Bi-State News
Wayne is now with Bi-State
Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc.
Spring 2007
Precision Welcomes California Rocker
Most of Bi-States' patients live right here in the Saint Louis region. But when the lead guitarist of a hot new California rock band needed a new prosthesis, his friend Tony La Russa decided to help. The Cardinals' manager spoke with his team doctor, George Paletta, who asked Wayne if he could make Tony Ricker a new leg.
Born without a right leg, Tony had never let anything stand in the way of his dreams. But now his band, Bullets and Romance, was just about to make it big, and it had been three years since anyone had made him a new leg. At eighteen years old, his duck-tape-covered prosthesis was too short and no longer fit.
Wayne arranged for Tony to fly in for a week and stay in a hotel near their clinic. Even though a prosthesis that goes all the way up to a patient's hip is one of the most difficult to fit properly, Wayne Sprouse and his team had Tony up walking by Thursday morning. Tony says the socket of his new prosthesis is the most comfortable he has ever worn. He also likes that it is less bulky and looks better under his torn jeans.
Wayne and team continued to make adjustments to the leg over the next couple of days while Tony got used to walking with it.
Reputation for Comfort and Speed
Leads to Fun at the Ballpark
By Saturday, Tony and his new friends were rocking with the St. Louis Cardinals. Dr. George Paletta arranged for Precision to attend the June 17 game against the Colorado Rockies at Busch Stadium. Stoked about his brand new prosthesis, Tony Ricker introduced his Prosthetics Team to his friend Tony La Russa. In the clubhouse before the game, Tony, Wayne, and other staff members had the time of their lives meeting players and getting autographs. Chris Carpenter signed a jersey for Wayne's favorite charity, the Children's Home Society of Missouri, and Albert Pujols graciously took time out from a casual game of dominoes to sign a couple of balls.
In the Red Birds' 6-5 victory over the Rockies, pitcher Jeff Suppan earned his l00th career win, slugger Juan Encarnacion homered twice, and closer Jason Isringhausen snagged the save.
Many people are willing to travel for the service and expertise Wayne and Dan offer
Already this year, we have fit a number of out-of-town patients from Arizona, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Lake of the Ozarks (Missouri), and even Afghanistan. Some patients fly into town; others are truck drivers who make Precision an occasional stop along their long routes.
Patients typically stay about a week, which is the same amount of time Precision usually takes to make a prosthesis for locals, barring medical or insurance complications. Precision's speedy service and comfortable fit keep their patients coming back year after year, whether they live in California like Tony Ricker, or right here in beautiful St. Louis like the rest of us.
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