Bentley’s First Steps Made Possible Through Teamwork After Hurricane Helene

Thanks to the seamless teamwork between Shriners Children’s locations across the country, Bentley received his first prosthesis just in time for his birthday, allowing him to take his first steps and avoid long-term physical challenges.

Though Tampa, Florida, is hundreds of miles from Pennsylvania, the impact of Hurricane Helene was felt all the way to Shriners Children's Erie. The Category 4 storm forced a temporary shutdown of the main Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services (POPS) central fabrication facility in Tampa, creating challenges for families like Bentley’s who rely on their services in Erie.

Last October, Bentley was set to receive his first prosthetic leg, which his parents hoped would arrive in time for his birthday. However, with the hurricane closing the central fabrication facility, the Erie POPS team was uncertain they could meet the timeline.

In response to the closure of the Tampa facility, Shriners Children’s Erie POPS clinicians Alex Betancourt, MS, MBA, CPO, and Hannah Clark, MS, CPO, quickly searched for a solution to ensure Bentley’s parents’ hopes were fulfilled. Betancourt, though in Ecuador at the time, coordinated with the East Coast POPS teams, reached out to his network of POPS prosthetists at other locations along the East Coast and connected with Brock McConkey, CPO, at Shriners Children’s New England.

McConkey volunteered to take on this special project to ensure Bentley’s prosthetic leg would be completed on time. “The nationwide Shriners Children’s POPS team is the largest and most experienced group of pediatric orthotists and prosthetists in the country,” said Betancourt. 

This collaboration showcases the expertise and dedication of the international healthcare system’s POPS team, ensuring Bentley’s needs were met seamlessly despite the obstacles.

Bentley’s prosthetic leg was shipped to Springfield, Massachusetts, where McConkey took personal responsibility for the fabrication. He worked diligently to ensure that Bentley’s prosthesis was completed and returned to Erie in record time.

“In my 21 years at Shriners Children’s, there is nothing more rewarding than fitting a patient’s first prosthesis,” said McConkey. “The fact that it was Bentley’s birthday made the project even more special. Fitting a first prosthesis is an important milestone for both the child and their family. I am grateful to have played a role in making his day memorable.”

At Bentley’s next appointment, he received his prosthesis a day before his birthday. This timely delivery was crucial, not only for his parents, who were eager to see Bentley walk before his birthday, but also for Bentley’s development. As Clark said, “Receiving a prosthetic leg early helps children avoid long-term physical challenges and facilitates easier adaptation, unlike older children who may struggle to wear their prosthesis.”

During his appointment, Bentley met therapy dog Tucker, who provided entertainment while Clark explained the prosthesis care and wear instructions to his parents. As Bentley donned his new leg and played with Tucker, he took his very first steps, using his hands to guide himself along Tucker’s back, all while wearing his first pair of shoes. For clinicians like Clark, moments like these serve as inspiration. “By providing tools that help patients and families achieve their goals, I get to witness the joy unfold every day and watch the remarkable progress they make,” he said.

Bentley’s journey to receiving his first prosthetic leg highlights the exceptional collaboration and commitment of the Shriners Children’s team. Despite the unexpected disruption caused by mother nature, the POPS teams in Erie and New England worked closely together to ensure Bentley could celebrate his first birthday with his prosthesis and take his first steps.

Surrounded by his loving family, his new prosthesis and his new furry friend Tucker, Bentley’s story reflects the compassion and determination that make moments like these possible, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his life.