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STANDARD BEARERS | News

Jeffrey Beausoleil Mitchell and Spencer Cady Omar Hernandez
Montreal, Canada Sacramento, California Los Angeles, California
18-year-old Jeffrey Beausoleil was born Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern Shriners for Children Medical Center in
without a right hand or right foot. It was a California is proud to introduce Mitchell and Pasadena, previously known as Shriners
surprise to his parents – the ultrasound had Spencer Cady as patient ambassadors to the Hospitals for Children – Los Angeles, is proud
2017 SHC Open. Thanks to orthopaedic surgeons
not detected the missing limbs on the right at Shriners Hospital, Mitchell, 12, and Spencer, to introduce Omar Hernandez as its patient
side of his body. However, Jeffrey’s disability 10, are active participants in school and sports. ambassador for the 2017 Shriners Hospitals
has never stopped him. One of four boys, Spencer, 10, was born with bilateral club feet and for Children Open. Omar, 18, is from Taos,
referred to Shriners by his pediatrician when he
his parents always encouraged him to try was just one week old. Mitchell, 12, first came to New Mexico. He has been a patient at
something before deciding he couldn’t do the Northern California hospital at age five. Along Shriners Hospitals for Children – Los Angeles
it. As Jeffrey says, “I’m not disabled, just with their parents, Brad and Marni, the Cady boys since 1999. Omar was born without a left
know the nurses and staff members by name and
differently-abled.” Jeffrey has been active have made friends with many other patients. arm and is currently receiving physical and
in sports his entire life, loves music (he DJs occupational therapy. He was fitted for his
and is a musician) and Netflix. After taking a Spencer is a patient of Dr. Joel Lerman, an first prosthetic arm at 18 months of age and
orthopaedic surgeon noted for his work in treating
year off after high school to work, Jeffrey is children with club foot. Dr. Lerman examined has interchanged his prosthesis over 15
attending CEGEP (similar to junior college) Spencer when he was an infant and immediately times in the past 18 years. He currently uses
this fall. put casts on both legs. At six months, Spencer a myoelectric prosthetic arm. With the help
transitioned to Ponseti braces. Four separate
Jeffrey has been a patient at Shriners surgeries, two on each foot, ensued over the next of his loving family, mom Sara, father Javier
five years. Spencer was fitted for braces in the
and two older brothers, Javier Jr. and Ruben,
Hospitals for Children – Canada since the age hospital’s orthotics and prosthetics lab. Spencer Omar has been able to overcome many
now wears AFO braces nightly and reports for
of five months. Hospital surgeons operated regular checkups every four months. challenges in life.
on his webbed fingers when he was a baby.
For years after, Jeffrey went to the hospital Faced with a mild case of cerebral palsy, Mitchell With the support of his family and Shriners
began physical therapy when he was a year old.
for occupational therapy and physiotherapy, Impressed by the care her young son Spencer Hospitals for Children, Omar has learned
learning how to do everyday things and received at Shriners, Marni submitted an application to become an independent young adult and
allowing him to be so physically adventurous. for Mitchell and was referred to Dr. Jon R. Davids, has been successful in many endeavors
a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon noted for his work
He was followed at the hospital and for each in using motion analysis to diagnose and treat and hobbies, including fishing, hiking, and
growth was equipped with new prosthetics. children with cerebral palsy. Mitchell’s treatment performing with a mariachi group. Omar
began with a study of his lower extremities in the is an amazing trumpet player and recently
Indeed Jeffrey has a desire to try new hospital’s motion analysis lab. The study showed performed at the Ladies Oriental Shrine
that he was a candidate for surgery. In September
challenges, whether physical or mental, and 2013, Dr. Davids operated on Mitchell’s left foot and Grand Council in Coast Mesa, CA. Having
has become a central ambassador for Canada leg. He was in a cast for weeks before beginning graduated high school, he plans to continue
aggressive physical therapy.
Shriners Hospital. He received widespread his education in abnormal psychology at the
media coverage doing Spartan Races for the While her sons had very different needs, Marni said University of New Mexico and eventually
hospital – known as some of the most difficult both “receive the best care we could possibly ask become an occupational therapist. He chose
for. The thing we appreciate the most is the number
obstacle courses in the world – in the summers one goal always revolves around what is best for this career path because of the patient- and
of 2015 and 2016, proving disabilities do not the patient. The fact that the hospital is able to help family-centered care he received from the
mean limitations. Jeffrey recently helped the with both of our children’s conditions has made it Child Amputee Prosthetics Project (CAPP)
even more amazing.”
hospital raise money by participating in its first and the Pediatric Orthotic & Prosthetics
Wonder Race fundraiser. Jeffrey is also an Mitchell was promoted to black belt in karate on Services (POPS) team at Shriners Hospitals
ambassador for Canada Shriners Hospital’s his 12th birthday last December. Spencer plays for Children. They have been a huge part
basketball and soccer and enjoys little league
#CutTheBull campaign and will be going back baseball. Both boys are avid swimmers and enjoy of his life and he feels so comfortable and
into schools this fall to talk about his bullying trying their swing at golf with their father, who confident thanks to them.
experience and how he overcame it. worked many years as a golf pro.
“We don’t know what we would have done without
Shriners Hospitals for Children,” says Marni.
“When it comes to children, they get it.”

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