everyone see that I posted Ponseti's wish? I > > > > > just wanted to > > > > > leveryone that I had spoken to him and have already > > > > > posted our > > > > > conversation. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > > Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home > > > > > page > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > > > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jenni- > > > > Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in DBB > > > nights only for left clubfoot. > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Sorry I can't help more immediately. I 'll probably be absent for the next few days. We're weaning Gabe during the 4 day holiday. It's going to be aweful! Remember us in your prayers... this is going to be a huge deal and I'm such a push-over... wrote:Thanks ee, This is nice. I will see what I can incorporate although I unfortunately don't know how much time I have to devote to this the rest of the week. Have some deadlines at work and I must actually try to focus on work instead of Yahoo for a while! : ) > > > > > Did everyone see that I posted Ponseti's wish? I > > > > just wanted to > > > > leveryone that I had spoken to him and have already > > > > posted our > > > > conversation. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home > > > > page > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jenni- > > > Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in DBB > > nights only for left clubfoot. > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Hey Faith, I will be thinking of you. Be strong! If this is what you want to do you are going to have to stick to your guns! > > > > > > Did everyone see that I posted Ponseti's wish? I > > > > > just wanted to > > > > > leveryone that I had spoken to him and have already > > > > > posted our > > > > > conversation. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > > Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home > > > > > page > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > > > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jenni- > > > > Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in DBB > > > nights only for left clubfoot. > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2005 Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 Are pictures included with this? number23 wrote:I would love to . s. Re: : Ponseti's Wish - Well, ee, I will give you what I have so far, kind of jumbled and way too long, but touches on most of the points I wanted to make. If you want to see what you can do with it so I can stop obsessing and do some work, that would be great! thanks! ************** What in this world is more powerful than the love of a parent for their child? When a parent finds out that their child has been born with a birth defect it can be devastating. However, there is one birth defect that affects 1 in 1000 children in the US and even more worldwide, that is completely correctable; it's known as clubfoot. Many people don't even really know what clubfoot is until they find out that their child has it. Clubfoot is a condition in which the infant is born with one or both feet twisted inward and pointed down. Left untreated, clubfoot is severely disabling as a child will learn to walk on the sides or even the tops of their feet. I am writing to nominate Dr. Ignatio Ponseti to be granted a wish on your program. For over 50 years Dr. Ponseti, Professor Emeritus of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Iowa College of Medicine has been telling his colleagues that surgery is not the proper method for correcting clubfoot in infants. Surgery leaves the foot stiff and weak, and by time most patients reach their 20's and 30's they suffer from severe arthritis and stiffness. Ponseti advocates using a non-surgical method he perfected in the late 1940's. The Ponseti Method for clubfoot treatment is a non-surgical procedure that begins with the orthopaedist's understanding of foot anatomy mechanics. The technique involves manual manipulation and straightening of the foot and the application of toe-to-groin plaster casts. These casts are changed weekly after the clinician manipulates the foot to gradually achieve normal muscle and bone alignment. Five or six cast changes are sufficient to correct most clubfeet. This treatment is followed by the baby wearing a brace to maintain the correction. Despite the success of the method, it continues to be a struggle against tradition to raise awareness of it. Only a handful of the orthopaedic surgeons in the US, and fewer abroad, are currently certified in this non-surgical method. Unfortunately, the term " Ponseti method " has become a buzzword or " catch phrase " within the orthopaedic community, and, as such, is sometimes misused. Many doctors claim to be using the method, when, in fact, they are not following the protocol properly. Dr. Ponseti is now 91 years old, having returned to his practice after retirement, to continue to help children born with clubfoot and to train other doctors, both nationally and internationally in the method. There is a growing community of parents who advocate his method and would also like to see him recognized for this lifetime of achievement. We are dedicated to helping him train more doctors and spread the word that clubfoot correction, when done properly, can be done without surgery in 95% of cases - thus giving thousands of children the opportunity to grow up with normal functioning and pain-free feet. Dr. Ponseti has been helping children for so many years - and there are hundreds of parents who would like to take the opportunity to tell him thank you, whether he worked on their children's feet, or trained the doctor who did. Dr. Ponseti's only wish is to be able to contribute more than he already has - he would like a donation to be made to the University of Iowa Foundation: Clubfoot Clinic Fund. This foundation supports research and development for new shoes and braces, it helps pay for shoes and braces for the poor, it supports bringing in doctors to train with Ponseti and the development of clubfoot projects in 3rd world countries. Additionally, we would like to organize a " reunion " of his patients, and patients who his method has helped in order to thank him for his work. > > > > > > Did everyone see that I posted Ponseti's wish? I > > > > > just wanted to > > > > > leveryone that I had spoken to him and have already > > > > > posted our > > > > > conversation. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > > Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home > > > > > page > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > > > > removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jenni- > > > > Mom to (10/31/01) and Kelsey (11/7/03)happy girl in DBB > > > nights only for left clubfoot. > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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