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Jan 16, 2017 Reporting from Niles, MI
A 16th Birthday That Won't Soon Be Forgotten - Anthony Damico
https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/medical-services/orthopedic-care/our-orthopedic-patients-say-it-best/Detail/back-in-the-game/?utm_source=A_16th_Birthday_That_Won%27t_Soon_Be_Forgotten&utm_medium=PatientStory_Landing&utm_campaign=InternalPages
Jan 16, 2017
Jan 16, 2017
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
Orthopedic surgeons are specially trained to help patients manage certain conditions, relieve pain, restore mobility and independence, or return to work and other daily activities. To find an orthopedic surgeon near you, contact us.
A 16th Birthday That Won't Soon Be Forgotten - Anthony Damico
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
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A 16th Birthday That Won't Soon Be Forgotten - Anthony Damico
Jan, 2017
Physicians: Kenneth Edwards, MD
Orthopedic surgeons are specially trained to help patients manage certain conditions, relieve pain, restore mobility and independence, or return to work and other daily activities. To find an orthopedic surgeon near you, contact us.
St. Joseph resident, Anthony Damico, had recently celebrated his 16th birthday. Like most sixteen year olds, he was thrilled at the prospect of finally being able to drive on his own. While he waited for his new license to arrive in the mail, Anthony spent most of his winter break playing basketball with friends.
One morning, Anthony left home to head to the gym for a father-son pick-up game of basketball. His mother, Tamara Damico, was home boxing up the Christmas tree when she received a call she would never forget. Anthony was on his way to the emergency room because had been badly hurt during the game. Tamara dropped what she was doing and rushed to meet him at the emergency department. She arrived to find that her son had fractured his tibia and fibula, damaging his growth plates.
Anthony was in immense pain.
“My son doesn’t cry – even when he should cry, he doesn’t,” said Tamara. “In this case though, he was crying and screaming in pain.”
Even after Anthony’s fracture was set in the emergency department, the pain lingered on. Seeking a specialist, Tamara reached out to orthopedic surgeon, Kenneth Edwards, MD, who suggested that Anthony come in for an evaluation immediately. After taking x-rays and speaking with Anthony about his experience on the basketball court, Dr. Edwards decided that resetting the fracture was the best course of action.
“Throughout the whole process, Dr. Edwards was so good with Anthony,” said Tamara. “He was very caring and listened to all his concerns. Immediately after Dr. Edwards set the fracture, Anthony’s pain was completely gone.”
Anthony was relieved to be out of pain and on the road to recovery. An avid baseball player, he listened to Dr. Edward’s advice to take a break from the sport that spring, to allow his leg time to completely heal. To stay active, Anthony sought out a lower impact sport, golf.
Unfortunately, golf was not the low impact solution he had hoped for. While helping clean the grounds at a local golf course where the team practiced, Anthony found himself injured again. He had fallen into an empty, cement swimming pool and shattered his calcaneus, also known as his heel bone.
Once again, Anthony found himself at the hospital. He was given a boot to wear that helped immobilize his shattered heel bone. Despite this course of treatment, Anthony’s pain was insistent. Tamara called Dr. Edwards.
“No one wants to see their kid writhing in pain,” said Tamara. “As soon as Dr. Edwards heard the amount of pain Anthony was experiencing, he requested to see him right away.”
Once more, Dr. Edwards was able to relieve Anthony’s pain by placing a cast on the break rather than the boot normally prescribed to these types of injuries.
In the months that followed his injury Anthony worked with physical therapists who helped him regain the strength in his leg and foot. Since then, Anthony has made a full recovery and is finally able to put his newly acquired driver’s license to use. Meanwhile, Tamara is hopeful her active son will make it to graduation injury-free.