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Orthotics & Prosthetics

"I didn’t want it to beat me": After a mountain bike accident led to an amputation, Step Morgan gets back to his active lifestyle with the help of Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics

When Stephen “Step” Morgan wrecked his bike at the Ridgeland Trails, he knew he was hurt. But he had no idea his life was forever changed.

“At the time of my crash, I was sitting there waiting for help, thinking I was going to have to preach from a stool in a cast that Sunday,” said Morgan, who is director of admissions at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson and preaches regularly at area Presbyterian churches. “I had no idea that my life was in danger.”

‘They’re family to us’: As Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics opens its eighth clinic in Biloxi, longtime patient happy to see them set up shop closer to his home

For over four years, Robert Schafhirt of Gulfport has been driving to Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetic’s Hattiesburg clinic for his prosthetic needs.

“We make a day trip of it,” said his wife, Sharon. “Your health is the most important thing, so we would have gone anywhere that’s right for him. And we know we’re with the right people.”

‘Such a hard worker’: After losing his leg in an on-the-job accident, J. Carmen Arevalo of Pearl applies his work ethic to learn to walk with a prosthesis at MRC

“You do what you have to do.”

That’s the attitude J. Carmen Arevalo took when he was told his leg needed to be amputated after it was crushed in an on-the-job accident.

And it’s the mantra he adhered to as he learned to walk again with an above-the-knee prosthesis from Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics in Flowood. And one he repeated as he continued to amaze his caregivers at Methodist Outpatient Therapy.

“I’ve seen very few people at any age with his type of injury do what he can do,” said his physical therapist Karen Klein.

Ingenuity in action: Methodist O&P in Flowood answers call to create face shields during COVID-19 crisis

Most days, the staff at Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics in Flowood focuses on building prosthetic limbs and orthopedic braces.

Now, they’re also creating personal protective gear for workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis.

It all started when Mark Adams, the CEO of Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson, saw a YouTube video about a New York City hospital using 3-D printing to fashion desperately needed face shields.

Realized potential: Despite setbacks and two amputations, Hank Graham achieves his goal of becoming an active prosthetic user

Since he lost his legs in an auto accident, Hank Graham’s life has been full of ups and downs.  He has been in and out of physical rehab facilities, had multiple surgeries, experienced some setbacks, even weathered personal tragedy.  Still, his belief he would walk again rarely wavered.

And with the staff at Methodist Rehabilitation Center, he found a team of specialists who believed in him, too.

Faster and better: Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics offers free screenings for Bioness L300 Go, an advanced neuroprosthetic device for controlling foot drop

It’s been over seven years since Stevelyn Robinson was paralyzed in a school bus crash, and he hasn’t stopped fighting. He continues to progress through regular physical therapy at Methodist Outpatient Therapy in Ridgeland.

With the help of a walker, the Winona native walked across the stage at his 2016 graduation from Holmes Community College. Now a student at the University of Mississippi, he is working hard so he can do the same again.

Starkville clinic to mark seventh Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics location

For Billy Joe Robinson, making the drive from his Starkville home to Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics in Flowood has been worth it.

“I’ve always gone there, even though there were places closer to home, because they’ve been real good to me,” he said. “They’ve always helped me out in any way they could.”

Now, thanks to Methodist O&P’s dedication to bringing comprehensive services and care to patients across the state, that drive is about to get a lot shorter. The provider is set to open its seventh clinic in Starkville in early February.

Now I can ... stay active

After an ATV accident led to an above-the-knee amputation of his left leg at age 17, Chandler Norman was determined to walk again.

“I had to go through a lot of healing, but I knew I would do whatever I had to do to walk again with a prosthetic leg,” he said.

And he did just that with the help of physical therapy at Methodist Outpatient Therapy and the expertise of Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics, both located at Methodist Rehabilitation Center’s Flowood campus.

Now I can ... hike with my hounds

In 2015, Nancy Smith had to undergo a complete hip disarticulation to save her life. It’s an amputation of the entire leg through the hip joint, one of the rarest.

When she came to Methodist Rehabilitation Center for rehab after the surgery, she was surprised to find there was hope for her to walk again.

Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics prosthetist Taylor Hankins had helped build prostheses for two patients with the same amputation. Most prosthetists may never see one in their entire career, as they account for less than 1 percent of all amputations.

Now I can ... get back on board

After losing his right foot in an on-the-job accident, Brandon Vickers of Sturgis thought his summer pastime of wake boarding might be left high and dry.

Not so, thanks to a special waterproof prosthesis he wears that was customized by Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics.

The Flowood clinic has the expertise, tools and technology to build whatever patients may need. So staff clinicians ask patients about which hobbies and interests they would like to get back to doing.

Now Brandon’s back on the water where he belongs, doing what he loves.

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