On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

By Jolene Zelenski

On your mark. The racers are in place on the starting line. Get set. Their breath is visible on this crisp February morning. Go! Years of training paired with customized, state-of-theart equipment competes against the unlimited energy of a six-year-old in a burst across the parking lot of Hanger Clinic: Prosthetics and Orthotics in Brainerd.

Brandon Sullivan of Harding, Minnesota, has always been active — wrestling in high school, Air Force Senior Airman A4, and the physically demanding job of tree climber. In 2018, all of that changed in an instant when a branch in the tree he was topping snapped. The branch also broke both the primary and secondary safety mechanisms meant to keep him safe. Sullivan and the branch fell 50 feet to the ground with the branch pinning his right leg. Complications while recovering in the hospital eventually led to the amputation of his right leg just below the knee.

It was 18 days in the hospital that spring. It wouldn’t be until Memorial Day that Sullivan would take home the prosthetic that would enable him to walk again.

amputated … you go through your downs,” said prosthetic you have to retrain your muscles.”

Sullivan did more than retrain his muscles home the prosthetic, he completed an Army 10-mile run. Then only a year after the accident he participated in the Bataan Memorial Death March — a grueling marathon which tests both physical and mental stamina in the desert.

While always an active person, previously Sullivan’s running had been limited to cutting weight for wrestling in high school. After his need for movement.

“I started to enjoy it more because they told me I couldn’t do something,” said Sullivan. “That’s the worst thing you can tell someone.”

Today, Sullivan is training to participate in the Wounded War Games and to qualify for the Paralympics. This level of training requires support beyond what a standard prosthetic can provide.

“Every one of our patients who walks through the door has a unique story,” said at Hanger Clinic: Prosthetics and Orthotics. Taylor is dedicated to helping Sullivan accomplish his athletic goals.

Taylor works to get to know each patient on a personal level to truly understand their unique goals and how best to help them. For return when running.

“Prosthetic feet are like makes and models of cars,” said Taylor. “You can go from a sports car to your everyday commuter.”

Sullivan’s needs go beyond the two extremes of ultra fast and practical. It means a prosthetic casual shoes, a heavy-duty foot that is sized and the physical demand of his work, and a quickrelease in the prosthetic leg to swap out the

“Without having the correct foot it makes your life harder,” said Sullivan. “Having the right tool for the job — the right foot — makes life a lot easier.”

Each prosthetic at Hanger Clinic is custom made to the needs of the client. New technology provides more options and more comfort. An example is an adjustable dial system to create a method of suspension and support to adjust based on the current activity. Relaxing in a long car ride is more comfortable if everything is a bit loose, while a high impact activity would solutions for patients so they can return to the things they love to do,” said Taylor. market to do what they need. One of Sullivan’s prosthetics includes what was originally a mountain bike shock. This unique, highimpact prosthetic was developed by a fellow Minnesotan and amputee Mike Schultz.

One way this is accomplished is the use of maintenance material that’s excellent for the typical active lifestyle of Minnesotans. On average, it can last 3 to 5 years with no maintenance.

“A lot of what’s developed in prosthetics is developed by an amputee,” said Taylor.

“We work with patients who want to get out or to run a 6-minute mile like Brandon,” said Taylor.

Sullivan will compete as part of the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program in early March at the Air Force Trials to qualify for the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games. At the Air Force Trials Sullivan plans to compete in a range of activities including a variety of track events from 100 to 1500 meter races, powerlifting, 50 meter freestyle swim, hand cycling, rowing, discus, sitting volleyball, and for the Wounded Warrior Games in 2019 and 2023 but was unable to attend. This year’s competition will be an international event with athletes from the country of Georgia and Ukraine scheduled to compete as well.

In October, Sullivan will travel to Canada process which is required to participate in a future Paralympics.

Sullivan is married to Valeria, and is kept active with their three children: William, 6; Wesley, 4; and Charlotte, 2. It’s William who

Sullivan is also back to working on trees. He’s able to climb but prefers to work as the lift operator.

And the race between father and son? Too close to call this year.

Those interested in learning how to utilize their prosthesis to get more out of their daily lives or reach for new dreams can reach out to Hanger Clinic: Prosthetics and Orthotics in Brainerd via text or phone at 218-825- prosthetist-orthotists: Chip Taylor, Rachel Barness and clinic manager Dan Ross.