Home Page
A Scary Start Leads to a Big Decision
Sarah and Donnie Backner’s journey began during their 20-week ultrasound, when doctors noticed abnormalities in their baby’s leg. They were quickly referred to Gillette Children’s, where they met with a specilized provider to learn more about the complex and specialized care their son would need.
When Andy was born, he was diagnosed with club foot and fibular hemimelia, a rare condition where part or all of the fibula bone is missing. At just three weeks old, Andy received treatment to correct his club foot. But a bigger decision loomed: how to address his fibular hemimelia? The Backners were faced with a life-altering decision, whether to pursue a years-long process of limb lengthening or move forward with amputation.
When Andy was just 16 months old, Sarah and Donnie made the most difficult decision of their lives: to amputate their toddler’s leg.
Partners in Care
Thanks to the Gillette community, they didn’t have to make that choice alone. Through Gillette’s specialized clinic, they met one-on-one with both a physician and a prosthetist who answered every question with honesty, expertise, and compassion. Gillette also connected them with other families who had faced similar decisions. These connections helped them see what was possible for Andy’s future.
Donors make Gillette’s family-centered care model possible, ensuring every child - and every family member - receives the support they need. One of the moments Sarah remembers most vividly wasn’t about Andy - it was about their daughter Maddy. Just three years old at the time, Maddy was struggling with the idea of her baby brother’s upcoming surgery. She even had nightmares that her own leg might be removed. That’s when Gillette’s Child Life team stepped in with a creative and healing solution. Together, Maddy and Andy amputated the leg of a stuffed unicorn, then stitched and bandaged it. Maddy cared for that pink unicorn throughout Andy’s recovery, and she still has it today.
“It’s the little things,” Sarah explained. “Even though Andy was having the surgery, Maddy was struggling more with the concept of it. They cared for her, too.”
Just one month after his surgery, at 17 months old, Andy was fitted for his first prosthetic leg. He took his first ever steps within a week, and he’s been on the move ever since.
Andy Backner completed at the Hartford National adaptive track meet with help from a "racing blade" made by Gillette prosthetists.
A Sense of Purpose Brings Andy to the Track and the State Capitol
Now eight years old, Andy has undergone four surgeries at Gillette, with more likely as he grows. At every stage, the Gillette team has been by the family’s side. One of the most memorable moments came the day before Andy’s first 5K run, following a major snowstorm in Minnesota. His prosthetist, Marcie, had created and finished Andy’s first running blade, and wasn’t about to let a Minnesota snowstorm stop him from racing. She parked at the bottom of their unplowed street and hiked up the hill to deliver and fit the blade in their living room, just in time for race day.
As Andy has grown, so has his sense of purpose. At just seven years old, he stood before the Minnesota Senate to testify in support of the So Every BODY Can Move bill last year. He spoke about how important it is for kids like him to have access to both running blades and everyday prosthetic legs. Several Gillette prosthetists were also present at the Capitol to lend their expertise and voices in favor of the legislation. The bill passed later that year, requiring insurance providers to cover prosthetic and orthotic devices. Andy’s voice helped create lasting change for children and families across the state to have greater access to the devices they need to thrive. Support from Gillette donors helps patients without qualifying insurance purchase prostheses and orthotics for sports and recreational activities.
Today, Andy continues to move at full speed. He recently competed at the Hartford Nationals adaptive track meet, bringing home gold medals in the javelin, 400-meter dash, and 800-meter dash. Never one to shy away from a challenge, he’s already setting his sights on the 1-mile race at future competitions. Andy also finds community and connection through Wiggle Your Toes, an organization that supports individuals with limb loss. For Sarah, that sense of belonging is just as vital as the expert medical care. “I just want him to be happy and have access to everything he needs,” she said. “A leg is not a luxury.”
The Backner family continues to return to Gillette for ongoing care, fittings, and support as Andy grows. From his very first steps to his advocacy at the Capitol, the Backners have remained committed to building a brighter future, not just for their son, but for all children living with limb differences. And with donor support fueling services like Child Life and strengthening Gillette’s family-centered care model, stories like Andy’s are possible.
