Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Jan's New IDEO!

The History

Jan riding on top of an airport
luggage trolly, one of the
many adaptations she made
during our year of travel
A number of our friends have asked to be kept up-to-date about recent efforts to address Jan's walking problems. As you may know, Jan had a significant injury to her foot at age 5. After several surgeries in her early years, she spent a life hiking, dancing, playing tennis, remodeling houses, and working as a nurse practitioner.

For reasons that are not clear (to either Jan or the professionals she has consulted), her ability to walk has dramatically decreased over the past several years. As she and Jim traveled around the world in 2013-2014, they became experts at life on a scooter (Jan riding and Jim hauling). Living in tiny apartments and exploring cities on the TravelScoot, Jan and Jim barely noticed that her ability to walk was declining so rapidly.

Most recently, Jan's mobility is restricted to shuffling around the house, getting down the short walkway to her car, and then getting "out in the world" on her scooter. Three surgeons in the last 18 months have recommended amputation; however, Jan could not find peace with this decision. And so Jim recently googled "alternative to amputation"--and discovered the IDEO brace.

This link led them to pursue this alternative path to walking. After applying and being accepted as an IDEO patient, Jan (and Jim) are now in Gig Harbor, WA (near Seattle), for an evaluation, and hopefully the creation of Jan's new IDEO! (See the "before" video, below, which we sent to the IDEO professionals.)




Monday, October 19, 2015

Day One, Morning: "Hope vs. Vulnerability"

We settled into our Gig Harbor AirBNB last night. This morning we prepare to meet Ryan Blanck, inventor of the IDEO brace. Jan reflects on the day before us.


Sunday, October 18, 2015

Day One, Afternoon: "The HOPE Meter Rises!"




Jan and I arrived bright and early at Gig Harbor's Hanger Clinic to start the IDEO process. It is the first day of fall and Rosh Hashanah--a time of change. Jan scoots in with hopes of using less of her beloved TravelScoot in the months ahead.





It was impressive to sit in Ryan Blanck's office this morning while he attended to a few early patients. Jan and I were moved by walls displaying Ryan's multiple awards for his remarkable service to the military's wounded warriors as well as success story photos. We were especially inspired to see a video of a 23-year-old-woman whose injury made her hobble, initially, much like Jan. The video fast-forwarded over her year as an IDEO patient, during which she moved from limping, to walking with confidence, and later to performing quickstep calisthenics and road race competitions.


After an initial evaluation, Ryan made a cast of Jan's right leg to create the IDEO pilot, plastic brace. Jan and I returned at 4 PM to test drive this preliminary IDEO.














After only a small amount of tweaking, Jan took her first steps on this test brace. She noticed right away a "bounciness" that seemed to return energy back to a step from her right foot. (See video below.) Immediately, she was able to walk better than she had for years!









After several trips down the runway, Jan successfully shifted weight to her right foot--something she had not done for years.

Though Jan remains a bit tentative, she reports that her "Hope Meter" is on the rise! Her high-tech, carbon fiber IDEO will be made this evening and ready for her to try out tomorrow.




Saturday, October 17, 2015

Day Two: Walking Again!


We were instructed to return at 4 PM to meet Jan's new brace. Thirty hours after entering the Hanger Clinic for the first time, Ryan Blanck (the IDEO wizard) put the custom-designed, carbon fiber brace on Jan's right foot and said, "OK, stand up and walk!"



After a few trips down a runway with handrails, Jan went out with Ryan and me for a long walk around the grounds: an enormous parking lot, then a gravel path that went up and down, and then 10 minutes of walking up and down steps. (It has been several years since she walked on irregular ground without pain, or walked up stairs more than one step at a time.) "Swing your arms, and walk like you mean it!" Ryan encouraged her. He reminded Jan that she would need to learn to walk with her whole body again. With a PT's help, that work will begin tomorrow.



I laughed and took photos, and Jan walked on the verge of tears for over an hour. She concentrated on where her foot went, focused on lowering her shoulders and raising her head. Jan was like a toddler learning to walk for the first time! We ended the session with a short waltz.

See Jan's first baby steps in the video below!





Friday, October 16, 2015

Day Three +: "PTSD" and Working Out

Parachuting military dog
with human companion
Today was a super-busy day at the Hanger Clinic. At 7 AM Jan and I attended the 5th annual "PTSD" fundraiser breakfast. Out here, "PTSD" stands for "Permission to Start Dreaming," which is the name of a local foundation that provides support and services for wounded warriors (and grateful civilians like us). It is clear that the IDEO would not be available to civilians (like Jan) if the military had not sought and financed alternatives to amputation. Stories this morning by military IDEO wearers (including the story of the highly decorated military dog, Spike, who died in service) were touching and humbling.

Beth Shaver, "IDEOnista" (fashion for
IDEO wearers), is a joy and
inspiration for many IDEO patients.


Thirty IDEO military and civilian patients arrived today from around the country to participant in the "PTSD" road race fundraiser on Sunday. So the Hanger workout gym was buzzing with three IDEO newbies (including Jan) as well as a dozen old-timers eager to see Ryan, tweak their gear, and prepare for the half-marathon.




Before lunch Jan met with Jared Williamson, the Hanger Cinic's physical therapist, who analyzed her gait and helped sort out reasonable walking goals considering her fixed ankle anatomy.

Jan was then encouraged once again to "walk like you mean it" and to take a longer step with her left foot (which would give the right foot more spring back). Jan walked with Jennie Jackson, an IDEO patient all the way from New Zealand, and practiced her power walking while attempting to tighten her stomach muscles. (Watch the video at the bottom of this final blog as Jan does more vigorous exercise than she has for years!) After the weekend we will spend 3-4 more days in training before taking off to visit sister Nancy and our Oakland family.

Though Jan finished the day with a VERY long bath and several Aleve, she is confident that she will return home far more of a walker than when we came out here.

Thank you for your interest in this journey and your love and support.





Thursday, October 15, 2015

"Jumpin', Jostlin' and Jivin''"

Below is a short video that gives a glimpse of my new lease on life.

Over the past week, Jim and I have been writing "Jumpin', Jostlin' and Jivin'"--a song that celebrates my IDEO foot journey. Celebrate seems the right word to use when reflecting on the past two weeks of my life.

Below you will see "Our IDEO Song," written by Jim and me.  The son references Ryan, who is the prosthetist who invented the IDEO. Jared is the IDEO physical therapist.

Brenda Linton sang verse one. Our son, David, sings the second verse, and Jim and Dave sing the third verse.  Our son, Jonathan, plays bass. David plays mandolin, and our good friend, David Smith, plays guitar. Gabe Pelli is on fiddle. Our friend, Tony Bowman, produced this fun and meaningful song.

I contacted other IDEO patients, who sent photos to include in this music video.

I've included the words to the song below so that you can sing along! Please do share this song, and information about the IDEO, far and wide.  (The IDEO is available at the Hanger Clinic in Gig Harbor, WA).

Thanks for sharing our joy!




JUMPIN’, JOSTLIN’, AND JIVIN’
          (the “IDEO SONG”)

By Jan Tedder and Jim Henderson

I’ve been down and out; life was lookin’ kinda bleak.
I was hoppin’ and limpin’ cause of trouble with my feet.
The Doc, he offered cuttin’ and lots of fancy meds,
but I heard about IDEO and I took that step instead. Now I’m

CHORUS
Jumpin’, jostlin’ and jivin’.
First I walked, then I ran, then I raced.
I've been jumpin’, jostlin’ and jivin',
Wearin’ my IDEO brace.

Ryan got to thinkin’ about what could be done.
For our brave and mighty soldiers who got shot up by a gun.
A scientist, a dreamer, with this and that on hand,
Ryan made the first IDEO so that they could stand again. Now I’m

CHORUS

It takes a hearty person to learn to walk again.
Jared kept me on the go ‘til my feet knew where to land.
Now I tell this special story to all who want to be
Jumpin’ and jivin’ with a future they can see.
Livin’ and laughin’ with a spirit that is free. Yes I’m


CHORUS