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| Shriners Hospitals Patients Inspire Shriners And Guests At 2003 Convention Published 7/03 |
(NAPSI)-In front of an audience of more than 3,000 Shriners and their families, the stories of two Shriners Hospitals for Children patients were unveiled in a new video, "Without Limits." The "Patient Success" video features patients Myranda Schneider and Dan Caro, whose positive attitudes, inner strength and a little help from Shriners Hospitals helped them overcome life-altering accidents. Myranda was only 2 years old when a typical day of playing in the yard ended in tragedy. Her foot got trapped underneath the blade of her father's riding lawnmower. She was taken to a hospital in her hometown of Salina, Kan., where doctors amputated her right foot at the base of her calf. Soon after the surgery, Isis Shriners stepped in and sponsored Myranda at the St. Louis Shriners Hospital, where she will receive prosthetics and expert medical treatment free of charge until she turns 18. Today, Myranda is an outgoing seventh-grader, straight-A student and avid softball player. She is regarded as one of the best pitchers on her team, as well as an inspiration to both her teammates and opponents. Dan's life also changed drastically when he was 2 years old. He was severely burned when the pilot light of a hot water heater ignited gasoline fumes in his family's garage. He was transported from his hometown of Baton Rouge, La., to the Boston Shriners Hospital, one of the premiere pediatric burn hospitals in the world. Under constant supervision of caring doctors, he received numerous reconstructive surgeries and treatments throughout his childhood. Aside from burns covering 70 percent of his body, Dan lost his right hand and part of his left hand in the fire. In the early 1980s, a special reconstructive surgery was performed on Dan's left hand, giving him use of a moveable thumb. The results of the surgery allowed him to do something he had always dreamed of doing: playing the drums. He uses his "new" thumb to grip one drumstick, and attaches a drumstick to his other hand with wristbands and rubber bands. Dan attended Loyola University on a music scholarship. At 22, he currently performs in his own jazz band. For more information on Shriners' network of 22 hospitals that provide medical care and services totally free of charge to children with orthopaedic problems, burns and spinal cord injuries, write to: Shriners International Headquarters, Public Relations Dept., 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607, or visit the Web site at www.shrinershq.org. Treatment is provided to children under age 18 without regard to race, religion or relationship to a Shriner. If you know a child Shriners can help, call 1-800-237-5055 in the United States, or 1-800-361-7256 in Canada. |