Love goes into Russian teen’s prosthetic legs

With his new legs, he stands about 5 feet 10 inches — but he’s walking taller than that.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

CANFIELD — Love makes the world go around, and made it possible for Vlad Makarov to walk again.

Love took the form of action to get the 17-year-old a visa to travel from his home at the Renewal Orphanage in Dmitrov, Russia, to the United States to be fitted for prosthetic legs.

Love came from emotional support from Vlad’s surrogate family in the United States. The Rev. Kathryn Adams, who has coordinated 15 trips to Russian orphanages, and her husband, the Rev. Russ Adams, pastor of Western Reserve United Methodist Church in Canfield, are hosting Vlad at their home in Canfield.

The Rev. Mrs. Adams met Vlad in 2006, and her mission team was moved to help him. The Rev. Mr. Adams’ church held a holiday party in December for the teen.

Love also came in the form of financial support to fund his trip to America and donation of therapy services and prosthetic devices.

Those who have contributed to help Vlad surely are following the directive in Matthew 22:39, “ ... Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Vlad has therapy three days a week, each session about 90 minutes, at NovaCare rehabilitation, 550 S. Canfield-Niles Road, Austintown. There, Daniel Pagan, physical therapist and center manager, oversees rehabilitation.

“We work with each person to set up a program tailored to individual needs,” Pagan said. “Vlad came in strong and very determined,” he said, noting that has helped in the overall effort.

The exercises designed for Vlad are building up his strength and endurance and developing his balance and stability, Pagan explained. “Balance comes from knees and hips. You need strength to walk in a straight line.”

In one exercise, Vlad walks forward and backward between parallel bars. He wears a band around his waist that’s attached by a line to a pulley system providing resistance of 10 pounds. “The push and pull helps develop upper extremity strength,” Pagan said.

Pagan, a therapist for eight years, also noted that he or Stan Socha, a physical therapy assistant, are always with Vlad as a safety measure. Assisting is David Denton, a Youngstown State University physical therapy student.

In another exercise, Vlad pitches a medicine ball, ranging from 4 to 9 pounds, against a small trampoline and gets into a rhythm of tossing and catching. “This helps improve balance,” Pagan said, noting Vlad must make minor movement adjustments to catch the ball. Balancing on what’s called a wobble board is another method designed to improve his balance.

There are ups and downs in the therapy process. “His limbs were soft and needed to be toughened up. That soft tissue had to get harder,” Pagan said. “We’ve been pretty aggressive with his therapy.”

Vlad has experienced some pain, but nothing has kept him down.

Nelya Stefanides, a member of Boardman United Methodist Church, learned about Vlad at a program presented by Mrs. Adams. She is serving as his interpreter.

“Just being able to walk ... that’s the best,” Vlad said through Stefanides. “I feel stronger after the exercises.”

Vlad was fitted for his prosthetic legs by Craig Svader of Advanced Anatomical Design, licensed prosthetic, orthotic and pedorthic professionals, with offices in Canfield and Girard. Svader said Vlad now has carbon fiber feet and aluminum and titanium endoskeleton components. “It’s ultra-light weight with maximum strength. I use it for young people who are sports-oriented,” he said.

Svader explained that Vlad’s situation was a challenge for him. “His residual limbs were just three inches below the knee,” Svader explained. “That’s a difficult fit and not a lot of tissue to work with.”

Svader created what he termed a “hybrid design” for Vlad, and it worked out well. The fit and design must support Vlad’s body weight. “It had to be a snug fit and be comfortable.”

“Vlad certainly was a challenge,” Svader said. “I wanted him to be able to walk with no assistance ... and he is.”

Svader said he was impressed by Vlad’s interest and curiosity about the prosthetics. “He’s interested in the biomechanics,” Svader said, noting he has told Vlad to consider a career in this field.

Svader estimated the cost of each prosthetic leg and foot at $10,000. He said Ossur Co. in California donated the feet. The foot size is determined by the patient’s weight and projected height. Vlad is in the 9-10 size range. Svader spent three weeks casting, assembling and fitting Vlad’s legs, and the fine-tuning continues on a weekly basis. With his new prosthetics, Vlad stands about 5 feet, 10 inches tall.