Storm Lake area teen cancer survivor walks with new technology at BVRMC

Amber Chrischilles | June 18th, 2024

After surviving a brain tumor, 17-year-old Alex Kron from Schaller, Iowa, is walking with newfound stability thanks to a cutting-edge device recommended by her physical therapist at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center.

At just 12-years-old, Alex was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent a year and a half of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Today, she is in remission.

Despite beating cancer, her treatments caused her to struggle with severe mobility issues, resulting in unsteadiness on her feet. This inhibited her capability to live life to the fullest, affecting her ability to move around the school hallways, wear shoes of her choice and play volleyball.

Grace Weiland, a physical therapist at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, suggested that Alex try the Bioness L300 Go®, an electrical stimulation device that improves mobility and gait.

The L300 Go uses functional electrical stimulation (FES) to help correct foot drop and thigh weakness in people coping with the effects of stroke, multiple sclerosis, and other medical conditions. The device detects gait irregularities and then deploys FES to the weakened or paralyzed limb so users can lift their feet properly when they walk. This technology can enhance walking speed, balance, and overall confidence in movement.

When being fitted for the L300 Go, it was the first time her parents saw her lift her toes when walking. The initial breakthrough was an emotional moment, moving her father to tears.

Within a few months, Alex no longer needs to rely on a walker to get around. “It doesn’t hurt anymore and I feel like I have my balance,” says Alex Kron.

From being unable to walk through the school hallways comfortably or confidently out of fear of being bumped and losing her balance, Alex has since been able to go to prom in cute shoes and walk the promenade.

“Now, she is walking rather quickly without a walker, can carry her backpack and can use stairs,” says Weiland. “I’m not worried about her balance, and she can start working on running and sports.”

Alex looks to take her next steps in life by attending Buena Vista University in the fall where she will study pre-med in hopes to one day treat childhood cancer, a passion that was inspired by her oncologists.

BVRMC Rehab Therapist helps patient with a walking exercise up stairs with the Bioness L300 Go® device

About Bioness, a Bioventus Rehab Company

Bioness is the leading provider of innovative technologies helping people regain mobility and independence. Bioness solutions include external neuromodulation systems, robotic systems, and software-based therapy programs providing functional and therapeutic benefits for individuals affected by pain, central nervous system disorders, and orthopedic injuries. Currently, Bioness offers six medical devices within its commercial portfolio which are distributed and sold on five continents and in over 25 countries worldwide. Our technologies have been implemented in the most prestigious and well-respected institutions around the globe with approximately 90% of the top rehabilitation hospitals in the United States currently using one or more Bioness solutions. Bioness has a singular focus on aiding large, underserved customer groups with innovative, evidence-based solutions and we will continue to develop and make commercially available new products that address the growing and changing needs of our customers. Individual results vary. Consult with a qualified physician to determine if this product is right for you. Contraindications, adverse reactions and precautions are available online at www.bioness.com.

About L300 Go® System

The L300 Go system uses functional electrical stimulation (FES) to help correct foot drop and thigh weakness in people coping with the effects of stroke, multiple sclerosis, and other medical conditions. The L300 Go is the world’s first FES system that integrates proprietary 3D motion detection. Through an adaptive, learning algorithm, the system detects gait events, providing stimulation precisely when needed making it easier to clear their foot at varying walking speeds, on stairs, ramps, and while navigating uneven territory.