Claire Dawson
Jacob, an 8-year-old boy from Plymouth, Connecticut, was adopted from China at 19 months old. He was born without a right hand and right leg, but that hasn't stopped him from being active and pursuing his passions. Thanks to prostheses from Shriners Hospitals for Children, Jacob has been able to run, swim, and play T-ball and soccer. He even started competing in track and field events when he was 7 years old.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age | 8 years old |
| Place of residence | Plymouth, Connecticut |
| Parents | James and Rachel |
| Date of adoption | 2013 |
| Age at the time of adoption | 19 months old |
| Place of birth | China |
| Health condition | Born without a right hand and right leg |
| Treatment | Prostheses |
| Interest | Running, swimming, T-ball, and soccer |
| Running blade provider | A family friend |
| Prosthetist | Brock McConkey, CPO |
| Hospital location | Springfield |
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What You'll Learn
Jacob's age
Jacob was 19 months old when he was adopted from China in 2013. He was born without a right hand and right leg, but that didn't stop him from being active and crawling and rolling around the house. A month after his adoption, Jacob and his family visited the Springfield Shriners Hospital's orthotics and prosthetics department.
Over the years, prostheses from Shriners Hospitals for Children have enabled Jacob to swim, play T-ball and soccer, and even run. At age seven, he began competing in track and field events near his home with other adaptive athletes. Now, at eight years old, Jacob dreams of competing in the Adaptive Track and Field Championships against athletes from across the country.
Shriners Hospital has transformed Jacob's life, allowing him to live his life to the fullest and follow his dreams. The hospital provides compassionate and innovative care, improving the quality of life for children and their families. Through donor generosity, Shriners has helped over one million children lead more fulfilling lives, regardless of their families' financial situation.
Jacob's story is a testament to the impact of Shriners Hospital's care and the power of prostheses in enabling children with physical challenges to pursue their passions and achieve their goals.
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Jacob's adoption
Jacob was adopted by James and Rachel from Plymouth, Connecticut, when he was 19 months old. He was born in China without a right hand and right leg. However, this did not stop him from being active and crawling and rolling around the house.
James and Rachel had to either carry him or put him in a stroller outside their home. They wanted Jacob to have the freedom to explore the world more independently. They had prior experience with Shriners Hospital, as two of their other children had already received great care there for other conditions.
One month after his adoption, Jacob and his family visited the hospital’s orthotics and prosthetics department (POPS) where they met with manager and certified prosthetist Brock McConkey, CPO. Over the years, prostheses from Shriners Hospitals for Children — Springfield enabled Jacob to swim and play T-ball and soccer, but running became his passion.
When Jacob was seven, he began competing in track and field events near his home with other adaptive athletes. To support Jacob’s running goals, a family friend procured a running blade for him to wear. However, he experienced some hip discomfort and fatigue while wearing the blade. Brock made customized adjustments to fit Jacob’s residual limb, and soon he was running again.
Now eight years old, Jacob aspires to compete in the Adaptive Track and Field Championships against athletes from across the country.
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Jacob's prosthetics
Jacob Scrimshaw, a five-year-old boy from the UK, was born eight weeks premature with most of his left arm missing. He received a prosthetic arm that allowed him to hug his brother. Jacob's mother, Gemma, explained that he did not want a non-functioning prosthetic, and that the addition of the prosthetic arm helped with balancing his posture. The prosthetic arm was designed with a superhero theme, featuring a large, green hand, at Jacob's request.
In the United States, another boy named Jacob received prostheses from Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield. Jacob, who was born without a right hand and right leg, received his first prosthesis at 19 months old, shortly after being adopted from China. Over the years, prostheses from Shriners Hospitals for Children have enabled Jacob to swim, play T-ball and soccer, and pursue his passion for running. At the age of seven, Jacob began competing in track and field events with other adaptive athletes. To support his running goals, a family friend provided him with a running blade, which was customized by Brock McConkey, a certified prosthetist at Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a system of 22 children's hospitals supported by the Masonic Shriners International fraternity. The hospitals provide medical care, testing, treatment, and therapy for patients up to 18 years old, regardless of their families' ability to pay. The hospitals have helped over one million children lead more fulfilling lives and have provided specialized care for conditions such as osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease.
The impact of prosthetics on Jacob's life has been transformative. With the help of prostheses, Jacob has been able to pursue his passions and live his life to the fullest. The support and generosity of donors and healthcare professionals have played a crucial role in providing Jacob with the prosthetics he needs to achieve his dreams.
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Shriners Hospitals history
Shriners Hospitals for Children, commonly known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit children's hospitals and other paediatric medical facilities across North America. The hospitals are owned and operated by Shriners International, formally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a Freemasonry-related organisation whose members are known as Shriners.
The first Shriners Hospital opened its doors in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1922, providing state-of-the-art paediatric orthopedic care. The hospital was built in an underserved city surrounded by farming communities. The Shriners fraternity continues to support the healthcare system as its official philanthropy today.
In 1962, the Shriners of North America allocated $10 million to establish three hospitals specialising in the treatment and rehabilitation of burned children. These were the only facilities that were initially established exclusively for the treatment of paediatric burns and related conditions. Over the years, Shriners Children's has treated over 1.5 million children, regardless of their families' ability to pay.
In 2009, the hospitals' CEO, Douglas Maxwell, stated that some of the facilities may become outpatient surgical centres and will begin accepting insurance payments for the first time in the hospitals' history. He reassured that children with burns, orthopaedic conditions, spinal cord injuries, and cleft palates will continue to be treated at no charge to their families.
In 2015, Shriners Hospitals for Children became a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, a national network committed to better serving patients and their families through physician collaboration. In the 2020s, Shriners Hospitals for Children rebranded as Shriners Children's, adapting to current healthcare trends.
Today, Shriners Children's provides advanced care for children with a range of orthopaedic issues, burn injuries, craniofacial conditions, spine care, spinal cord injuries, colorectal and gastrointestinal care, and sports medicine. Shriners Children's strives to improve the lives of children and their families through its three-part mission: to provide innovative paediatric specialty care, world-class research, and outstanding medical education.
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Other patients
Shriners Hospitals for Children, also known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit children's hospitals and paediatric healthcare facilities across North America. The hospitals are owned and operated by Shriners International, a Freemasonry-related organisation. Shriners Hospitals provide care for children with a range of conditions, including orthopaedic issues, burns, spinal cord injuries, craniofacial conditions, and cleft lip and palate. They offer a variety of treatments and therapies, including surgery, physical therapy, aquatherapy, animal-assisted therapy, and sports medicine. Care is provided regardless of a family's ability to pay, and patients are not required to have any affiliation with the Shriners order or Freemasonry.
One well-known patient of Shriners Children's Chicago is Alec Cabacungan, who has been a patient ambassador and spokesman for the hospital. Alec was born with brittle bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta) and has undergone countless operations, breaking over 60 bones in his lifetime. He has been a patient at Shriners since he was two months old, and he credits the hospital with helping him in every aspect of his life. Alec wants to pursue a career in sports broadcasting and has been studying at Northwestern University. He has participated in commercials to raise funds and awareness for the hospital, and his feisty personality has helped to raise awareness for Shriners tremendously.
Another patient, Kaleb, has been a patient at Shriners Hospitals since he was seven days old. Kaleb was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, and has broken his bones over 200 times, undergoing 11 surgeries. Despite these challenges, Kaleb has not let his condition stop him, and he is now learning to stand and walk on his own.
Brandon is another patient who has shared his story on the Shriners Children's website. Brandon had surgery at Shriners in Philadelphia, and before the procedure, he had zero function in his arm. After the surgery, he gained significant function and can now eat almost like normal. Brandon speaks highly of his experience at Shriners, stating that the staff goes above and beyond to ensure patients get what they need.
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Frequently asked questions
Jacob is 8 years old.
Jacob was adopted from China when he was 19 months old. He was born without a right hand and right leg but that didn't stop him from being active and crawling and rolling around the house. Shriners Hospital has helped Jacob get prosthetics that have allowed him to live his life to the fullest and follow his dreams.
Jacob aspires to compete in the Adaptive Track and Field Championships against athletes from across the country.
Jacob has been enabled to swim, play T-ball and soccer, but running has quickly grown into a passion.
