Meet Our Save-A-Limb Riders

Editor's Note: We've asked two former LifeBridge Health orthopedic patients to do the Save-A-Limb ride in October. As they train, they'll be sharing their experiences here on the LifeBridge Health blog. Today, meet rider Justin Newman!

When I walked down the aisle at the Maryland Zoo in November 2008, little did I know it would result in this blog post two years later, discussing recovery from knee surgery.

Following a delightful wedding (complete with Tux and Tails), my wife and I flew to Barcelona and boarded Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas to cruise across the North Atlantic back home. As the boat progressed across the ocean, my bride and I decided it would be a wonderful idea to avail ourselves of the on-board ice skating rink.

Ice skating while on a boat sailing across rough waters (30 and 40 foot waves were common) admittedly seems a bit foolish in hindsight, but at the time, perhaps it was the "newlywed glow" surrounding my head. Only a few minutes into skating, I fell, necessitating a visit to the ship's crude medical facilities and crutches for the remainder of the trip.

Upon our return to Baltimore, I sought out one of Baltimore's top orthopedic surgeons, Jon Koman. Koman, a sports medicine doctor who has specifically published articles on arthroscopic meniscal repair, seemed the right doctor to repair my left meniscus.

After the surgery and recovery in January 2009, Dr. Koman encouraged me to find a low impact physical activity to continue my recovery. While I biked to work daily in 2003 and 2004, I've hardly been on a bike since moving to Baltimore ... and promptly having my bicycle stolen. So, my wife and I found two bicycles on Craig's List for the sum total of $100, and we started doing a little riding.

Of course, without a goal, life intervenes and I haven't ridden nearly as much as I should. When given the opportunity to work with the trainers at LifeBridge Health & Fitness, I jumped at the opportunity to train for the sixty-mile Save-a-Limb Metric Century ride this fall.

When I'm not getting ready for Save-a-Limb, I'm the Chief Operating Officer of Capalon Communications, a Baltimore-based website development, hosting, and telecommunications firm, a consultant for Katz Associates, and the founder of Walter Rescue, an animal rescue group providing rescuers with access to emergency medical care for rescued dogs and cats. If I'm not on a bicycle, I'm likely to be accompanied by Joey, a 5 1/2 month-old Guide Dog Foundation service dog-in-training, as well as my lovely wife, whom I don't blame for suggesting ice skating in the North Atlantic.
-Justin Newman

Meet Our Save-A-Limb Riders!

Editor's Note: We've asked two former LifeBridge Health orthopedic patients to do the Save-A-Limb bike ride in October. As they train, they'll be sharing their experiences here on the LifeBridge Health blog. Today, meet rider Randy Reisfeld!

A 30- or 60-mile bike ride ... What, am I crazy? Well, as a divorced mom with three teenagers, I know crazy is in my vocabulary!

Hi. My name is Randy, and I am going to tell you a bit about myself, and why I want to train for the Save-A-Limb bike ride.

First, as an occupational therapist here at Sinai, I know the benefits of such a great cause as this. Though I spend most of my work time in the Jennifer Gandel Kachura Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, I know many of the therapists who work with pediatric and adult clients that have had orthopedic surgeries or therapy. Independence in daily living skills and optimizing functional skills are goals of occupational therapy. Even though I am working with tiny babies, I am helping them achieve the highest level of function possible so that they can continue to develop those skills needed for independence down the road. The Rubin Institute of Advanced Orthopedics provides a resource to clients that have disruption in their functional skills, and this event will raise money for those that are unable to access the care.

Secondly, on a more personal note, I have experienced the disruption in my own functional skills quite a few times over the past three years. In February 2008, I underwent a 3-level lumbar fusion here at Sinai. I spent six days in the hospital, and three months at home, recuperating.

One month after finally getting back to work full time, I had a crazy fall, and fractured my right arm, again requiring surgery, and rehabilitation. More recently, I have been dealing with daily migraine headaches.

All of these things impacted my ability to function, whether short or long-term. I turned 50 this year, and I want to be healthy, active and fit for my next 50 years. I know this can happen, and my goal is to complete the 30-mile bike ride to prove to myself, and to others that age is just a number.

I will be sharing my training experiences here, and maybe motivate others to attempt to do something that might seem out of your reach or comfort zone. It's all for a great cause!
-Randy Reisfeld

My Experience in Haiti

by Heather Kline, P.A. - C, MMS
Sinai Hospital Department of Orthopedic Surgery

After I heard about the Haiti earthquake on January 12, I felt compelled to do whatever I could to help people there. I knew going in what needed to be done, but never realized the full impact of disaster relief, or how it would affect me.

I went down to Haiti with a group called Project Medishare. It is sponsored by the University of Miami and has done medical missions to Haiti since 1994.

We arrived on midnight, February 3. We stepped onto the tarmac and I was immediately met with U.S. Army soldiers with M-16s. At this point I'm thinking "what did I just get myself into?"

The airport was nothing but a broken-down abandoned building in the middle of the airfield. We quickly realized that we had to unload the plane of all the bags because we were the only people.

Once we arrived at the camp, it was mainly composed of four large tents. There was an adult tent, a pediatric tent with operating room (pictured at right), a sleeping tent for staff, and a big supply tent. A pediatric patient is pictured above left.

Overall, the camp was well equipped with supplies and equipment. We had several X-ray machines, central sterile, pharmacy, outpatient wound clinic, a functioning operating room, showers and porta-potties. The main problem we found was lack of organization, which was mainly due to the lack of staff.

While in Haiti, I worked most of the time in the operating room, scrubbing into cases and running the operating room board. I was fortunate enough to work with some of the best people I have ever met. We had a staff of about 75 people from all areas of the country; and it was the way health care should be, with no divisions and everyone working together to do what was right for the patient. It was health care in its truest form. We were able to complete many surgeries, including amputations, fracture care, skin grafting, debridement of wounds, external fixation and emergent injuries.

One of the best experiences of my trip came when they brought a young man into our ICU/OR. He had survived for three weeks under the rubble. He was walking to the market when the quake hit and was able to live by eating the groceries that he was carrying. The last several days he was under the rubble, barely alive, he said a “woman in a white gown brought him water and food” until they were able to dig him out. Despite his mental anguish, he was so appreciative and offered to pray for us. He truly is a remarkable man. I was also able to make a cot every night for his mother and told her she would never have to wake up without her son again.

I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to help the Haitian community. I plan to go back during the summer, with several of the same staff. It is difficult to comprehend how truly fortunate we are until we visit Third World countries. On the left is a picture of people waiting in a long line to get rice following the earthquake.

We are lucky to born into one of the greatest countries in the world. We should be grateful and give to those who are less fortunate. Now is the time to get involved.