Canadian amputees treated in U.S.
TheStar.com April 25, 2007 Tim harper Washington Bureau Chief
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WASHINGTON — They have fought side-by-side and in one Afghanistan battle they died side-by-side.
For one week at least, Canadian and American soldiers who have lost limbs are rehabbing side-by-side.
Three Canadian amputees are among a delegation from north of the border in the American capital this week seeking better physiotherapy techniques from the U.S. military at the Walter Reed Medical Centre.
Included among the trio is Master-Cpl. Paul Franklin, the medic who survived the Jan. 15, 2006, bombing in Kandahar that killed Canadian diplomat Glyn Berry.
Franklin,a double amputee, lost one leg at the scene of the bombing and his other leg later at home in Canada and this week he walked for the first time without the aid of canes at the American facility.
There he found a different style of harness which gave him more mobility than the one he uses at home in rehabilitation in Alberta.
"If this trip comes down to purchasing a new harness, we've succeeded,'' he said.
Five Canadians have lost limbs in Afghanistan, and at any time there are about 10 Canadian military amputees in the country's health care system.
"You can't develop expertise on 10 people,'' said Commodore Margaret Kavanagh. For one week at least, Canadian and American soldiers who have lost limbs are rehabbing side-by-side., the head of the Canadian military health care system.
According to the U.S. Army, which keeps tab
More on link
TheStar.com April 25, 2007 Tim harper Washington Bureau Chief
Article Link
WASHINGTON — They have fought side-by-side and in one Afghanistan battle they died side-by-side.
For one week at least, Canadian and American soldiers who have lost limbs are rehabbing side-by-side.
Three Canadian amputees are among a delegation from north of the border in the American capital this week seeking better physiotherapy techniques from the U.S. military at the Walter Reed Medical Centre.
Included among the trio is Master-Cpl. Paul Franklin, the medic who survived the Jan. 15, 2006, bombing in Kandahar that killed Canadian diplomat Glyn Berry.
Franklin,a double amputee, lost one leg at the scene of the bombing and his other leg later at home in Canada and this week he walked for the first time without the aid of canes at the American facility.
There he found a different style of harness which gave him more mobility than the one he uses at home in rehabilitation in Alberta.
"If this trip comes down to purchasing a new harness, we've succeeded,'' he said.
Five Canadians have lost limbs in Afghanistan, and at any time there are about 10 Canadian military amputees in the country's health care system.
"You can't develop expertise on 10 people,'' said Commodore Margaret Kavanagh. For one week at least, Canadian and American soldiers who have lost limbs are rehabbing side-by-side., the head of the Canadian military health care system.
According to the U.S. Army, which keeps tab
More on link
