New York, N.Y., September 5, 2014 -  This morning, four-year-old Hanger Clinic patient Rosie McRackan was featured on Good Morning America (GMA). Rosie was interviewed by GMA weather anchor Ginger Zee in Clearwater, Florida while they were both in the water with Winter, the amputee dolphin. The interview highlighted Winter's story, and discussed Rosie's connection to the dolphin who lost her tail in a crab trap when she was only a few months old. Both Rosie and Winter have worn prosthetic devices the majority of their lives, and share a prosthetist, Hanger Clinic's Vice President of Prosthetics Kevin Carroll, MS, CP, FAAOP.

The segment can be viewed here: https://gma.yahoo.com/video/disabled-dolphin-inspires-young-kids-131537712.html.

Winter's story of survival has become an inspiration to people all over the world, including Rosie, and came to life on the silver screen nationwide in a 3D feature film titled "Dolphin Tale".  A sequel titled "Dolphin Tale 2", also based on a true story, is scheduled for release on September 12, 2014.

About Winter the dolphin: Winter, a bottlenose dolphin, lost her tail after it became entangled in a crab trap in 2005. Winter received round-the-clock medical attention in an effort to save her life, and thanks to the rescue and rehabilitative care of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter survived. However, she then adapted to a less efficient, damaging side-to-side swimming style, as there was no tail fluke to give her thrust. Thanks to the ingenuity of two Florida-based Hanger prosthetists, Winter became the first dolphin to have her entire tail fluke replaced with a prosthetic device. More information on Winter is available here: http://www.hangerclinic.com/success-stories/winter-the-dolphin/Pages/default.aspx.

About Rosie McRackan: Rosie was born without her leg at the hip and part of her arm. She started receiving prosthetic care from Cary, North Carolina-based Hanger Clinic Manager Joseph Lizotte, CP when she was just 23-months-old, and has taken to using prosthetic technology amazingly well. She has a wonderful family support, and her parents strongly challenge and encourage her use of her "helper" prosthetic devices, like Winter uses her "helper tail".

About Hanger: Founded in 1861 by the first amputee of the Civil War, Hanger Clinic, a business unit of Hanger, Inc., owns and operates 760+ patient care clinics nationwide. The certified clinicians of Hanger provide patients with the latest in orthotic and prosthetic solutions, including microprocessor devices for those with limb loss and neuromuscular technologies for those with paralysis due to stroke, MS and other debilitating conditions. For more information on Hanger, visit www.Hanger.com, and for more information on Hanger Clinic, visit www.HangerClinic.com.

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Jennifer Bittner, Hanger, Inc.
512-777-3730, jbittner@hanger.com

Krisita Burket, Hanger, Inc.
904-249-0314, kburket@hanger.com

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