Injured firefighter receives motorized prostheticSaturday, February 26, 2011
EDDYSTONE — Chase Frost, the former Parkside firefighter severely burned during a townhouse blaze — to the point that his left arm and right leg had to be amputated — is having an easier time getting around these days.
That’s because he recently received a motorized prosthetic knee, known as the new POWER KNEE, with the help of Prosthetic Innovations, LLC, an organization based in Eddystone.
It helps me tremendously,” said Frost, 25, a full-time third-year nursing student at Widener University in Chester. “It cuts my time walking to class to less than half. I save my energy so I can walk farther with less energy.”
Frost, a Texas native, said the new knee helps him during clinical nursing work at local hospitals. “I’m lifting and moving and transferring patients and assisting them up and down the hallways … and it helps my life tremendously,” he said.
Frost’s left arm and right leg were severely burned during the Aug. 11, 2007 blaze at a Parkside townhouse. When the second floor in the home collapsed, Frost and another firefighter, Dan Brees, became trapped under heavy, burning debris.
Michael Rayer, who owns the local prosthetic company with his brother, Timothy Rayer, and colleague, Chris Dalmass, explained most prosthetic limbs are passive in nature. But Rayer said this new POWER KNEE is proactive because it’s motorized and allows amputees to walk longer distances.
Össur, an international company focused on noninvasive orthopedics, selected the local organization as a certified facility for the new POWER KNEE. Friday marked the official release date of the new device, which is reportedly the world’s first and only motor-powered knee. Other prosthetic motorized body parts are reportedly being developed elsewhere.
“The new POWER KNEE provides the strength and safety which every above-knee amputee deserves,” said Timothy Rayer. “We are thrilled to be one of only a handful of prosthetic practices in the country to be certified for Össur’s entire line of Bionic Technology prostheses.”
Similar to Frost, Lou Namm, a Vietnam War veteran and double amputee, recently received a POWER KNEE on his right leg at Prosthetic Innovations. Namm, a vocational counselor at the VA Regional Office in Philadelphia, expressed gratitude over the new knee.
“I think it’s great,” said Namm, 63, of West Deptford, N.J. “It will take so much stress off my shoulders, especially with my daily activities.”
Namm served in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. He was injured near Ho Bo Woods in 1969 after a booby trap planted inside a rice paddy exploded a few feet away from him.
Similar to Frost, Namm has had several other prosthetic legs in the past, including a wooden model. But both men agreed the new motorized model has been the most beneficial to their lifestyles.
The Rayer brothers, who grew up in Marple, said they enjoy helping people through their business.
“The effect you can have on somebody’s life is amazing,” said Michael Rayer.
For example, Namm is able to golf with the help of his prosthetic knee.
And Frost is able to workout at the gym on his own in addition to his nursing work. He also hopes to work for a fire company again some day.
“I want to go back in some capacity, maybe as a driver or do EMS work,” he said.