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After a terrible motor vehicle accident, 11 year-old Zach and his mom were told his foot would likely need to be amputated, but they refused to give up hope. Orthopedic surgeons at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) performed seven surgeries to save the youngster's foot, and now Zach, along with about 10 other HSS patients, will be going on a ski trip on January 9 sponsored by the hospital. They will ski at Windham Mountain in upstate New York. The excursion, provided without cost, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of the young people. Some will also get to see their orthopedic surgeon in a new light when the doctors trade their operating room scrubs for snow garb and cheer the kids on. The doctors may even ski alongside them. Dr. David Scher, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon specializing in surgery for young people with cerebral palsy, is among those scheduled to attend. For some of the kids who have never skied, seeing their doctor encourages them to go outside of their comfort zone and adds to their excitement. Dr. Scher, who enjoys skiing, has been on previous adaptive ski trips to encourage his patients and cheer them on. He skis alongside them, taking photos and videos to capture their enjoyment. It's a fun and novel experience for the kids, an opportunity for them to be outside, to get the feeling of using their body in a different way. For the first time, many can experience that feeling of going fast down a hill, and it's exhilarating for them. It's also fun for me to interact with the kids and their parents and to see their happiness." Dr. David Scher, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, HSS Related Stories