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Get to Know Our Staff: Eddie Krische, Orthotics & Prosthetics

Get to Know Our Staff: Eddie Krische, Orthotics & Prosthetics

by | Oct 15, 2025 | Prosthetics & Orthotics, Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am a pediatric orthotist and prosthetist, which means I am basically part engineer, part problem solver and part cheerleader for children who are learning to move in new ways.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I enjoy helping children gain their independence and confidence with their new devices. There is nothing like seeing a child take off running in their new orthosis or prosthesis.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
Scottish Rite feels like a family. Everyone is focused on taking care of the children first, and that energy is contagious. Plus, it is one of the few places where collaboration across so many different specialties happens every day under the same roof.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I chose Orthotics & Prosthetics because I wanted to design devices for patients directly without having to be in a research lab or behind a machine. Also, I like getting to know people, learn their stories and have a good laugh with anyone who comes by.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
Recently, I have tried to blend high-tech tools, like 3D printing and AI, with old school craftmanship to create customized devices. In our department, we are trying to figure out how we can best serve our patients daily. To do that requires a bit of engineering, artistry and detective work.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I like to watch all the New York sports (#Let’sGoMets, #Let’sGoJets, #Let’sGoKnicks and #Let’sGoIslanders). I also like to hit the gym, tinker with my 3D printer and find the coolest spots to hang out with my friends.

Do you have any hidden talents?
In high school, my family guilted me into joining a pipe band. I really wanted to play the drums, but they only had spots left for bagpipe players. I learned how to play the bagpipes, and I must admit that it was pretty cool. We marched down 5th Avenue every year, depending on the weather.

Where are you from, and what brought you to DFW?
I am originally from Long Island, New York, which is right outside of Queens, New York. I initially came to Texas to run away from the snow and freezing winters, but it seems like that weather has followed me here. I chose to stay in DFW because of the awesome people I have met and the great community around me.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Anywhere with a beach would make me happy.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pizza from Umberto’s of New Hyde Park, New York. No, Chicago pizza is not a real pizza.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
This is not a movie, but “Ted Lasso” is a definite must-see for everyone.

What is the first concert you attended?
My first concert was U2. The best concerts I have ever gone to are a three-way tie between Luke Combs, Zach Bryan or Taylor Swift.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
I would pick Chris Pratt. He is goofy enough, but he can still pull off serious moments.

What is some advice you would give your younger self, OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
“Don’t overcomplicate the small stuff,” says Dwight Putnam, who is my great mentor, friend and brother.

KCBD: Keegan Shares Story At West Texas Golf Classic

KCBD: Keegan Shares Story At West Texas Golf Classic

by | Sep 30, 2025 | Events, Press Coverage, Prosthetics & Orthotics

The West Texas Golf Classic brought golfers together to raise funds and awareness for Scottish Rite for Children.

Among the crowd was the Ratliff family from Mason, Texas. Their son Keegan was born with fibular hemimelia, a rare condition where the fibula bone is missing or underdeveloped.

At 10 months old, his left leg was amputated, and by his first birthday, he was fitted with a prosthetic leg.

“When I was little, my parents never let me back down from a challenge,” Keegan says. “I think that really helped.”

Throughout the past two decades, the Ratliff family has raised more than $550,000 through their businesses and community events to help other children receive the same life-changing care.

Now 18 years old, Keegan shines as a multisport athlete in football, basketball and tennis, always acknowledging Scottish Rite for setting him on the path to success.

“It’s just great to see the hospital is still doing great things and helping kids like they helped me,” Keegan says.

Watch the full story on KCBD.

Grace in Motion: How Kathlynn Found Her Inner Strength With Scoliosis

Grace in Motion: How Kathlynn Found Her Inner Strength With Scoliosis

by | Jun 17, 2025 | Prosthetics & Orthotics, Scoliosis & Spine

For Kathlynn, of Waxahachie, Texas, dance is not just a hobby. It is an outlet for expression that brings joy. Just days after Kathlynn’s 10th birthday, she and her family went to the pediatrician for a routine visit. The pediatrician noticed a curve in Kathlynn’s back and administered an X-ray, confirming two curves in her spine. After visiting another facility, the family began searching for resources in their area.

“My husband insisted on getting a second opinion from Scottish Rite for Children,” says Stacy, Kathlynn’s mother. “It was not because he did not believe in the diagnosis. You couldn’t deny the X-ray. However, my husband felt there had to be a place that catered to the experience of children.”

Kathlynn was evaluated by pediatric orthopedic surgeon Amy L. McIntosh, M.D., who diagnosed her with the most common type of scoliosis — adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Specifically, Kathlynn has two spinal curves — a thoracic, or upper spine, curve of 21 degrees and a lumbar, or lower spine, curve of 22 degrees. During the same appointment, Kathlynn met with orthotist Sara L. Martinson, C.P.O., who custom made a brace to address her spine curve.

“At our first visit, we had the opportunity to meet Dr. McIntosh, who acknowledged and comforted our fears,” Stacy says. “The fact that the brace is made onsite and adjustments can be done anytime is such a gift to us.”

In Kathlynn’s case, brace wear came with the fear of being taken away from her passion —dance. Dr. McIntosh and her family agreed on all-day bracing for Kathlynn, with the recommendation to wear it 20 hours a day. With this plan, Kathlynn wears her brace to sleep and only takes it off for dance. While no limitations were placed on Kathlynn’s physical activities, adjusting to a scoliosis brace can be challenging physically and mentally. For Kathlynn, it encouraged her to work harder.

“Despite the physical demands that come from practicing and performing, Kathlynn never lets scoliosis define her,” Stacy says.

While Kathlynn’s journey is not over, she continues to handle bracing with grace. “Scottish Rite has given us more than medical care,” Stacy says. “They’ve given us hope, education and a clear plan. We’re especially grateful for how the team speaks directly to Kathlynn, helping her feel seen and heard. That connection and level of trust have made a huge difference in her commitment and growth.”

One Diagnosis, Two Unique Journeys: Ellie and Josie Take On Scoliosis Together

One Diagnosis, Two Unique Journeys: Ellie and Josie Take On Scoliosis Together

by | Jun 9, 2025 | Prosthetics & Orthotics, Scoliosis & Spine

With an insatiable love for reading, 13-year-old Ellie and 10-year-old Josie, of McGregor, Texas, have always turned the page of their story together, even as they face scoliosis side by side. Their mother, Sarah, recognized the signs early as she was diagnosed with scoliosis herself as a teenager.

“I always knew it could be a possibility for my kids,” Sarah says. “I noticed that both girls began to develop curves that were apparent even to an untrained eye, so we started to look for options.”

Ellie, Josie and their family came to Scottish Rite for Children where they receive treatment from Megan E. Johnson, M.D. — medical director of Ambulatory Care, pediatric orthopedic surgeon and program director of the Dorothy & Bryant Edwards Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics and Scoliosis. During their first evaluation, Dr. Johnson discovered that both girls have idiopathic scoliosis, the most common type of scoliosis with no known cause.

While Ellie and Josie share a similar diagnosis, no two spine curves are the same. Ellie has adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), which primarily affects children and teens between the ages of 10 to 18. In her case, she has two curves — a 30-degree thoracolumbar curve, where the upper and lower parts of the spine meet, and a 21-degree thoracic, or middle back, curve. Josie has juvenile idiopathic scoliosis, which affects children between the ages of 4 to 10. In her case, she has a 33-degree thoracic curve.

To treat both girls, Dr. Johnson recommended bracing. Bracing is typically used for curves measuring between 20 and 45 degrees. It is prescribed to prevent curves from worsening. For Ellie and Josie, Dr. Johnson instructed them to wear their scoliosis braces for 18 to 20 hours a day.

“I knew one scoliosis brace could be expensive,” Sarah says. “However, two? Could we really afford that?” To make Ellie’s and Josie’s braces more affordable, their family enrolled in Scottish Rite’s Crayon Care program. Crayon Care is a charity care program that provides financial assistance to families receiving treatment at Scottish Rite. “Scottish Rite’s Crayon Care has been such a blessing to us,” Sarah says. “We know we are getting the best care for Ellie and Josie.”

Scottish Rite’s in-house Orthotics and Prosthetics department created custom braces for Ellie and Josie for same-day fittings at their appointments. Additionally, their care team consists of certified pediatric nurse practitioner Emily Chapman, APRN, CPNP-PC, and Director of Orthotics Don Virostek, C.P.O., L.P.O. Virostek creates and fits Ellie’s and Josie’s braces while Chapman monitors their spine curves for any growth.

While bracing started as simply a treatment plan, it kick-started a friendly competition between the sisters. All Scottish Rite for Children braces include a small temperature-sensitive device that tracks how long a child wears their brace and their progression.

“Ellie and Josie get really competitive about wearing their braces,” Sarah says. “We always look forward to seeing who wore their braces longer when we visit Scottish Rite.”  

Recently, the girls returned to Scottish Rite for a visit with their three younger sisters. During their appointment, they discovered the winner of their brace-wearing contest. By a difference of only one hour, Ellie wore her brace longer. Although their story is still being written, Ellie and Josie continue to support each other through every chapter.

“We are thankful to see the improvements in their spines,” Sarah says. “I’ve recommended Scottish Rite to other parents because of the level of care. We are so thankful that Scottish Rite is relatively close by and feel great, knowing we have this wonderful resource.”

Chloe Races Toward Her Future

Chloe Races Toward Her Future

by | Apr 29, 2025 | Limb Lengthening, Prosthetics & Orthotics

Previously published in Rite Up, 2025 – Issue 1

“This is me, this is who I am, and I am not ashamed of it,” says 17-year-old Chloe, of Panhandle, Texas. She lives by this motto. With hopes of competing in the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, she is a rising star in adaptive track and field.

Chloe was born with fibular hemimelia in her left leg. Her fibula, the small bone in her shin, was missing. Before her first birthday, she underwent a Syme’s amputation to remove her foot and ankle joint. Chloe began learning how to walk with a prosthesis.

“We did a lot of research before deciding to amputate her leg,” says Sheryl, Chloe’s mother. “We made a decision Chloe would live with for the rest of her life, not us. Whatever decision we made was never going to be an easy one, but it was whatever would make Chloe’s life easier.”

At age 14, Chloe began receiving multidisciplinary care at Scottish Rite for Children from pediatric orthopedic surgeon Corey S. Gill, M.D., M.A., and Orthotist and Prosthetist Manager Kelsey Thompson, C.P.O., L.P.O. As her care team worked alongside her to address her specific needs, Chloe transitioned from being a multisport athlete to dedicating her talents in adaptive track and field. 

She excels in running, throwing and long jumping, earning recognition as one of the 2024 U.S. Paralympics Track & Field High School Athletes of the Year.

On and off the field, Chloe’s care team supports her diverse interests. Scottish Rite prosthetists have created numerous state-of-the-art prostheses for her, including an everyday walking leg and a running blade for sprinting track events, designed to mimic the natural motion of a foot for running or jumping. Recently, the team produced a specialty prosthesis designed for long jumping, supporting her dream to go the distance and in her pursuit of Paralympic success. They also developed an adjustable heel height prosthesis to match the height of whatever shoes she chooses to wear — from cowboy boots to high heels. Chloe plans to major in kinesiology, continue adaptive track and field, and inspire other young athletes.

“Dr. Gill and Kelsey always believed in me,” Chloe says. “It feels amazing to run with kids who look like me. As long as I have my two legs, I’ll keep pushing forward and never let anything hold me back.”

Read the full issue.

Texas Country Reporter: The Artistic Prosthetist Dwight Putnam

Texas Country Reporter: The Artistic Prosthetist Dwight Putnam

by | Mar 25, 2025 | Press Coverage, Prosthetics & Orthotics, Spotlight

Dwight Putnam discovered that his artistic talent could transform the lives of children at Scottish Rite for Children. He transitioned from working as a sculptor to a prosthetist, finding his calling in crafting prostheses that empower children with limb differences. For the past 18 years, Dwight has served as an integral part of Scottish Rite for Children’s in-house Orthotics and Prosthetics department, designing, fitting, and delivering custom-made prostheses to address each patient’s specific needs.

“It is really rare for somebody to have a job that shows the immediate contribution you have to someone’s well-being,” Dwight says. “To be able to just be a part of that process is awesome.”

To learn more about Dwight’s story, watch his segment shown on the Texas Country Reporter.