I'm completely behind in posts, but I did enjoy my little blog break! This is one of three posts I wrote over the past few days so be sure to scroll down for the rest.
We have been in the process of getting Anna's new leg fitted for this year. With a few adjustments she has been able make her current one last for 10 months, which is great at this age! Her gait has been off for a while now, and she is in need of a new one.
The process of making a leg is complicated. First they take a plaster of her leg (think paper mache) that is used to make the liner fit perfectly to her limb. The liner is the first part of prosthesis that goes on the leg. They then hand-make a first draft skeleton of the leg. They see how she is able to walk on it and mark adjustments that have to be made. There are usually one to two more fittings to get it just right. Sometimes new parts, like a different foot size or type, have to be ordered and that can factor into the length of time it takes. Her last leg took 3 weeks to receive but this one is taking less time due to the fact that they are able to reuse her current liner and skip the molding process.
I wanted to document the process, but since they didn't do a mold this year I only got a few pictures. Below are pictures from her first fitting with the skeleton leg. This is the first time Anna will be able to move to a more advanced foot. Previously she had only one choice for a foot because hers was so small. Now she is able to use a foot that looks more realistic, will fit into almost all shoes (except boots that you have to bend at the ankle to get on), and most importantly, it will give her more spring and make it just a little easier to run.
Some kids are hesitant or scared when they are fitted for and receive a new leg. It's a major, personal process to get a new leg. Kids become attached to the leg they have; they are used to how it feels and moves. It is a part of them. I was amazed at how wonderful Anna did at her fitting. She wasn't nervous at all and immediately started walking on her leg. She was even super excited about her new foot!
Each time we go the clinic, many of the staff come in to see Anna. She is the youngest patient and has stolen a few hearts, so she gets lots of attention. There is always a patient or two in the rooms that have prosthetic legs and they come in to chat and show Anna their leg. I love that she gets this exposure to different people. It reminds her that she is not alone and that many others look like her. It also shows her the different legs that are out there; there is such a difference from leg to leg. I really enjoy this time spent with everyone. I love hearing the stories about how people lost their leg. Most commonly it is from an accident (car, motorcycle, work, and even train accidents), but other times from a disease like diabetes. There is something special about being in a environment where people 'get' what it's like to be an amputee. You know how to communicate with them and don't have to think so much. It's kind of hard to explain.
We also learned at this appointment that Anna is going to be receiving a special 'surprise' from the clinic as a thank you for some of the help we have given them in their educational expos and marketing projects. They are making her a second leg with butterflies on it. I was so humbled and blessed by this and I'm so excited to see her first reaction to a designed leg. I can't wait to ask her which leg she wants to put on each morning! Will it be one for 'dress' and one for 'play'? I have a hunch she will learn towards choosing one over the other! I'm sure she will enjoy showing off her new leg this spring. We will save her old leg to use at the pool.
Here are some of the pictures I took from her first fitting. There is a cute little video at the end.
