Page 17 - UHN's Year In Review 2013-14: Courage is Daring to Lead
P. 17
toronto rehab
Teen cancer survivor beats the odds Tom Fahlman’s
Members of
care team said
Fahlman is an
the previous two years on bed inspiration.
rest. As a result, he was unable (Photo: UHN)
to stand – and many feared he
may never be able to.
In Toronto, he and his parents
were introduced to Dr. John
Flannery, Medical Director,
Musculoskeletal Rehab at the
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. Many thought
Dr. Flannery promised to help Tom Fahlman
Fahlman walk again. would never
walk again.
(Photo: UHN)
Walking off plane
Fahlman’s prolonged time in
bed had caused his leg muscles
to shrink – they had decreased
in mass and the muscles and
tendons in his legs, ankles and
left knee had shortened. Making
it worse, because his legs had
contracted so much, his feet
were pointed in a permanent Tom Fahlman
said leaving
When doctors gave Tom Fahlman, left, four months to live, he refused to believe them. Above, Fahlman ballerina position. Toronto Rehab
shares a special moment with his dad, who moved from Alberta to Toronto to be with his son as he “I came to Toronto Rehab with was bittersweet –
received treatment at UHN. (Photo: UHN) he was excited
the goal of walking off the plane to go home, but
back home in Regina,” said it was hard to
Regina teen Tom Fahlman For Fahlman and his parents, told his cancer was well into Fahlman. “I knew it would be a say goodbye.
was diagnosed with Ewing’s the prognosis was difficult to remission. journey.” (Photo: UHN)
sarcoma at 15 years old. Four accept. So, they travelled to But there were still challenges “Our team was challenged by
years later, doctors told him his Toronto for a second opinion. ahead. the complexity of Tom’s case,”
cancer was terminal and he had A Toronto oncologist reviewed said Dr. Flannery. “To make
months to live. his scans – and Fahlman was Fahlman had spent much of
(Continued on next page)
16 17
Teen cancer survivor beats the odds Tom Fahlman’s
Members of
care team said
Fahlman is an
the previous two years on bed inspiration.
rest. As a result, he was unable (Photo: UHN)
to stand – and many feared he
may never be able to.
In Toronto, he and his parents
were introduced to Dr. John
Flannery, Medical Director,
Musculoskeletal Rehab at the
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. Many thought
Dr. Flannery promised to help Tom Fahlman
Fahlman walk again. would never
walk again.
(Photo: UHN)
Walking off plane
Fahlman’s prolonged time in
bed had caused his leg muscles
to shrink – they had decreased
in mass and the muscles and
tendons in his legs, ankles and
left knee had shortened. Making
it worse, because his legs had
contracted so much, his feet
were pointed in a permanent Tom Fahlman
said leaving
When doctors gave Tom Fahlman, left, four months to live, he refused to believe them. Above, Fahlman ballerina position. Toronto Rehab
shares a special moment with his dad, who moved from Alberta to Toronto to be with his son as he “I came to Toronto Rehab with was bittersweet –
received treatment at UHN. (Photo: UHN) he was excited
the goal of walking off the plane to go home, but
back home in Regina,” said it was hard to
Regina teen Tom Fahlman For Fahlman and his parents, told his cancer was well into Fahlman. “I knew it would be a say goodbye.
was diagnosed with Ewing’s the prognosis was difficult to remission. journey.” (Photo: UHN)
sarcoma at 15 years old. Four accept. So, they travelled to But there were still challenges “Our team was challenged by
years later, doctors told him his Toronto for a second opinion. ahead. the complexity of Tom’s case,”
cancer was terminal and he had A Toronto oncologist reviewed said Dr. Flannery. “To make
months to live. his scans – and Fahlman was Fahlman had spent much of
(Continued on next page)
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