The Preschooler and the Prosthesis
Ethan Lauchstaedt, 4, wears a prosthesis as a result of his Proximal Femoral Deficiency (PFFD). It is a condition that is very rare–it only affects 1 in 100,000 children born. Ethan’s mom, Beth, found out that Ethan had it right after he was born. PFFD develops very early on in the embryonic development, and causes on leg to grow much shorter and at a slower rate than the other. In Ethan’s case, this is his right leg. The condition requires Ethan to see three different doctors: one in Columbia, Mo. one in St. Louis, Mo. and one all the way in Baltimore, Md. In his short lifetime, he has had six different prosthetics.