Hand in Hand, Kam Embarks On a Healing Journey Through Treatment

Hand in Hand, Kam Embarks On a Healing Journey Through Treatment

Kamran, better known as “Kam,” is always on the move! Whenever his family takes a break away from the city, Kam enjoys spending time on a swing set or riding up and down hills in golf carts. Though he is full of energy and curiosity, 2-year-old Kam has endured many challenges to be able to enjoy his favorite activities.

When Kam was born, his parents noticed contractions in his hands, which led them to seek solutions at other facilities near their home in Fort Worth, Texas. Kam was diagnosed with congenital contractures of the limbs and face, hypotonia and developmental dysplasia (CLIFADD) syndrome. CLIFADD is a rare, congenital condition that causes various limbs to contract. Kam was also diagnosed with distal arthrogryposis, a symptom of CLIFADD. Distal arthrogryposis affects Kam’s hands, causing them to curve inward, which limits his range of motion.

“We were completely in shock and even fearful when we heard the news,” Caroline says. “We immediately sought as much information as we could find, even though there wasn’t much.”

Seeking a second opinion for treatment options, Kam and his family came to Scottish Rite to be evaluated by Director of the Charles E. Seay, Jr. Center for Excellence in Hand Scott Oishi, M.D., FACS, and occupational therapist Amy Sitabkhan. “Within minutes of our appointment, we felt at ease and knew that we had made the right decision to come to Scottish Rite,” Caroline says. “The team was so caring and patient, even taking the time to talk to us as parents and understand our needs better for our son.”

Together, Dr. Oishi and Amy tailored a treatment plan that focuses on improving Kam’s mobility. With demonstrations led by Amy, Kam’s family learned exercises to continue stretching his fingers to advance his progress at home each day. Kam’s family learned proper nighttime bracing technique, which stretches his fingers to improve his range of motion. After a few months, Kam began grasping his toys with his hands.

“We haven’t felt the same care and support from anywhere else since coming to Scottish Rite,” Caroline says. “It’s because Scottish Rite treats Kam like a child first and a patient second. Our family feels so taken care of whenever we are here.”

Kam and his family recently began attending the Hand in Hand Support Group, where they found a sense of community at Scottish Rite. This specialized group connects families of children with hand or upper limb conditions with resources and provides a forum to share their experiences. While Kam’s care journey continues, his family remains committed to progress not only for Kam but also for his older sister. Now, they’re focused on teaching their Kam’s sister daughter the importance of acceptance and understanding of those with different conditions.

“Hand in Hand Support Group has been so special for our family,” Caroline says. “I recognize the importance of connecting with others to share similar experiences, as well as hope. To our family, Scottish Rite has been a light on this unknown path.”

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Briggs’ Transformer Surgery: The Procedure That Gave Him a Thumb

Briggs’ Transformer Surgery: The Procedure That Gave Him a Thumb

Previously published in Rite Up, 2025 – Issue 1

Just two days after Christmas, 4-year-old Brigham, who goes by Briggs, underwent what he calls his “Transformer” surgery at Scottish Rite for Children. Briggs, of Longview, Texas, loves playing with cars, trucks and Transformers — the Hasbro action figures that start as robots, transform into various vehicles and also star in comic books, animated series and blockbuster films. On surgery day, Briggs arrived dressed as his favorite character, Optimus Prime, a robot-to-18-wheeler Transformer who is the central hero and courageous leader of the Autobots — the good guys.

Briggs’ parents, Rachel and Robert, had an inkling that something might be different when Briggs was born. During an ultrasound, Rachel recalls a doctor saying that something was going on with Briggs’ hand, but he could not see for sure because of the way he was positioned. “It scared me, and I remember leaving there thinking, ‘Is there something wrong with my baby?’” Rachel says.

Months later, Briggs was born early at 33 ½ weeks. “His arm was kind of pinned behind him, and his hand turned in very much toward his forearm,” Robert says. “That was the only thing he could do with that arm.” Rachel explains that within 24 hours, a doctor at the hospital came in and said, “We’re referring you to Scottish Rite because they’re the best.”

After eight weeks in the NICU, the family brought Briggs to Scottish Rite for Children where he was evaluated by pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Director of the Charles E. Seay, Jr. Center for Excellence in Hand Scott Oishi, M.D., FACS. Dr. Oishi diagnosed Briggs with ulnar dimelia, which is classically referred to as mirror hand. Briggs was born with seven fingers on his left hand, but he had no  

thumb. The fingers on one side of his hand mirrored the fingers on the other side. In addition to the hand, ulnar dimelia affects the functionality of the arm. Typically, a baby is born with two bones in their forearm, including the radius on the thumb side and the ulna on the pinky finger side. A child with ulnar dimelia has no radius. Instead, the ulna is duplicated, which affects the ability to bend and rotate the elbow and wrist.

“Ulnar dimelia is one of the rarest congenital disorders of the arm,” Dr. Oishi says. “Many surgeons that do pediatric hand surgery have never seen it in their life.” An article published in the Journal of Musculoskeletal Surgery and Research describes ulnar dimelia as a rare developmental anomaly with only about 70 cases reported worldwide. “At Scottish Rite for Children, we have a vast amount of experience treating conditions that are very rarely seen,” Dr. Oishi says. “And, we have an entire multidisciplinary team of not just surgeons but also child life specialists and occupational therapists, as well as hand camp programs for children with congenital anomalies.”

Dr. Oishi and his clinical team designed an individualized treatment plan for Briggs that they continue to manage as he grows. To date, Briggs has undergone three different surgeries to improve the functionality of his arm and hand. The first one occurred right before his first birthday. Prior to the procedure, his arm was stuck in extension, meaning Briggs could

not bend his elbow. After a complex surgery, Dr. Oishi created a functioning elbow that Briggs could begin to move. “He went from his arm being kind of twisted behind him to having an arm that hangs normally with a slight bend,” Robert says. “It was amazing! I mean, how in the world do you create an elbow for somebody?”

When Briggs was 3, Dr. Oishi performed a second surgery to release soft tissue that took Briggs’ wrist from a locked position into a more flexible one. “When your wrist is curled in, it makes your arm look very short,” Robert says. “That surgery released his wrist, and he was able to have it stretched out more.”

A close-up of 4-year-old Briggs’ left hand with seven fingers.

Briggs’ latest operation — his “Transformer” surgery — is technically called pollicization. He went into surgery with seven fingers and no thumb, and Dr. Oishi transformed his hand into one that now has three fingers and a functioning thumb. The pollicization procedure creates a thumb to give a child the ability to grab objects. This is accomplished by converting one of the fingers into a thumb by moving it down the hand and rotating it into opposition to the other fingers.

Your thumb plays a pivotal role because it comes toward your other fingers to give you true functional grabbing ability,” Robert says. “Briggs never had that. He could grab things by pinching two fingers together, but they were side by side.”

Dr. Oishi explains that a child will usually indicate which finger they want to be their thumb. “The finger has to be what we call supple, so when you push on it, it bends easily,” he says. “Some kids have stiff fingers, and they don’t work well as a thumb.” Over the years during

Briggs’ appointments, Dr. Oishi examined his fingers and also determined his grip pattern. “I have a lot of toys in my pockets,” he says. “People think I’m just playing with the kids, which I am, but I’m actually playing with them with purpose to see which finger they want to use as their thumb, and that’s how we determine which one to move.”

Briggs’ most functional fingers include the four that were originally located on the left side of his hand — the side on which they are supposed to grow. These are his pinky, ring and middle finger. The one located immediately after the middle finger was his best finger, the one that Dr. Oishi made into a thumb. “You’d like to leave him with four fingers and a thumb, but the other three fingers were stiff, and he didn’t use them,” Dr. Oishi says. “My goal is to give him the most aesthetically pleasing and most functional hand.”

Having a functioning thumb is critical to overall hand function. It is better for a child to have three fingers and a thumb than four fingers and no thumb. It is also important for a child to undergo pollicization surgery when they are young so their brain can adapt and functionally integrate the new thumb. “Researchers debate about when the use pattern of plasticity sets in,” Dr. Oishi says, “but usually, you conduct a pollicization before a child turns 4, 5 or 6 so they can incorporate the idea of the thumb into their brain.” When these children get older, they simply think of that finger as their thumb, whereas a child who undergoes pollicization later still thinks of their thumb as the finger that was moved.

When Briggs came out of surgery, he wore a blue cast to match his Optimus Prime outfit. He also got Transformers stickers, which of course, he stuck on his cast. “Briggs has lived a large portion of his life in a cast or with a splint on his arm,” Robert says. “I would be a hot mess of complaining, but it doesn’t faze him. He just doesn’t get down, which is really cool to watch.”

“Briggs is an overcomer,” Rachel says. “He has a spirit of true joy.” She shares that recently, Briggs was pretending to be a doctor. “I was like, ‘Are you being Dr. Oishi?’” Rachel says, “and Briggs was like, ‘Yeah!’”

Dr. Oishi’s hope for Briggs is that he has no pain and can do everything he wants to do without any help. “Briggs is still young, but he’s pretty close to achieving this,” Dr. Oishi says. “He’s got a great support system, and he doesn’t let anything stop him.”

“We have a high level of trust in Dr. Oishi and feel that he’s got Briggs’ best interest in mind,” Robert says. Rachel appreciates his bedside manner. “The trust we have in him is because of how much he genuinely cares,” she says. “You can see how passionate he is about his patients — every single one.”

KXXV (ABC): Cooper’s Triumph Over His Conditions

KXXV (ABC): Cooper’s Triumph Over His Conditions

“Seeing him run around happy and never think anything was ever wrong … it’s heartwarming knowing that he’s going to be okay,” says Cooper’s father, BJ, describing the progress Cooper has made navigating his conditions. 

Cooper and his family traveled from College Station to Dallas to receive multidisciplinary care at Scottish Rite for Children. Cooper’s father, BJ, is no stranger to Scottish Rite. He received treatment at Scottish Rite for arthrogryposis as a child. Director of the Center for Excellence in Hand Scott Oishi, M.D., FACS, confirmed that Cooper has arthrogryposis, just like his dad. Director of the Center for Excellence in Foot Anthony I. Riccio, M.D., diagnosed Cooper with congenital vertical talus, a rare and complex foot condition that causes the sole of the foot to flex in a convex position, forming a rocker-bottom appearance.

Now, Cooper is a bundle of energy who runs and plays, thanks to the care he receives at Scottish Rite. 

Watch Cooper’s segment here. 

KLTV: Briggs’ Transformative Hand Surgery

KLTV: Briggs’ Transformative Hand Surgery

Briggs was born with no thumb and seven fingers — a rare condition seen only three times by staff orthopedic hand surgeon and the director of the Center for Excellence in Hand Scott Oishi, M.D., FACS. After undergoing three surgeries, Briggs is now affectionately known as a “superhero.”

“You have a kid who is sick or born differently, and that’s how those superheroes are — the ones they see in movies or on TV,” Oishi said. “There’s something special about that analogy.”

Watch the full story on KLTV.

Calling All Nurses: Volunteer at Scottish Rite for Children Camps

Calling All Nurses: Volunteer at Scottish Rite for Children Camps

Scottish Rite for Children’s patient-centered care stems from its focus on helping patients navigate their conditions outside of the clinic. The Therapeutic Recreation department offers multiple specialized camps throughout the year, which are designed to teach patients how to live active and independent lives.

Camps bring together children with similar conditions in an environment that fosters friendships and lifelong memories through outdoor activities and games. The following camps are offered at Scottish Rite: 

  • Camp Joint Adventure: For patients between the ages of 7 to 15 who are diagnosed with arthrogryposis, multiple limb loss or various rheumatic conditions.
  • Camp TLC: For patients between the ages of 9 to 16 who are diagnosed with spina bifida.
  • Hand Camp: HD 1 is for patients between ages 5 to 9 who have upper limb differences. HD 1.5/2 is for patients between the ages of 10 to 17 with hand differences. 

What makes Scottish Rite camps special are not only the uniqueness each child brings but also each volunteer’s commitment to providing a “can do” environment. Camps are supervised by counselors, which includes Scottish Rite staff members and volunteers.

“A week at camp is not like any typical week as a nurse,” says Sheila Maldonado, R.N., who volunteers at Camp TLC. “On top of providing the fun for all our campers, counselors make sure they are healthy and safe during the entire experience. For nurses, it’s the best way to sharpen the skills we might not have used since school, while creating the most rewarding memories.”

All campers must be active patients of Scottish Rite. For staff members, many find that volunteering as a counselor is a unique way to interact with patients in a nonclinical setting.

“The best part about camp is seeing the connections made,” says R.N. Manager Alejandra “Alex” H. Medrano, M.S.N., R.N., who has volunteered for more than 20 years at Camps TLC and Joint Adventure.  “They get a chance to build peer support networks. They also become more comfortable with their care team during appointments.”

The camps offered by Scottish Rite serve its mission of giving children back their childhood, allowing them to experience the joy of summer camp with their peers. “My favorite part is how inclusive these camps are and watching kids just be kids, including all the smiles, laughs, friendships and fantastic activities,” says Karol Yeager, R.N. “Out of all the activities, I think either the Slip ‘N Slide® or the zip line was my favorite to watch. The sheer joy from these kids that possibly have never done these things before was priceless!”

Camp TLC is currently accepting applications for campers and medical volunteers (cabin nurses). If you are interested in volunteering, please view the Camp Volunteer application process for more information.

To learn more about the application process, camp dates and more for Camp Joint Adventure and Hand Camps, please view our Camps page here

Get to Know Our Staff: Lucy Ericson, Occupational Therapy

Get to Know Our Staff: Lucy Ericson, Occupational Therapy

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?    
I am an occupational therapist (OT), primarily with the hand therapy team.

 

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I enjoy getting to work with children throughout all walks of life, from infancy to college age.

 

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
I was a volunteer at Scottish Rite in high school, and that’s when I first learned about all the cool things occupational therapists do. I love that our doors are open to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay, and that the same high-quality care is given to every child and family.

 

What made you choose a career in health care?
I’ve always been interested in how I can help improve the lives of other people, so I began my career in public health and community health programming. I found out that occupational therapy was the perfect fit for me because of my desire to work more one-on-one with families. I never thought I would want to work in hand therapy specifically, but now I cannot imagine doing anything else.

 

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
Each day can look so different, and I love the variety it brings. In one day, I could work with a newborn with a brachial plexus birth injury, a child with cerebral palsy receiving care to improve the function of their arm, a hand fracture patient, a child with a flexor tendon repair or a child with arthrogryposis who is learning how to dress themself.

 

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
99% of my free time is spent with my two little girls and husband. I also love to garden and cook.

 

Do you have any hidden talents?
Within the OT team, I am the record-setting speed walker. I was eight months pregnant when I set the record!

 

Where are you from and what brought you to DFW?
I was born and raised in the D-FW area.

 

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
My bucket list includes visiting all the national parks. I am excited about going to Zion National Park this year.

 

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
It would be pizza and ice cream, because there is nothing better.

 

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
The Sandlot.

What was the first concert you attended?
NSYNC.

 

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
This isn’t a hidden gem, but I think everyone should support their local farmer’s market. Buying locally grown produce is better for our environment, supports small scale farmers and, of course, tastes better.

 

What is some advice you would give your younger self OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Stop stressing so much about the future and what is to come. Slow down to enjoy the chaos!