Poland’s Kristin Fox honored by former Pittsburgh Steeler; The senior physician discusses her rehab

Dr. UPMC Pittsburgh’s Maria Twichell said Kristin Fox’s potential is limitless

by: Stan Boney

Posted: Mar 4, 2021 / 10:37 PM EST
/. Updated: March 4, 2021 / 10:37 PM EST

(WKBN) – An update tonight about Polish Kristin Fox – the woman who lost her arms and legs to the flu last spring. We caught up with her trip by speaking to the doctor who oversaw her rehabilitation and found out that she was honored by a former Pittsburgh Steeler.

In mid-December, Fox traveled to a UPMC facility in Pittsburgh where Ryan Shazier presented her with a signed jersey, making it one of his “50 Phenomena” – comeback stories that UPMC highlights.

Shazier’s number was 50 until a spinal injury ended his career.

Her interview was published on UPMC’s social media websites. They talked about their trip last year that saw their arms and legs amputated.

“My children are only seven and nine years old. So it was better to have her mother than to mourn my death, “Fox said in an interview.

The interview was converted into a four and a half minute story. Shazier went through something similar to Fox. Four years ago he suffered a spinal injury while tackling and had to learn to walk again.

Shazier: So when they took your legs, did you first know they’d do that?
Fox: No. I was in a medically induced coma. So my husband, my mother and father, my brother and sister, my best friends had to get together and make that decision. “

They talked about Fox’s recovery and showed a video of the rehabilitation process with her new prosthetic arms and legs.

“I’ll get in touch, but I’ll always need a little help. I accept that, ”Fox said during the interview.

They talked about the highs, but they also talked about the lows.

“I have to keep fighting”: Poland’s mother is pushing for limb amputation through therapy

Shazier: Would you like to talk to me about the lowest point of this whole journey?
Fox: I probably won’t see my kids for that long. My husband had to be the one to tell them what had happened. They kicked me out of the hospital. I saw my kids for 10 minutes for the first time in nine weeks. My son roared. Then I cried like I saw her. I said, ‘That’s it. I will go again. ‘”

At UPMC Pittsburgh, Dr. Maria Twichell’s Rehabilitation from Fox.

“She had been through a lot and it showed on her body,” said Dr. Twichell.

Fox arrived in Pittsburgh in May – the exact day she was released from St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown.

“I could feel her spark and I could feel who she was as a person. Their potential was really limitless, ”said Dr. Twichell.

Dr. Twichell knew the technology available was perfect for Fox.

“So I knew she would be a great candidate for bilateral prosthetics for her legs and arms too. With some of the robot controls, I knew she could physically do almost anything, ”said Dr. Twichell.

Dr. Twichell says some patients need a backup plan because they don’t know how they’re going to get ahead. But that was never the case with Fox.

“I always had the feeling that she would do whatever she decided to do. And so much work and so much heart and so much determination that she put into this thing, I had no doubt that she would get where she wanted, ”said Dr. Twichell.

The Polish woman decides to return to work this autumn after having received four amputations

On Thursday, Fox said she ran six laps with a little help. She was very proud of that.

She also brushes her teeth with an electric toothbrush, eats with a special fork and can get dressed upstairs, but still needs help downstairs. She said her next goal was to drive.