Ross

Congenital Femoral Deficiency, Fibular Hemimelia Maryland Dr. Standard
Ross’s mom, Andi, shares, “We found out in utero that Ross was missing his fibula. We had no idea what that really meant or what that would mean for his quality of life. A good friend recommended seeing RIAO [the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics] and Dr. Herzenberg, whom we saw when I was 30 weeks pregnant. The internet is a scary place for expecting parents of a child with an unusual condition.”

She continues, “We immediately realized we had found the right place for treatment. The first doctor we had met with while I was pregnant had seen this condition seven times in his career. After meeting Doctors Herzenberg and Standard, we felt very lucky that they were located in Baltimore, just a 45-minute drive away from our house. Ross is a very happy, active 2-year-old, and his condition, being managed by the Rubin Institute, has not slowed him down.”

She adds, “We just found out that as an added benefit of the SUPERankle [surgery procedure] that was performed last year, Ross’s tibia has almost caught up with the left side, to the point where surgery will be postponed for at least 5 years. This was a total surprise to all of us. He has responded so well to treatment and we could not be happier with the care he has received at The Rubin Institute.”

When asked about Ross’s care providers, she shares, “Ross and Dr. Standard just seem to understand each other. Ross cooperates and responds so well to Dr. Standard, Allison [Lynn, Physician Assistant] and Chris [Fisher, Physician Assistant]. Dr. Standard always answers all of our questions and makes sure we are completely comfortable with every step of treatment. He also gave us his cell phone number if we ever needed to reach him. Marilyn [Richardson, Pediatric Liaison] is always around to give support.”

When asked what she would share with another parent considering having their child treated at the International Center for Limb Lengthening, she responds, “The waits can be long at times, but the quality of care and expertise is definitely worth it. It is a very welcoming and caring community. The children’s wing in the hospital is fantastic.”