Trial attorney Travis Salmon is used to fighting battles in the courtroom. But his toughest hurdle may be his own challenge living with a condition that has required him to undergo seven surgeries and many months of painful rehabilitation. Doctors diagnosed him eight years ago, at age 29, with end-stage osteoarthritis in his left ankle. Years of college basketball at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, took a harsh toll on his left ankle requiring him, at times, to use a cane to walk.
“I was in good shape and at first had this ‘why me’ attitude,” said Salmon who practices at Polsinelli Shughart PC. “The doctors told me that I would need to have my ankle replaced at some point.”
While enduring surgeries and lengthy recuperations, Salmon quickly turned his own medical issues into a positive. He began volunteering with the Arthritis Foundation of Greater Kansas City (AFGKC) and speaking to young people to increase the awareness of what it is like living with arthritis. Today, he serves on the Board of Directors for the AFGKC and was chosen as the 2011 Adult Honoree for the Arthritis Walk at Zona Rosa, May 22 at 8am.
“Travis puts a face and a name to the condition,” said Arthritis Foundation Special Events Director Steve Rock. “He is a perfect representation of someone living with arthritis. You might never know your neighbor down the street is facing these same kinds of challenges.”
In his role on the board of directors, Salmon speaks frequently to young people about overcoming the challenges of arthritis. More than 50 million American adults and more than 300,000 children are affected by arthritis. May is National Arthritis Month and the Arthritis Walk is the Arthritis Foundation’s nationwide, signature fundraising event with more than 200 Arthritis Walks across the country.
“When I first got involved with the Arthritis Foundation I did it for myself,” said Salmon. “Now, as a board member and someone living with the challenges of arthritis, my focus is to help others. I want to encourage young people with this disease to live healthy, active lives. It can be difficult at times, but you just have to keep moving forward. You can have a very fulfilling life with arthritis.”
Salmon leads an active life as a busy trial attorney and father of two. While he can’t play basketball at the same level he performed in college, he is still physically active participating in swimming, cycling, walking and weight lifting.
Salmon is an excellent source for a story about:
• Non-traditional person affected by arthritis
• The challenges of living with arthritis
• Turning around a challenging situation into something positive
Contact info:
For more info about Travis Salmon contact:
Polsinelli Shughart Public Relations Manager
Heather McMichael, 816-223-8780,
For more info about the Arthritis Walk contact:
Annie Noonen, Community Relations Development Director for the Arthritis Foundation of Greater Kansas City
913-262-2233, anoonen@arthritis.org
www.afwalkkc.kintera.org
About Polsinelli Shughart PC
With more than 530 attorneys, Polsinelli Shughart PC (www.polsinelli.com) is a national law firm that is a recognized leader in the areas of business law, financial services, real estate and business litigation. Serving corporate, institutional and individual clients, Polsinelli Shughart is redefining the business of law by sharing ideas, goals and outcomes with its clients. The firm builds enduring relationships by creating value through legal services - with passion, ingenuity and a sense of urgency. The firm has offices located in Kansas City; St. Louis; Phoenix; Chicago; Denver; Washington, D.C.; New York; Dallas; Wilmington, Del.; Overland Park, Kan.; St. Joseph, Springfield, and Jefferson City, Mo.; Topeka, Kan.; and Edwardsville, Ill.
About the Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation is the only nationwide, nonprofit health organization helping people take greater control of arthritis by leading efforts to prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases -- the nation’s most common cause of disability. The Arthritis Foundation is the largest non-governmental funder of arthritis research in the world. Since 1948, the Arthritis Foundation has provided $400 million to arthritis-related research through its nationally recognized peer-review research award programs.