I’ll eventually end up with two new prosthetic feet, one for daily use and one that’s waterproof.
I won’t be competing in the Paralympics just yet, but the new foot I tried on today is more flexible—made from glass fiber—meaning I’ll be able to walk up and down hills a little more easily, and even run for the bus if I need to, though I’m not likely to.
After a fitting a couple of weeks ago, I have another interim socket (the top part of the prosthetic connecting to my residual limb, aka my stump), replacing the one I got in the weeks after my amputation.
We did a few test runs at the OAPL facility at Alexandria today, and then practiced on the nearby uneven footpaths.
Over the next week, I’ll need to keep a close eye on things to make sure it doesn’t rub or cause discomfort, and if it does, I can always go back to the old one. So far it feels quite good. There’s a bounce in my step both physically and metaphorically.
One of my new prosthetic feet.
Once the prosthetists are confident the new limbs will fit properly, they’ll start the fabrication.
I’ve decided to name the new limbs after my parents. The everyday leg is Albert, and the more recreational one is Bertha. It’s a beautiful coincidence that it all happened today on September 12th, which is my dad’s birthday.
So many people have contributed to my life, but Mum and Dad gave me the ‘legs’ to be where I am today.
Not only physically as a child, but they also taught me to walk in many other ways. I’m tearing up a bit writing this, thinking about them and losing them so young (I was only 16 and 18).
But it also feels good to remember them this way, having their names as a daily reminder in my life, helping me get around.