Letters to the Editor: Strong narration guides reader through piece on leg-lengthening procedure

Eli Mattern receives physical therapy.

Indiana teenager Eli Mattern, who underwent a leg-lengthening procedure last year, works with physical therapist Jon Broyles in in Wabash, Ind.
(Doug McSchooler / For The Times)

To the editor: I just want to applaud the writing of Los Angeles Times journalist Brittny Mejia (“The journey to becoming a tall drink of water,” March 7). In her story about patients getting leg-lengthening surgery I felt like I was there during the surgical procedure.

She writes like a novelist or a poet. Writing like this keeps me a loyal L.A. Times subscriber. The following was particularly memorable:

“He was creating a line of perforations circling the femur to make it easier to break the strongest bone in the body, akin to the small holes that help tear a paper towel. When the doctor removed the drill to cool it down in the tech’s waiting cup of water, steam-like wisps of smoke radiated.”

“After pulling out the osteotome, the doctor moved Mattern’s whole leg to the right until there was a loud ‘snap,’ like a wishbone breaking.”

Keep up the great writing!

John Szabo, Newport Beach

..

To the editor: I had a leg-lengthening procedure in 2013 using the Precice device due to a hip fracture. This life-saving device was nothing short of a miracle for me. Yes, the surgery was horribly painful, but it was worth it in the end.

Patricia Cuthbert Urista, San Pedro

More to Read

Related Posts


This will close in 0 seconds