31st January 2017
When Peter Schmelter’s kneecap was shattered into five pieces in an accident 55 years ago, the only option was to stick them back together. In 1962, total knee replacements - or TKRs - were still several years away and so Peter, ...
6th December 2016
At barely 18, Jerdain had such intense back pain that he couldn’t even touch his toes. Jerdain is one of the estimated 90,000 people – most of them children and teenagers – who have scoliosis in Jamaica. Scoliosis is a condition that creates ...
29th November 2016
Ironman triathlete and Paralympian Sarah Reinertsen has tried out a lot of legs in her lifetime. Having used everything from a hollow wooden one with two hinges when she had her leg amputated above the knee at age seven, to ...
10th November 2016
Giving an amputee the opportunity to walk again is rewarding work. Seeing that person running towards you on the prosthetic leg you fitted, to give you a great big hug, is even better. That’s why Roger Gonzalez does what ...
20th October 2016
Sports injuries, car accidents and disease – there are lots of reasons why bones can break. Now researchers are dreaming up new ways to heal and protect people of all ages When a 13-year-old child limped into the offices of Professor ...
3rd October 2016
Millie Kenner, my mother, was living in her own apartment and about to celebrate her 80th birthday when she slipped on the bathroom floor and fractured her spine. Unable to reach a phone, she remained there until a neighbor came ...
22nd September 2016
Earlier this month we watched in awe as Paralympians gathered in Rio to show the world what strength, determination and dedication look like in their purest form. We celebrated disability by focusing on ability. In particular, Great Britain’s Paralympics ...
13th September 2016
As a writer, I have my selection of favourite words in the English language. Words like orang-utan, spiralizer, and cocoon. However, to me, the best word in the English language is: warrior. While for some of you this word might ...
25th August 2016
After losing a leg in 1997, this surfer’s viral video captured the joy of getting back on the board Mike Coots was body boarding in 1997 when his life took a dramatic twist. As he moved towards a rolling wave, he ...
9th August 2016
Every young ballet student’s dream is a pair of toe shoes, the reward for years of training. When Gabi Shull won hers at age 14 the achievement inspired people worldwide – because one of Gabi’s satin slippers is on a ...