Josh

Congenital Femoral Deficiency, Fibular Hemimelia, Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency New York Dr. Standard
Josh has had multiple reconstructive and lengthening procedures over the years to address congenital femoral deficiency and fibular hemimelia. He is now in college studying civil engineering and enjoys snowboarding and playing volleyball and lacrosse.

Josh’s parents first brought him to the ICLL when he was four months old, and his local doctors were pressuring them to amputate his shorter leg. His mom writes, “My advice to anyone who is considering the International Limb Lengthening Center at Sinai Hospital is ‘DO IT.’ My husband and I decided to take the chance—the only chance that would save Josh’s leg. We drove six and a half hours to Baltimore in the middle of a snowy November. In the elevator, we were met by a young gentleman who started making small talk about the baby…. He said, ‘Does your son have four toes?’ I said ‘yes.’ He said, ‘Does your son have a smaller foot on one side?’ I said ‘yes.’ He turned, and said, ‘Well, you are in the right place. I do too, and I just came off the football field.’ And this is where our life changed.”

“The staff, physicians, nurses, and therapists at the ICLL are the most compassionate and caring individuals that someone could ever hope for. The folks at the ICLL take a deficit and turn it into a benefit. I would never wish anyone to be born with a congenital deficit, but it happens. For our family, it has been a journey, and one that in hindsight, has made us super close. Josh may have had to go through all of the procedures, the physical therapy, and the pain, but we did as well. And that has made us who we are.”

“The staff at the ICLL, at the Hackerman-Patz House, in Sinai Hospital, itself, are like an extension of our family. They remember Josh; they remember our family; and they truly care. Through this process, we have met so many other families, and although their stories may not be identical to ours, they are similar in that they came to Baltimore for a reason, and that reason was: Hope. Hope that whatever deficit they or their child have, it could be made better by the wonderful folks that work there.”

“Through the process of correcting his congenital defect, he has learned patience, compassion, and resilience. And so have others around him. We planned surgeries around breaks and sports, and we just lived our lives. Josh attended daycare, school, gym, and did everything a normal kid would do. In between lengthening procedures, Josh played in multiple sports throughout elementary, middle and high school. Sports like lacrosse, volleyball, basketball, floor hockey, baseball and snowboarding– all of which you need to be able to run, jump, fall, and get yourself back up. Yes, Josh’s leg was different, but that never slowed him down. He was never treated differently by friends. He can run, jump, dunk, dive, and shred with the best of them. All you need is a little faith and a hero physician.”