A machinist and his magic wand

In January, Sarah Doherty climbed Africa’s highest peak on high-tech crutches she developed with Bloorview prototypist Bill Johnson.

The 49-year-old lost her right leg at age 13 when she was hit by a drunk driver. But she never lost her love of the outdoors and adventure.

Bill machined the crutches with shock absorbers to make her dream possible.

“They slowly uncoil, like your joints do, giving a nice cushion in each step, instead of jarring your joints,” Sarah says.

He also suggested ball joints in the attachable feet to mimic the rotation you get in your ankle.

Bill had used a similar joint in a hockey stick he designed for a girl with an arm amputation who wanted to play Canada’s game. It gave her the multidirectional movement of a wrist.

‘When they bring their child to Bloorview, they’re going to get hope and compassion.’

With Bill’s machine-shop wizardry, kids and adults with disabilities are scaling their own mountains.

Children with arm prostheses play baseball, climb rocks and paddle canoes. One of Bill’s clients, Adrian Anantawan, is a classical violin soloist. He was born without a right hand. Bill designed a metal piece that attaches to his bow and slides onto a small paddle he wears on a cuff on his right forearm. The metal piece acts as a “hand,” allowing Adrian to hold the bow and position it on the paddle.

Bill’s work was inspired by another Bloorview client, his sister Anne. “When my sister was born, the specialists told my parents ‘she’ll never amount to anything. Put her in an institution.’”

With the help of braces, a guide dog and seizure medication, Anne graduated from university.

“That’s why I want parents to know that when they bring their child to Bloorview, they’re going to get hope and compassion. What I usually say when I first talk to a client is: “If I had a magic wand, and could make anything, what would you like to be able to do?”

Previous page – Page 6 of 17 – Next page

To view PDF files you require the free Adobe Reader.

 

Select Text Size

• Adjust text size: Small Aa
• Adjust text size: Medium Aa
• Adjust text size: Large Aa