testimonials

Dr. Paley and Apollonia (2007) ~ Antonio, Dr. Paley and Apollonia (2008)

Dr. Paley holding Apollonia`s hand at a conference (2005)

Talent with a Global Reach

Today Dr. Paley is Apollonia`s surgeon and our families hero. The day we met Dr. Paley I new Apollonia
would keep her leg. This story is likely just one of many that you will hear but for our Italian-Canadian
family living in Ottawa, Canada it is a cherished one.

When our daughter Apollonia was born with a leg that looks like a hockey stick our family lives were
turned upside down. We proceeded to get diagnosis in Ottawa of club foot then Tibia Vara. Apollonia
wore corrective casts and denis brown splints for most of her baby and toddler life. In short, neither she
nor we slept much and she didn’t get a chance to move around like a typical child. We went for multiple
opinions and all prognosis were not good. They all stated that amputation would be the best option.
One doctor read from an encyclopaedia to us – “tibia hemimelia is treated with amputation.” I thought,
“How could that be? Apollonia who was jumping and running had to lose her leg?” It all was surreal.

After not being able to function for about a week we started to search the internet and that`s when my
husband found Dr. Paley in Baltimore. We scheduled an appointment with him and travelled in terrible
weather from Ottawa, Canada to Baltimore, US for Apollonia`s life changing consult. Of course, with the
support of incredible doctors in Canada who supported the consult and referred us to Dr. Paley.

Our first encounter with Dr. Paley (2004) was a memorable one for our family. Dr. Paley who is a
mastermind in orthopaedics changed Apollonia`s path that day. Both my husband and I were waiting in
clinic with anxiety and anticipation for Dr. Paley to enter the room (Apollonia who was 2 and 4 mos at the
time was sitting watching a movie). When he finally did enter with an entourage of people (I guess
students and other doctors who were observing) I asked, “Dr. Paley - I know Apollonia option is to
amputate but we are here to see if she has any other options.” I remember him looking at me very
puzzled and then looking at Apollonia. He then turned to me and said, “Amputation would be absolutely
ridiculous”. That day and that moment are forever embedded in my brain as the turning point for
Apollonia. Dr. Paley then proceeded to lay out the plan for her treatment with confidence. We left that
day with hope and faith that Apollonia`s leg would be saved.

He has been Apollonia`s out of country surgeon since 2005 and her orthopaedic doctor since 2004. She
is currently being treated for Tibia Hememilia and her fixator was removed late in October of 2008. He
gave us peace and hope in 2004 when all we had heard were scary prognosis such as amputation or
major reconstructive surgery. Dr. Paley created a technique of treating Apollonia`s condition that was
not only very functional but cosmetically pleasing. He quickly earned our respect and trust and we
travelled from Ottawa, Canada bi-weekly for a better part of 7 months between 2005 – 2006 for
treatments and bi-weekly for 8 months for her 2008/2009 treatment. As you can imagine this is a large
strain on a family financial, physically and emotionally. It is a lifestyle change but it is well worth it having
Dr. Paley as Apollonia`s doctor. Dr. Paley works with Apollonia`s surgeon in Ottawa to monitor her
progress. We know he always does what best for Apollonia and our family. He stays on top of her
progress and responds to us at any time with any questions or concerns. Dr. Paley is amazing with our
daughter and Apollonia (who is 7) now states that “only Dr. Paley can touch my leg”. We call what he has
done and will continue to do for our Apollonia a miracle.

Thank you Dr. Paley! Our family is forever grateful to you. Apollonia is the most grateful

Franca (Apollonia`s mom)

Over the years, some memories:

Submit your story / testomonial to this website

Cass’ Story

Thanks to Dr. Paley, our son now can now ride a bike.

Always hindered by his disability, Cass’s short left leg could never reach the pedal, and his shoe
(because of the lift) was always too large. Now, after his first limb lengthening surgery, Cass can do
many things that he was never able to do before. Dr. Paley is a man of few words, but is an expert in
his field. He gave us hope and a promise, while other doctors could not. Better yet, he delivered!

Thank you
John and Kim

We are amazed everyday by Ella's accomplishments. The miraculous work of Dr. Paley has given her the
ability to be strong and confident. Dr. Paley has also given us as parents the confidence to tell our
daughter, "You can do anything you set your mind to."

Jacob’s Story with PFFD

Our son Jacob was born on the 30th of April 2001. After 12 hours of labor our healthy baby boy was
born. Moments later the doctor walked over to me and said, “I don’t want you to be alarmed but one of
your son’s legs is much shorter than the other”. I was a little surprise but I was so elated to see my
beautiful bundle of joy that it didn’t really sink in.

A few hours later our newborn baby Jacob had X-rays on his leg and was diagnosis with PFFD (Proximal
Femoral Focal Deficiency). We had no idea what these long words meant but we would soon find out. My
husband and I immediately began researching and found the world-renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr.
Paley. We immediately made contact with Dr. Paley who was very accommodating requesting to see Jacob’
s x-rays. The prognosis without treatment would be that Jacob would have one leg 30 cm shorter than
the other by adulthood if nothing were done. Dr. Paley then added that not only did Jacob have a shorter
femur but also a sub-class B. This is where the hip is not fully formed as well as the shorter femur.

The treatment for the regular PFFD condition is to lengthen the femur bone up to three inches at a time
by stretching the bone with an external fixator. Even before we could consider the leg lengthening
process Jacob would have to have super-hip surgeries starting at age two to stabilize the hip. Dr. Paley
was very helpful in the decision making process letting us know that he would only perform the
lengthening if he was able to stabilizes the hip first. We agreed to move forward with the super hip
surgeries with excellent results.

In 2007 Jacob turned six and he was ready for his first limb lengthening procedure. The surgery was a
complete success adding an external fixator to Jacob’s leg. Each weekday for four months Jacob
attended physiotherapy. In addition we would turn a screw attached to the external fixator four times a
day to pull the bone apart so that new bone would grow. Jacob would visit Dr. Paley every two weeks for
a check up to monitor his progress and measure how much bone had grown. Dr. Paley was always
attentive to Jacob and very informative with our countless questions. Four months later Jacob’s leg was
three inches longer. Amazing!

If it were not for Dr. Paley Jacob would not have had a chance of having a longer leg. Our family is
extremely grateful to Dr. Paley for his unfailing support, professionalism and surgical expertise.

Our deepest appreciation

Abigail’s Story

Abigail was born November 24, 2006 with Fibula Hememilia of the left leg. She had extreme bowing of
the tibia and her ankle was turned all the way out to the side. The doctors at first said that the most
common way to deal with her condition is to amputate which I had almost decided to choose as an
option; however I also wanted to see if there were other options. One doctor told me that she wouldn't
walk very well if we didn't amputate.

I had read information about the procedure of limb lengthening on line and I had my doubts because I
wondered about the pain and whether or not this would actually work. Then we went to see Dr. Dror
Paley in Baltimore who said that she would be fine. He made it sound like it was the common cold.
When we left his office, we felt confident that our daughter would walk and be able to live a normal life.

Abby had her surgery June 25, 2008 and had an external Taylor Spatial frame (external fixator) put on
her leg. Abigail’s leg was lengthened from July 1st to September 8th and Abby grew 2 inches of
growth. During the months of lengthening, my daughter went to the local pool, play-grounds, and
played like any other child would. Her play time was excellent therapy for her also. From a distance,
you couldn’t tell that Abby was any different except for the metal device on her leg.

The fixator was removed on 8 December and she was placed into a full leg cast to allow more time for
her bone to harden. Even with a full leg cast, Abby played just like any other two year old would.

Jan 5, 2009 her cast was removed. Abby is healthy and getting around wonderfully. She loves playing
on the slide at the playground and chasing after other children. She has a beautiful straight leg.

She still only has her four toes and that’s OK, because you only need two toes for flip flops anyway.

Thank you Dr. Paley, for taking such good care of our little girl and the great job you have done for so
many other families. We all really do appreciate your expertise.

Rachel K, age 6

Rachel was born with PFFD of the left femur (Congenital Focal Femur Deformity). Rachel had been to
three different specialists in Michigan.

The answers were bleak and disturbing. 1. She would never be able to walk properly. 2. The leg
difference was so severe I was told Amputation was quite possibly the only option.

This was not an option I was willing to settle for. In my search on the Internet, I learned about Dr. Paley
and the wonderful things he has been able to do for children with my different anomalies.

At 6 months of age we left from Michigan to meet Dr. Paley. From that day forward, I knew Dr. Paley was
the answer to our prayers.

Rachel is now 6 years old, runs faster than many of her peers and is a happy normal child. No one even
questions her about a leg difference, no one notices.

Rachel has successfully had super hip surgery at 2 years and femoral lengthening at 3 years. Rachel
gained 2 3/4 inches of new growth to her left femur and we have seen the benefits of this physically as
well as emotionally.

For me, Rachel's Mom, Dr. Paley is an Answer to our Prayers, an end to our search, and a journey well
worth the travel!

Kasity’s Story

Kasity was born in 2000 with Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency type D. At two and a half she had her
super hip surgery. It was a great success.

At six, she had the first lengthening. Her difference before the lengthening was about 8 inches and
afterward 5. We gained 3 inches out of the procedure. Kasity is very happy with the results. We will be
going back to see Dr. Paley for her next lengthening in 2011.

Dr. Paley gave us hope when other doctors recommended amputation. His treatment of Kasity has been
very successful and we are grateful for Dr. Paley's passion and knowledge in the field.

Rosana’s Story

My name is Rosana and I follow Dr. Paley all the way from Venezuela. Why you should ask? I was
involved in a car accident in 2001. I suffered multiple fractures and I nearly lost my life. Fortunately I
was able to overcome the most serious injuries, but I was left with a problem in the left femur, which
brought me 8 years of agony, multiple failed surgeries, and a fracture that wouldn't heal. My left leg
was shorter than the other (5 cms) and the femur was bent as a result of all the failed interventions.

Luckily, I was able to contact Dr. Paley, who is recognized as top in the field for reconstructive
orthopedic surgery. When Dr. Paley took over my care in December 2007 I was unable to walk without
pain or a limp. By March of 2008, I was walking without a limp and today I walk perfectly. I can do
many things I once thought were out of the question, like wear high heels and have unrestricted
movement of my body. During my treatment, I stayed in Baltimore. It was there I was able to see how
he attended to children with birth deformities. I saw him attending to each child with dedication and
what he does is a true miracle.

I wake up every morning and I thank Dr. Paley for the joy I have, as now I am able to walk normally.
My gratitude towards him is and will be indescribable because for me he is an angel.

Dr. Paley, I will be forever grateful to you, your hands are blessed.

Thanks! Rosana

Our daughter

Eva, was born in November of 2005. After she was born, the nurses realized that her right leg was
shorter than her left. The best day of our lives took an unexpected turn. In the following weeks, we
worried and cried as we read horror stories on the internet and met with doctors that said lengthening
would be an option but amputation would probably be easier. "Easier" we thought..??? Amputation and
easy in the same sentence -- we were baffled.

When Eva was 3 months old, we met with Dr. Paley and all of our fears and frustration turned into hope
and better understanding of our daughter's condition and her future. "This is not a disability" he said "If
she wants to be an athlete, she will be an athlete; if she wants to be a couch potato, she will be a couch
potato." Dr. Paley's positive attitude and enthusiasm gave us so much strength. He told us that Eva
would need a series of procedures starting with a hip operation and followed by 2 or 3 lengthening
surgeries as she grows. He said it would not be easy but, with our commitment, he would give our
daughter two equal length legs.

Dr. Paley performed Eva's hip surgery when she was 26 months old. She was in a Spica cast for 6 weeks
which turned out to be much easier than we had anticipated. Her right hip is now perfect. It looks
EXACTLY like her left, thanks to Dr. Paley. He not only fixed her hip, but he reconstructed her knee and
she is the happiest, most active 3 year old I know. She is scheduled for her first lengthening surgery in
June of 2009.

We would follow Dr. Paley to the moon. Not only because of his has expertise, but his care and
professionalism are liked none other. He cares a lot about Eva, like he does all of his patients. He is an
amazing person who changes people's lives. He is our hero!

Craig and Maria D

Kim’s Story

My story is a bit different from others however; it is because of Dr Paley that I am able to live a quality
and mobile life today.

It was May 1, 2002 and I was with my two children at an out door, take-out restaurant in New England.
While waiting in line to place my food order I was hit, pinned, and driven into the building. An elderly
driver had mistakenly pushed the gas pedal instead of the brake. In a split second my life would forever
be altered.

In the days, months, and years ahead of me the struggle continued as doctors first dealt with saving
my life and legs and later my quality of life. The first 30 surgeries were at Yale New Haven Hospital and
I credit them for their passion, expertise and talent in saving my life and legs. By March 2005, the
challenges I faced required an expert, and I was given the name Dr Dror Paley. He was exactly the
expert I needed.

In June 2009, Dr Paley will be performing my last surgery.

I believe it will be my 47th surgery. I am no longer in a wheelchair, that took 41/2 long years. I no
longer have fixators on one or both legs that took almost 5 years. I no longer require crutches or a
cane to ambulate. My scars are visible but my legs are straight and of equal length! I credit Dr Paley
with returning the quality to my life. He is driven, talented, enthused by challenges and seeks only
perfection in treatment. He is the expert you or your child needs and I can attest to that!

Lillie’s Story

Our little girl was diagnosed with Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency when she was born. We saw Dr. Paley
when she was nine months old and he put our fears to rest!

He immediately had a game plan in place and assured us he could help our daughter. She had a hip and
knee surgery with him when she was two and her first limb lengthening surgery when she was three.

Thanks to Dr Paley and his team, she now has two even legs for the first time in her life! I cannot say
enough well about Dr Paley! He is an amazing man and is an expert in his field.

I would entrust my daughter to his care at any moment and would without reservation recommend him
as well. We are very grateful for the difference he has made in our daughter's life!

Chrystal
(Augusta, GA)

Michael M

I was born in North England in 1998 I have PFFD, the foot in my right leg only came to the knee on my
left leg and I have no hip or knee. My mom took me to every UK children’s hospital that did limb
reconstruction and every doctor told her to amputate. My mom wrote to doctors in other countries
and I went into hospital in Germany, France, Kiev and Ireland but none could offer us limb lengthening
like we wanted. Mom searched the internet and found Dr Paley and we flew to see him and he said he
would lengthen my leg. I had a lengthening of 7cm when I was 4 and one of 8cm when I was 7.

My mom has kept all the letters from surgeons all over the world. She had contacted hundreds all over
America as well and once had 70 replies in one day saying to amputate. I have many friends who are
amputees quite a few because they had PFFD, they all do really awesome things and do well but what is
the best choice for one person isn’t always the best for everyone, I am so thankful we found Dr Paley
and he believed in me and helped me to keep my leg. My leg has been lengthened 21cms which
everyone finds amazing, I can’t believe it myself when I see my old baby pictures, I can do everything
my friends do even with the fixator on I play soccer with crutches,

I hope to return to Dr Paley for surgeries on my knee and hip as well.My mom and me try to do
interviews and speak to people at support groups and online to make sure everyone in this situation is
aware that Dr Paley can offer an alternative to amputation even in really severe cases.

Even if like me you have seen lots of other doctors who don’t offer any hope I would say see Dr Paley
before you make a final decision,

Michael M

A Teachers Story

I am a 28 year-old, fourth grade teacher with a congenital bone disorder. Three years ago I came to
Dr. Paley’s clinic to address my limb length discrepancy.

Although I have always had extremely limited mobility in my hips and knees, as well as an obvious
limp, I had long accepted my fate (difficulty with walking, climbing stairs, putting on socks and shoes,
and generally staying in shape).

Little did I know that my dream of a normal gait, straight legs and functioning joints would be realized
upon meeting Dr. Paley.

As a child and young adult, doctors had purposely shied away from removing the osteochondromas
(benign bone tumors) in and around my hips, because they are in a precarious location, in close
proximity to major arteries. I always assumed that nothing could be done for me that removing them
would be impossible.

Little is impossible for Dr. Paley. Dr. Paley is a surgeon who thrives when presented with a challenge.
Now that my hips are free and clear, we have moved on to my knees and lower legs. This is a long
process, but I know we are in it together.

When I return to school each September, still on crutches and actively recovering, my students want to
call me their “bionic teacher”. I am happy to remind them that nothing that Dr. Paley has done has
been artificial- they are still my same hips, simply improved and finally functional. All around me are
amazed.

Dr. Paley is innovative and forward thinking. An expert in deformity correction, he has successfully
performed surgeries on me that no one else has dared. There will never be words strong enough to
express my gratitude for all that he has done, and all that he continues to do to enhance my quality of
life.

Caroline E

Lea and Eric

Thomas’ Story

My son, Thomas, suffered a childhood accident that led to partial amputation of the last joint of his right
index finger. The nail, however, was saved. He was sensitive about the appearance of his finger and I
contacted Dr. Paley when he was 15 years old. When he was 16, surgery was scheduled. Even though it
required microsurgery, the operation was a complete success and, after approximately a month, the
finger had "regrown" to its normal length and was hardly distinguishable from the left index finger. The
nail was virtually normal, the soft tissue and nerves healed correctly, and the last joint even had about 50
percent of normal motion, much more than even Dr. Paley had expected. Thomas has enjoyed his "new
finger", using it in his favorite hobby and pass time, guitar playing. An extraordinary result!

Charles
Florida

Kelly’s Story

Dr. Paley has been treating our daughter since she was 9 months old. She was diagnosed with Fibular
Hemimelia and finding a treatment solution was a nightmare until we met Dr. Paley. The treatment
recommended to us before meeting him was amputation. Dr. Paley told us that he could correct her
deformity without losing the limb.

He has done just that and we have a wonderful daughter who is happy, healthy and physically active.
She is now approaching 13 and will have her 3rd and last limb lengthening procedure in the summer of
2009.

She has full function of her leg and keeps up with all her peers in any athletic setting. She has absolutely
not endured any psychological trauma as a result of her surgeries.

It had been proposed to us by other physicians that she would be somehow psychologically scarred by
the treatment involved in limb lengthening. She is extremely well adjusted and has never been plagued
with any fears.

We are so thankful for Dr. Paley's devotion and expertise, and without him our daughter might have
ended up with a prosthetic limb as so many with her diagnosis have.

Jim and Carolyn
Phoenix, Arizona

I am very Grateful to Dr. Paley for the corrective surgery he did on both of my legs a few years ago. I
have had many corrective surgeries done over the course of my entire life, due to Cerebral Palsy; there
were previous attempts to make these corrections, in the past, but none were completely successful until
Dr. Paley attempted it. Family members and people who have known me for a long time could not believe
the difference, it almost looked like another persons legs.

Sincerely,
Jim P

Kaylee’s Story with neurofibromatosis

Our journey with Dr. Paley began in 1997 when our daughter Kaylee, then 23 months old, broke her leg.
She had been previously diagnosed with NF 1 (neurofibromatosis) by the Shriners Hospital of San
Francisco. She also had bowing of the right tibia, also known as pseudoarthrosis of the tibia.

We were told that as a result of her NF her leg would not heal until she reached bone maturity, at about
15 years old, and we needed to amputate her leg. Their recommendation to amputate was so that she
could have a “normal childhood”. In our hearts we knew that amputation was not an option for us and
the idea that giving her a “normal childhood” by amputation would also mean a lifetime of disability with
only one leg.

We set out to find options other than amputation. Our days and nights were filled with long hours on the
internet to learn as much about the birth defect and treatment as possible. After weeks of searching and
prayer we came across the Maryland Center for Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction. This hospital was
headed by Dr. Dror Paley who was a specialist in treating children with this problem. We began
correspondence with him and sent x-rays for him to review.

The one thing that will forever stay with us is when Dr. Paley said “I cannot tell you how many surgeries
Kaylee will need, but my promise to you is that when she is an adult she will have both legs and they will
be the same length”. We live in California and traveling to the east coast would not be easy, but nothing
in life is easy. Hard decisions need to be made every day.

After an extended time in prayer, we agreed this was the way to proceed. Kaylee is now thirteen, soon
to be fourteen, and she has two beautiful legs and yes they are the same length. We would also like to
note that Kaylee has had a “normal childhood”.

She is active in school and participates in basketball, softball, swimming, and cheerleading. We thank
God every day that we made that tough decision and have never regretted it or looked back.

Thank you Dr. Paley for your expertise, professionalism, and also for your caring and loving disposition
you have shown to Kaylee and our family.

Mark and Lisha M

Seán’s Story

Our son Seán was born in March 2004. His right femur hadn’t grown. The only options given to us in
Ireland, and indeed by many doctors in the E.U, were to amputate his right foot and/or rotate his right
leg.

No-one told us about limb lengthening.

We researched ourselves and thank God every day that we found Dr. Paley.

Seán had his first lengthening in November 2006, aged 2. He gained 8cm of new femur bone. He
walked independently for the first time in October 2007.

Now there is no stopping him, he is walking, hopping, and acting like any 4 year old.
He will need further lengthening operations during the next few years, but he will continue to walk on
his own two feet!

Few people posess a skill or talent that really makes a difference to another person’s life -Dr. Paley has
the expertise to do exactly this and has changed the lives of so many children.
We’re very grateful that our son is one of them.

David & Catherine

After meeting Dr. Paley in Germany we were 100% certain that Ulnarization was the best solution for
our son with TAR-Syndrome regardless of the costs involved for the procedure.

However travelling 4,000 miles from Denmark to Baltimore and paying for everything ourselves was a
big decision to make but we decided to do it after all.

Now 6 months later we are extremely happy with that decision and our son is growing stronger day
after day both mentally and physically. He is able to do so much more with his hands and fingers than
before the surgery and he is showing remarkable willpower to learn to do everything himself.

We are extremely happy with the surgery by Dr. Paley and find him extremely professional and very
down to earth at the same time. We received very good guidance all the way and there were no stupid
questions.

We can only recommend Dr. Paley to anyone with the need for corrective surgery.

Warm regards,
Frederik & Karina L
Vejle, Denmark

Rachael’s Story

At the age of 4, I began to have thigh pains when I walked or played with my friends. As the years went
by, I couldn’t do normal kid activities without experiencing pain. Walking home from the school bus
stop seemed like torture, to tie my shoes at times proved extraneous and recreational sports were out
of the question. During gym class I would sit on the gym room floor and felt left out as all the other
kids stared at me while they participated.

I have Legg-Calve Perthes disease.

I was restricted in my activities due to Perthes, for almost 7 years, due to the loss of blood supply to
the ball of my femur. In time, the hip bone recovered to the best of its ability however it was badly
misshapen, and it reminded me constantly that it wasn’t the healthy round hip bone it should be.

At the age of 10, I was told that I would probably need a total hip replacement by the time I was 20.
My parents searched for other options.

Luckily, we were able to find Dr. Paley. Dr. Paley is one of those doctors who is always searching for
something better and expects the best! He was able to offer me a new procedure rather than continue
in pain. He wanted to reshape my hip so I could reshape my way of living.

Now since my surgery, I am able to do anything I want for the first time in a long time, without pain!
There is no reason to think that my new and improved hip won’t outlast my good hip. Now at the age
of 12, I am currently active in gym class, take more than 4 hours of dance class a week, play
competitive soccer and recently finished a 30 mile bike ride for charity.

My name is Jason,

I am 35 years old and I live in Houston, Texas. I grew up in an athletic family, playing sports year round
in a small central Texas town. When I was a freshman in high school and flirting with varsity sports, I
partially tore my ACL in my right knee. After about 3 years of attempting to compete through the injury,
my ACL was completely gone and my doctors wouldn’t allow me to continue. I reluctantly underwent a
reconstructive knee surgery, put sports behind me, and tried to focus on the next phase of my life. I
was “too busy” to listen to my doctors, and I “didn’t have time for rehab.” Thus I entered into a decade
of an unstable knee that chewed up most of the medial meniscus and eventually created a bone on bone
weight bearing situation. I tried to suppress the constant pain. I couldn’t climb stairs, jog, or play any
sports with any regularity. By the time I was 26 years old, I had damaged the bone surfaces to a point
where cartilage regeneration was no longer an option. I had arthritis consistent with someone in their
60s, and total knee replacement was required. Of course, 26-yr olds aren’t candidates for knee
replacements, and I was told that I had to stop all activity and wait about 30 years before I would be
considered as a candidate for knee replacement. I was devastated, but determined to keep plowing
forward. A couple of years later, I was blessed with 2 boys, Jacob and Carter, who both have turned out
to be talented athletes. By the time they were 3 years old and getting involved with recreational sports, I
quickly realized that I wasn’t able to coach or play alongside them due to the pain in my knee. This was
more than I could handle, so I again sought counsel with another doctor, Dr. Walter Lowe, one of the
best sports orthopedic surgeons in Houston, to see if there were any new miracle procedures on the
market. Dr. Lowe asked me if I would consider traveling to consult with someone whom he referred to as
“the best in the world”, Dr. Dror Paley in Baltimore, MD.

At our first consultation, Dr. Paley discovered that the lateral compartment of my right knee was nearly
pristine, and felt that he could change the load bearing path in my leg by realigning the bone structure.
He proposed an unloading procedure that would bypass the medial compartment as a weight bearing
element by shifting my right knee about ≤” toward my left leg and correcting my bow-legged structure.
He was decisive during our first visit and said with confidence that he could get me back to pain free
activity. I was shocked and willing to try just about anything if what he said was true. Dr. Paley
introduced me to an apparatus called the Taylor Spatial Frame, an external fixator, that would basically
realign my surgically broken leg through a series of adjustments and hold it in place as it healed.
Following the surgery, my kids, toddlers at the time, quickly dubbed the fixator as “daddy’s cage”, and
latched on to the fact that daddy couldn’t wrestle until I got my cage off. Even though my case was an
emotional roller coaster, it was relatively mild from a technical point of view. I only had 2 weeks of
adjustments, and wore the “cage” for 4 months. However, the year of surgeries, travel, and
rehabilitation, that my family dedicated to this procedure has allowed me to run and jump again pain free.
I can play ball with my kids and don’t have to worry about altering family vacations so I can participate.
My fears of knee replacement and being unable to walk in my retirement years have become a distant
past. I can once again look forward to snow skiing, back yard basketball, and high country hunting and
camping with my wife and kids.

Thank you Dr. Paley! I wish you many years of changing lives!

Jason
Houston, TX

Thanks again for everything!

Haley’s progress

Dear Dr. Paley,

We wanted to let you know how happy we are with Haley’s progress and we do not regret our decision to
do leg lengthening on Haley. It is a long tough process but it is worth it in the end.

I remember the first day we met you and your first words to us were, "I can fix her leg". I knew from that
moment on, that Haley was in good hands. (We had been told by other doctors to amputate her leg
because lengthening would never work.)

Once the initial surgeries were over she lived a pretty normal kid life with her fixator on and we had mostly
good experiences with her lengthening's. She ran, climbed, and hopped just like any other kid. It never
slowed her down.

Now at 8 years old her what used to be her short leg is now her longer leg. You proved that lengthening
does work and I would love to take her back to the doctors who wanted to amputate and show them.
Haley is very glad we made this decision for her because now she says she has her own 2 legs.

The Broken Bike and the Willing Rider

There I was, sitting at a table stacked with PowerBar gels and Aquafina water bottles on top of a hill
somewhere in Maryland’s horse country at 6 AM waiting for the sun to rise. The mental image of me in
the dark was enough to make me chuckle. I had come out here for the Save-a-Limb Ride held by the
International Limb Lengthening Center in Baltimore where I had undergone many corrective surgeries for
my congenital dwarfism in the past eight years. The event was to raise funds and awareness about the
benefits of limb lengthening and reconstruction, especially for the children who had no other options
except amputation and prosthetic limbs. Volunteering to run a water stop along the sixty-mile route
just a few days after my very last surgery gave me the chance to reflect on the journey I had just
completed.

From my position on top of the hill, I witnessed all sorts of cyclists that day. The steep road first went
through a thick stretch of trees before coming up to a breathtaking view. Some cyclists, especially those
who reached the top first, did not have to stop at my station at all. Others arrived panting and took
some water before continuing on their way. For some, the climb was much more difficult, and they came
up walking alongside their bikes. But among all these riders, there was one man who grabbed my
attention. He had been actually among the first to emerge from the woods when his chain suddenly
snapped. He had to carry his bike on his shoulders the rest of the way up. As his fellow cyclists
continued on, he flipped his bike upside down and got his hands dirty trying to repair the break.

Although the cyclist knew exactly what was wrong, he did not have the proper tool to fix it. I could see
his growing frustration as he paced around his broken bike. I winced as he gazed longingly at his fellow
riders now far off in the distance. Those passing by either cracked jokes about his bad luck or gave
helpless looks of sympathy. That poor fellow might have had to quit the race that day if not for a Good
Samaritan from among the stragglers who stopped at my station with just the right tool for the job.
The transformation in the rider who had slumped to the ground in disappointment was touching for me
to see. The two worked quickly to reset the chain and get the bike back in working order. I waved
goodbye as they went off together, and I don’t think anyone pedaled as hard as he did when he got
back on his bike.

That morning, I saw a little picture of my own life play out in front of my eyes. I was that man with the
broken bike who had the will to win the race but not the bike. I’ve stood on that hill and felt that same
frustration, disappointment, and longing. I’ve watched others whom I considered to be more fortunate
pass by without any knowledge of my condition. I’ve felt that bitter sense of unfairness. Above all these
feelings, I saw someone finally being offered the opportunity to turn everything around from a previously
hopeless situation. I can’t express how much it meant for me to see that man out of all the others at
the finish line.

The most important lesson I have learned from my own hard experiences with limb lengthening is that
the race is well worth finishing. I might be a bit slower or need more help than others who do not have
the same challenges as I do, but I know that any problems in this race are with the bike, not the rider.
Having just completed all my surgeries that took up most of my adolescence, I feel that my bike is now
fixed and I am finally ready to ride. I know that I will pedal harder than anyone else. The joy of being
back in the race is so real to me as I head to college next year. Standing on top of that hill with my
crutches as I watched him go on the road before me, I knew I was ready for the next journey.

Daniel J

Sarah Ziegler
The MHE Research Foundation Vice President & National Director of Research
Executive Director, The MHE National Research Registry & Coordinator of Clinical Information
Liaison Officer, University of Antwerp, Department of Genetics, Belgium
Liaison Officer, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Genetics Unit, Bologna Italy
Website: MHEResearchFoundation.org
Email: sarahziegler@MHEResearchFoundation.org
Address: 149-34 16th Road Whitestone, NY 11357

It really does take a village to change the world!

Dear Dr. Paley

I thought I would take the liberty of taking a different approach in writing your testimonial. I have been
blessed with the opportunity to first hand see the many sides of how you have changed the lives for so
many children, adults and families around the world. I need not tell you my son Robert suffers from
(MHE a rare bone disease).

As you know our family was simply handed two paragraphs describing MHE taken out of a text book by
an orthopedic surgeon when Robert was diagnosed more than 16 years ago and told there is NO
treatment, your son will require many orthopedic surgeries that I simply cannot perform. We were
given no direction; there are simply no words to describe all we were facing, the feeling of helplessness
and the pain that comes along with it.

Waves of emotion came crashing down on our family. I felt the weight of the world had been placed on
my shoulders. How on earth would we deal! How could we locate the medical care Robert needed in
order for him to have the life every child deserves? How would his future adult life be affected? Would
he be able to achieve all the hopes and dreams all young people have? After years of struggling to
locate not only the best orthopedic care but the educational information I felt I needed as a parent, my
life changed!

It was a matter of sink or swim and I was going to swim no matter what and whatever sacrifices I
needed to make I would. Sitting at my kitchen table I envisioned an organization not simply a parent
support group but a foundation, (MHE Research Foundation) comprised of orthopedic professionals,
researchers and families, changing the lives of people affected by MHE. I began pulling every
publication I could find from journals. Hour after hour, month after month I read, studied and 18
months later, I felt I was somewhat educated enough to approach and speak with professionals like
yourself.

When I contacted you it was not simply for medical care my son required, I wanted so much more! I
wanted educational information written that could be provided to parents as well. I wanted a book! I
wanted movement without hesitation! I wanted your time and got it! You got to work and wrote a
chapter on the lower limb and forearm. Education is also simply not a matter of educating parents, but
as you readily know, it’s a matter of taking your knowledge and educating other orthopedic surgeons.
Time and time again you continue to share your knowledge, not simply within the United States but
around the world, not simply for MHE but countless orthopedic conditions.

There are times in one’s life when you have a chance to reflect on how far we have come, one of these
moments recently came for me sitting watching you give a presentation on MHE limb lengthening at
the first ever surgical session devoted entirely to MHE this past Dec during the International Pediatric
Orthopaedic Symposium. I approached you concerning doing educational video, not only were you
willing, you were excited about this prospect. Working together there will be not only educational video
on MHE but a host of orthopedic conditions, which will be located on your website.

While attending the symposium I spotted you sitting speaking with parents who’s little girl needed your
care and attention. You were drawing pictures showing how you were going to fix their daughters arm.
At times of families clear distress you are able to envision a better future for a child’s life that families at
these times cannot envision for themselves. You are a three dimensional visionary in every sense of the
word, no detail to small, no issue over encompassing concerning the orthopedic care required.

You embody all that medicine can be and should be! All the while never forgetting there is a story
behind each family’s hopes and dreams they have for their children, a face behind each name. You are a
man with vision, A MAN ON A MISSION! Speaking on behalf of the MHE Research Foundation and as a
parent I am proud to have become just a small part of this movement.

The Connection Corner Guide book to MHE is dedicated to all people affected by MHE around the world.
No family should need to face this disease and all the challenges that come along with it alone. No
Physician should need to sit face to face with a family and not have the opportunity to provide a family
the supportive educational information they require and you have been and continue to do your part in
correcting this.

On a closing note my son Robert is 18 and has had bilateral hip osteotomies, limb lengthening and a
total of 15 different areas of his body that required surgical intervention and we are not done. Robert is
a very good student and sees a bright future for himself. I know he will now achieve the goals he has set
for himself as well. My prayers as his mother have been answered many times over and will continue to
be.

Over 10 years later the MHE Research Foundation is now the world’s largest MHE organization and
leading the way in educational information in all areas, research being conducted globally and the future
does look brighter than I ever could have dreamed possible so many years ago.

It does take a village in every sense of the word and Dr. Paley you are certainly a large part of
our village!!!

With profound gratitude I thank you and look forward to our continuing efforts on behalf of all families
around the world.

Sincerely
Sarah

Juan’s Story

I was born in Mexico City and I am currently a 17 year old student graduating from High School.

I was born with a congenital birth defect. My left leg was slightly shorter than my right leg. My parents
sought help immediately after they noticed there was something wrong with me. After doing their
research, I was operated for the first time here in Mexico City. Unfortunately, due to medical
negligence, my ankle was disfigured and my growth cartilage was harmed to the point of making it
impossible for my left leg to grow at the same rate as my right one.

For the following years, my parents dedicated their lives to find somebody who could help me, any
doctor who could take care of my particular case. We sought worldwide for that person and after
searching within the United States of America, they stumbled across some information about a Doctor
in Baltimore, Maryland, called Dr. Dror Paley.

Needless to say, they took the first flight they could and gave all their trust to him, because they
believed he could certainly help me. So I was operated several times by Dr. Paley, and after some
difficult, yet wonderful years, I am only one surgery away from finishing this whole process and having
both my legs be equal. Dr Paley, along with his expert team, accomplished something that I can't
possibly describe with words, or at the very least, not without being very extensive. Dr Paley gave me a
brand new leg, a new opportunity in life, and for that I will forever be grateful.

I will not lie; this whole procedure was a difficult episode in my life. But I can assure you, all my trust
lies within Dr Paley, for he can do miracles for those who need them.

A Girl's Journey with Fibular Hemimelia

I am 14 years old and Dr. Paley has been my doctor since 1996. I was born without my fibula bone
(fibular hemimelia) in my right leg and my foot was turned to the point where I was stepping on the
side of it. My parents took me to many doctors that suggested amputation, but my parents were not
going to give up and because they knew there had to be a better option. Someone told them about Dr.
Paley and the hope he provided for families like mine. When I went to see Paley for the first time at
about 18 months old, they also diagnosed me with a shorter limb on my right leg than my left. The
condition of my foot had never even been seen before but he still had a solution. I was the youngest
patient Dr. Paley had ever performed that type of surgery on at that time. I've been told that as a kid I
would run around with my fixator on and play like a normal little kid. I learned to walk run and do
everything any other kid could do despite my defority and a few scars on my leg.

When I was about 10 I had a plate inserted into my knee to fix my "knock knee" (valgus deformity)
before I would need a second lengthening. Everything went well until I was about 11 or 12 and my leg
discrepancy was starting to catch up with me again. When I reached a two inch difference, Dr. Paley
decided it was time for my second and final lengthening. And on July 10th 2007 I went in to have the
Taylor Spatial Frame put on my leg. I vividly remember this experience. There was lots of pain, stress,
tears, physical therapy, and doctors appointments but I know it was all worth it. I kept the fixator on
for 8 months until I finally achieved the 2 inches of growth we wanted and then I had the fixator
removed. After that came more physical therapy, stress, tears and doctors appointments as I learned
to walk again.

Finally came the day where my teenage determination kicked in I decided I would no longer wear my
cast and I was just going to walk with an ankle support and get back to life. That day, Dr. Paley walked
by and looked at my scars and said "Look at that beautiful leg!" and smiled. Being a teenage girl I didnt
really think "beautiful" should be the word to describe it but I smiled. Now I realize what he meant. A
few scars have nothing to do with the beauty of my leg, it is the knowing I can do what everyone else
can do even though my leg is a little different. I could never thank Dr. Paley enough for changing my
life.

I love you Dr. Paley and I love my beautiful leg !

Alex K.

Dreaming

When I was a young child in Vietnam, I never dreamed of having my leg fixed. My life was different
compared to other kids my age. When I was 7 years old, God provided a doctor that changed my life
forever. I told him my dream was to ride a bike. He made my dream come true. Dr.Paley is the most
amazing doctor I have ever met. Not only did he make my dream come true, but he is a doctor who
shows love to his patients. He cares so much for his patients and he changes their lives. He has
impacted my life. I know he can change yours, too. Hope, love and change is how I describe Dr.Paley- a
gift from God.

Melinda
New Briatin, PA

Nathan's corrective surgery to left lower leg and foot

See Nathan's website and follow his journey at Dr. Paley's Institute from July 23, 2009- Dec 15, 2009.
http://www.jonline.org/nathan/default.html

The "bump in the road” [having to have an unexpected procedure] turned out to be a very special
moment for me. Not expecting to see much change when I went to recovery, I cried in delight when I
saw Nathan's foot straight on his leg. We've waited so many years to see this a realityThe "bump in
the road” [having to have an unexpected procedure] turned out to be a very special moment for me.
Not expecting to see much change when I went to recovery, I cried in delight when I saw Nathan's foot
straight on his leg. We've waited so many years to see this a reality.

“Paley”, means “my miracle” in Hebrew, a fitting name for the man who performed a miracle for
our family. We are eagerly approaching the end of our first lengthening and we are thrilled to have Dr.
Paley to get there, a man who has chosen to devote his life to be able to give children like our son a
chance at a fully functional life.
Throughout our months of lengthening, it became clear to me a that I found the world’s most skilled
surgeon and top-notch team. Can you imagine that my son lit up each day that we went to visit the
hospital? He couldn’t wait to see the physician’s assistants, the physical therapists, the pool therapists,
and the educational support staff. Months later, he reminds me of such great memories, the games
played in PT, the stories, the warm personalities. Each and every person we encountered at the Paley
Institute was so intelligent and specialized about this area, unbelievably passionate about their work, and
met my child with a wide, open heart.
Once I met Dr. Paley and was taken in by his team, my previously rising anxiety lifted with the knowledge
that I was in such good capable hands. I am forever grateful that they made a tough situation the best
that one could ever imagine. I am so thankful that we were able to find and provide the very best
treatment possible for our son.

Sabra
Mother of Saar (age 4)