Jennifer Matthews: Eleven-year-old Kody Stabe is no stranger to hospitals.
Kody Stabe: It is kind of another routine.
Jennifer Matthews: Four years ago, he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, the most common type of bone cancer.
Justin Stabe: It was in the growth plate in the knee, and by the time we found it, it was starting to race up the femur.
Jennifer Matthews: In the past or even in another city, doctors probably would have amputated.
Kody Stabe: Right here is the part where they cut it open and took out the femur that was infected, and they replaced it with metal bone right there.
Jennifer Matthews: Kody's new bone is called a Repiphysis. When doctors beam painless electromagnetic rays at the device, an embedded spring expands allowing the child's limb to grow.
Dr. Ross M. Wilkins: You know that little thing that you hold your toilet paper in with, those two cylinders with the spring? Really, that's pretty much what it is.
Jennifer Matthews: Today, Kody is undergoing his latest lengthening procedure. And 30 seconds later.
Dr. Ross M. Wilkins: 6 millimeters which is unlike the growth that he could have over a month's time if we were in a grow spots.
Jennifer Matthews: And it is less traumatic than the standard methods used to keep two limbs the same length.
Dr. Ross M. Wilkins: As opposed to four hours of surgery and all the other stuff, huge cost, huge hospitalization, he'll go home in about an hour or so.
Justin Stabe: The last couple, we have actually just walked out of the hospital. It's amazing.
Jennifer Matthews: Kody will walk out again today as soon as his dad can wake him from the anesthesia. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
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