 |
|
Alan Sanchez demonstrates his new running prosthesis. |
Seventeen-year-old Alan Sanchez of Monterrey, Mexico, has won his share of track meet medals, but he is not your usual track star.
Alan, a patient at Shriners Hospitals for Children® — Houston, underwent an above-the-knee amputation when he was 5 years old. Since then he has received treatment and prosthetic devices through the pediatric orthopaedic hospital. As he got older, he developed a love for running and competed using a regular prosthetic leg, one that is appropriate for everyday use.
While that prosthetic leg allows him to live a regular life and participate in daily activities, it was not designed for the impact and motion of competitive running. And since he did not have such a specialty device of his own, he borrowed his coach's running prosthesis.
Thanks to a generous donation from Dynamic Orthotics and Prosthetics, a Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics company, Alan now has a custom-fitted running prosthesis.
"When I heard his story about winning races with his coach's prosthetic leg and saw some video on his father's phone of him running, it was very inspirational to me," said Jason Jennings, CPO, of Dynamic/Hanger. "I wanted to make sure this young man had the tools he needed to excel in the sport he loves."
After receiving his new running leg, Sanchez and a group of fellow patients went to nearby Rice University track for a running clinic taught by Paralympic athlete John Siciliana.
Alan's father, Francisco Sanchez, said they are excited and grateful for the donation. "This is our dream. I would like to see him compete in the Paralympics," Sanchez said of his son's future.
Alan runs track for his high school team, Los Tigres (The Tigers). "My teammates give me great support," said Alan. "And I owe a lot to my coach, Jorge Gonzalez. We are also thankful for all the treatment and help at Shriners Hospitals.”
About Shriners Hospitals for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children® is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. The 22 hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico provide advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate.
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.