Winter 2008 - Arkansas Children's Hospital

HOSPITAL DEPARTMENTSMichael Johnson:Born with a Club Foot;Now Excelling on the Football Field■ Kila OwensWhat does 18-year-old Michael Johnson, of Little Rock, have incommon with Troy Aikman, world-famous quarterback of the DallasCowboys? It is more than a great passion for football. Both were bornwith a club foot, and both overcame the condition to excel on the footballfield.In 1989, Michael was born with a club foot, a common birth defect inwhich the foot is turned inward and down. His parents, Jeff andCorinne, were excited and happy to have a new baby but also worriedabout the future.“Even though the doctor assured us his club foot could be corrected,we were very concerned,” says Corinne. “We didn’t know what the treatmentwould be or what to expect.”Ten days after Michael was born, Dr. James Aronson*, an orthopedicsurgeon at ACH, put a cast on his leg for the first time. Dr. Aronsonput a new cast on Michael’s leg every 10 days for the next couple ofmonths, but it was not enough. Dr. Aronson informed the Johnsonfamily that surgery would be necessary to correct the problem.“Michael was one of the severe cases,” says Dr. Aronson. “His footwas almost twisted around backwards. We had to totally take the footapart and put it back the right way.”Michael was in a cast until a few days before his first birthday. Thesurgery and final cast were a success, so no other treatment was needed.“Because of the club foot, Michael has one foot that is three timessmaller than the other,” says Corinne. “So once Michael was out of hislast cast, we never thought about his foot – except when we had to buyshoes.”Michael began playing football at the age of 9. Like many kids hisage, he loved sports and had a competitive spirit. He was first placed inthe deep snapper position in the seventh grade, when a coach saw hispotential.Michael continued to improve his game through the years. He justcompleted his last season as first-string deep snapper for the Little RockCatholic High School Rockets.“I snap the ball, go down the field and try to tackle the punt returnerand bring him down,” Michael says.His parents never doubted his athletic ability, but Michael’s talentwent beyond their wildest dreams.“Did I ever think he’d be a football player? No, absolutely not,” Jeffsays. Corinne agrees. “I think it sort of surprised all of us,” she says.The Rockets’ head football coach, Scooter Register, is proud ofMichael’s hard work and drive.“He’s elevated his game probably to the highest level any high schoolplayer could,” Register says. “He’s one of the top-ranked high schooldeep snappers in the nation.”Michael has competed nationally in trials that are by invitation only. InJanuary, he went to Las Vegas to showcase his talent for 50 division onecollege coaches from across the country.Michael Johnson, who was treated immediately afterbirth for a club foot, has grown into an impressiveathlete, becoming one of the top-ranked deep snappersin the country.Michael’s future plans include heading to college in the fall,possibly to Ole Miss or the University of Arkansas. He hasnot decided yet what his major will be or if he will play collegefootball.Corinne is delighted to see her son’s success, which sheknows would not be possible without the work of Dr.Aronson and Arkansas Children’s Hospital.“We are so lucky that Little Rock is home to such a greatfacility,” she says. “Our experience with Arkansas Children’sHospital and its staff made it much easier for us to understandand know what to expect in Michael’s treatment. It wascomforting to be in such good hands.”*James Aronson, M.D., is chief of pediatric orthopedics atACH, director of the Laboratory for Limb RegenerationResearch at ACHRI and professor, department oforthopedics, UAMS College of Medicine.3