TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Navigating your teenage years is not easy for anyone, but add a deformity, and it's even harder.
Then imagine having to travel hours away to get the medical help necessary. That's been the case for many Tallahassee families, until now.
At first glace, you'll notice this piano playing, electronics tinkering teenager is really tall.
What you may not notice, is that one of Brogan's legs is longer than the other.
"I did feel a little bit after that my legs were a little wonky and this one was up more," said Brogan Hunter.
His pediatrician noticed a curve in his spine at his yearly checkup. It wasn't long until his family learned he has a leg length discrepancy, which was also impacting his spine.
"You find out that your boy's leg is longer than the other, and what can you do? And we can do something about it," said Spencer Hunter. "He doesn't want to wear a shoe with a one inch heel, boot on it, to school to walk normally. He can have surgery."
The problem? The closest pediatric orthopedic surgeon was hours away.
"I can't imagine the families that have had to continuously travel, I mean, even more than an hour away. You have to take off from work, school and all that," said Brandie Fristoe. "Luckily we didn't have to come across that issue."
Enter Dr. Ryan Price. The first pediatric orthopedic surgeon in the Tallahassee area, and Brogan, his first patient.
"He's the perfect age for growing, we can stunt one of the growth plates, allow the other to catch up, and then remove the screws," said Dr. Price. "He'll have equal leg length."
One of several families happy that Dr. Price is running his practice in Tallahassee, so their children can have an easier chance at running with their classmates.
"I'm excited to see the first patient and see him to completion when he's done growing. That'll be really nice," said Dr. Price.
Dr. Price is at the Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic, and is accepting patients for a variety of orthopedic surgery needs, including Pediatric Trauma, Scoliosis and Clubfeet.
Click here to view their website.
