If you want things, you will find a way. This is somewhat long, but important to me.
-Background
I'm a double amputee, below the knee. Im a symes type of amputee due to fibular hemimilia, a birth condition. So this means I still have a heel, just my feet were amputated. I can walk on my legs without prosthetics. This is exactly the same thing as Oscar Pistorius which some of you may be more familiar with.
I went to Shriner's Hospital for the full 18 years they allowed. Shriner's runs off donations, so I got bottom tier hardware for all 18 years, despite my continued interest in sports. All of the since birth amputees i know started going to different clinics when they were young, but not me.
-Changes
So fastforward to when I'm 19 (I'm only 20 now). I see a commercial featuring Amy Purdy, snowboarding and running. I think to myself, there honestly has to be more than this. At this point, i was too old for shriners and thought that I had my last pair of legs (i would get new ones every 1-3 years) that I would use for the rest of my life unless i had 20 grand to drop on new ones. I knew there had to be more.
The point of a carbon fiber foot is that it is lightweight, simple, and returns energy like a real ankle. I had a foot with bushings, plastic, and it absorbed energy and made all types of noises.
-Boom
After many fights with SSI, insurance, different jobs that I couldnt work due to the inability to stand for long periods, researching endlessly, I finally figured out how to obtain new legs that fit my lifestyle. A few months ago I was fit with legs that changed my life immediately. The way i wore them was totally different, and the characteristics of the foot were totally different. All for the better.
-But that's not the only thing!
6-8 months ago I applied through a foundation for running legs. The cheetah legs. They required running 3 5k's with proof, completing them in your current prosthetics, an essay on why you should have them, a referral essay, and multiple phone interviews. After 6 months of going through all of that, they denied me by specifically saying other people deserved them more than me.
Needless to say I was absolutely crushed. The whole six months i was on edge waiting to hear an answer, and i finally got one. But i didn't stop. I look around, told people in the industry of my story, and found alternatives. The alternative turns out to be better. The best possible route, in fact.
-Boom #2
Two months later, here i am. In two weeks I'm going to be in Fort smith, AK to meet with one of the best prosthetists in the world, the one who got Oscar Pistorius to where he was. He will be crafting my pair of cheetah running legs. I will also be meeting two other bilaterals from the foundation there and we will be hiking during my stay. I am completely stoked and am insanely thankful towards the foundation.
So thinking back 5-10 years ago when i used to beg for running legs at shriners and they told me they were too expensive and i wasnt going to be able to afford them, and thinking to how in two weeks i will have them made by the best leg guy possible is just an amazing feeling.
-Conclusion
I can go into way more detail about how all of this is has an effect on my life and what not, but I'll keep it brief. Moral of the story is, if you believe you can get it, you will.
If anyone has any questions out of curiosity, go for it, and thanks for letting me get that out!
-Background
I'm a double amputee, below the knee. Im a symes type of amputee due to fibular hemimilia, a birth condition. So this means I still have a heel, just my feet were amputated. I can walk on my legs without prosthetics. This is exactly the same thing as Oscar Pistorius which some of you may be more familiar with.
I went to Shriner's Hospital for the full 18 years they allowed. Shriner's runs off donations, so I got bottom tier hardware for all 18 years, despite my continued interest in sports. All of the since birth amputees i know started going to different clinics when they were young, but not me.
-Changes
So fastforward to when I'm 19 (I'm only 20 now). I see a commercial featuring Amy Purdy, snowboarding and running. I think to myself, there honestly has to be more than this. At this point, i was too old for shriners and thought that I had my last pair of legs (i would get new ones every 1-3 years) that I would use for the rest of my life unless i had 20 grand to drop on new ones. I knew there had to be more.
The point of a carbon fiber foot is that it is lightweight, simple, and returns energy like a real ankle. I had a foot with bushings, plastic, and it absorbed energy and made all types of noises.
-Boom
After many fights with SSI, insurance, different jobs that I couldnt work due to the inability to stand for long periods, researching endlessly, I finally figured out how to obtain new legs that fit my lifestyle. A few months ago I was fit with legs that changed my life immediately. The way i wore them was totally different, and the characteristics of the foot were totally different. All for the better.
-But that's not the only thing!
6-8 months ago I applied through a foundation for running legs. The cheetah legs. They required running 3 5k's with proof, completing them in your current prosthetics, an essay on why you should have them, a referral essay, and multiple phone interviews. After 6 months of going through all of that, they denied me by specifically saying other people deserved them more than me.
Needless to say I was absolutely crushed. The whole six months i was on edge waiting to hear an answer, and i finally got one. But i didn't stop. I look around, told people in the industry of my story, and found alternatives. The alternative turns out to be better. The best possible route, in fact.
-Boom #2
Two months later, here i am. In two weeks I'm going to be in Fort smith, AK to meet with one of the best prosthetists in the world, the one who got Oscar Pistorius to where he was. He will be crafting my pair of cheetah running legs. I will also be meeting two other bilaterals from the foundation there and we will be hiking during my stay. I am completely stoked and am insanely thankful towards the foundation.
So thinking back 5-10 years ago when i used to beg for running legs at shriners and they told me they were too expensive and i wasnt going to be able to afford them, and thinking to how in two weeks i will have them made by the best leg guy possible is just an amazing feeling.
-Conclusion
I can go into way more detail about how all of this is has an effect on my life and what not, but I'll keep it brief. Moral of the story is, if you believe you can get it, you will.
If anyone has any questions out of curiosity, go for it, and thanks for letting me get that out!
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