Providers Performing Miracles

      

At age seven Karli Stoelk was diagnosed with Legg Calve Perthes.  Legg Calve Perthes is a degenerative disease of the hip joint, where growth/loss of bone mass leads to some degree of collapse of the hip joint and to deformity of the ball of the femur and the surface of the hip socket. Growing up with the disease, Karli was used to doctors’ offices, treatments, and hip pain. It began to be difficult for Karli to walk, getting  to the point where twenty three year old Karli had to use a cane to walk.  She met with Dr. Richard Jackson who recommended a total hip replacement surgery, a surgery not normally performed on people at such young age, but was necessary to help Karli maintain her mobility. 
   

  Karli had no medical insurance. Her husband was recently laid off and she was no longer able to work because of the pain in her hip. Dr. Jackson sent her to Community Health Connect to see if we could help minimize the cost of surgery.  Dr. Jackson offered to donate his services for the procedure, Karli began the paperwork required by Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, and a short time later, thanks to Intermountain Healthcare and Dr. Jackson, the surgery was successfully completed. 

     As with most orthopedic surgery, Karli required immediate physical therapy.  She needed a specific type of therapy that required a center with a variety of equipment, including a pool.  Luckily for Karli, just down the hallway from Dr. Jackson’s office is the Central Utah Clinic Physical Therapy center.  That center has three providers and a wonderful staff that are all part of Community Health Connect’s Volunteer Provider Network.  Brent Butler, a physical therapist happily donated his services and Karli was receiving top notch therapy care within a few days of the surgery.  We are extremely grateful to our doctors who volunteer so much time and resources to help people in our community receive the specialized medical care that can bless their lives.  We would all like to wish Karli the best of luck as she continues her physical therapy and doctor visits.  She has shown great persistence in overcoming this disease and recovering from this surgery.  We are all especially confident that Karli will be able to return to work and be ready and able for her life’s next adventure.  Thanks again to all those that have helped in any way with this wonderful case.