Elks offer free children's orthopedic clinic

The South District Elks Lodges in cooperation with the Illinois Elks Children's Care Corp. will sponsor a free children's orthopedic assessment clinic on Feb. 26 at Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin.

The clinic will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and is by appointment only. Call the Illinois Elks Children's Care office at (800) 272-0074 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to make an appointment. There are no charges for any services at this clinic.

Marshall Browning Hospital is at 900 N. Washington St. Dr. Alan Froehling from Mt. Vernon will be the clinician.

No medical referral is necessary, but physicians are welcome to refer patients to the clinic for a specific reason or second opinion. School nurses are welcome to refer children and families to the clinic.

The Elks Organization has been working with physically challenged children since 1928 and this is one of the 15 clinic locations throughout Illinois.

The clinic is an ideal time to have a child reviewed for bone and joint development. If your child has feet pointing out, complains of back, knee, leg or ankle pain or has a back curvature, they can be seen at this clinic.

The Elks will provide financial assistance to the best of their ability for children needing further treatment or specialty equipment when the family lacks sufficient resources to do so.

In the past, the Elks have purchased therapy services, corrective shoes, braces, wheelchairs and augmentative communication devices to help children overcome a variety of physical challenges.