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2015 RIDER

 NAOMI F. KURLOWICH

Allograft Recipient
Age 17 ~ Columbia, SC
Student

Sponsored by Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation


Diagnosed at birth with Down Syndrome, Naomi Kurlowich never let it slow her down, from playing on a local softball team for children with developmental challenges, to being a physically active student at school. But Naomi began to experience severe knee pain. Children with Down Syndrome have a genetic predisposition to suffering from orthopedic problems like joint instability. When she was about eight, Naomi began to experience painful dislocations of her kneecaps. Her doctor tried several different treatments to no avail. As Naomi's ligaments were too weak to reconstruct, she had surgery to repair her knees using donated tissue. Now, 17, Naomi has a new lease on life and is back to playing ball through the generosity of two tissue donors.


Naomi's Story

Diagnosed at birth with Down Syndrome, Naomi Kurlowich captured hearts early on with her unabashed affection, comical ways and radiant smile. As a young child, she showed keen interest in balls and all of the fun she could have with them, especially baseball.

Naomi has never let Down Syndrome slow her down, from playing on a local softball team for children with developmental challenges, to being a physically active student at school. But things soon changed as she began to experience severe knee pain. Children with Down Syndrome have a genetic predisposition to suffering from orthopedic problems like joint instability.

Around her eighth birthday, Naomi began to experience painful dislocations of her kneecaps, also known as patellofemoral instability, while playing the sports she loves so much. At first these injuries were occasional, but soon developed into a larger issue. The frequency and severity of the episodes increased as the ligaments supporting her patella became weaker with each dislocation. Her orthopedist tried several different treatments, including shoe inserts and knee braces, but the dislocations continued.

After a nasty fall right before her 15th birthday that left her wheelchair-bound to avoid further dislocations, her parents were advised by a pediatric surgeon that a more aggressive approach was needed. The surgeon explained that Naomi's ligaments were too weak to reconstruct and suggested using donated tissue to fix the problem.

Naomi had the surgery to repair both of her knees a few months apart. She received tissue from two donors to strengthen and stabilize her knees. As her parents watched her recover, they marveled at the thought that two families had made the most selfless gift of donation at one of the most difficult times of their lives, which in turn, gave their daughter a new lease on life.

"After a few weeks of physical therapy, Naomi progressed to a walker and the wheelchair was history," said Carol Kurlowich, Naomi's mother. "Two years later it still makes my heart sing to watch her run exuberantly around a ball field and up and down a basketball court."

Today, Naomi is an active 17-year-old who can walk, run and play softball, all from the generous gift of tissue donation from two donors and their families.