Although I’ve been devoted a bit of writing to how my prosthesis was made, what it feels like, and how it works, I haven’t really explained how I actually put the thing on each morning. So here’s a tutorial on how to put on a leg…
Wayne sent my new liners so I wouldn’t have to come pick them up, and they arrived in the mail today. Here’s what one looks like out of the box. While sockets are custom fit and fabricated, most other prosthetics components are manufactured products like any other.
Kim, my partner, says the socket looks edgy because it almost appears as if my stump were tattooed and the foot is attached directly to me. I’m almost embarrassed to say I’m spending way too much time walking around looking down at my leg and being pleased with myself. Hey, I may as well have fun with this. How many people get to recreate parts of their body every few years and custom design the skin while they’re at it?
So far, so good. I’ve been wearing the new leg since picking it up this afternoon and just sent Wayne the following email:
Wayne,
Holy crap, you really outdid yourself on my leg. It’s the most beautiful prosthesis I’ve ever seen. And the fit appears to be perfect: I’ve been walking on it since I picked it up this afternoon and it feels great. Thank you so much!
Thanks again,
Steve Kurzman
I picked up the final prosthesis today and was blown away by how great it looks. The lamination turned out beautifully! Here’s a few quick photos — more later…
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I have yet to see Michael Moore’s movie, “Sicko”, but I’ve read that it does a fair job of pointing out how our health care system is broken. Amen to that. While getting a new prosthesis, courtesy of my old insurance company, I have been applying for new health insurance. Sometimes we focus on the technology and forget that the access to this technology is very regulated and expensive.
I’ve received a couple letters from my prospective insurance company which I feel are worth relating here as an illustration of some of the hoops that people with disabilities have to jump through in order to get health care — and particularly insurance that will pay for prostheses and other necessary assistive technology.
I decided to go with the Japanese-style dragon fabric. Audrey — the two year-old hider of fabric — and I went back to Mendel’s, bought another half yard, and dropped it off at the prosthetics shop. I hope this turns out well. Wayne said the final leg should be ready for me to pick up in a couple days.
On June 30th, I received the following brief email:
Steve have you decided on a foot yet? Wayne
Oops, time to make up my mind.