The perfectly fitted prosthetic breathed new life into a new mommy after battling discomfort
When one thinks of a woman in her 20s, the term “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” usually comes to mind. Unfortunately, initially, this was not the case for Marissa.
For years she struggled with a prosthesis that fitted uncomfortably, was difficult to walk with and normally took forever to put on – Marissa was unenthusiastic about her prosthetic journey and physical abilities. This young lady thought her life was reduced to walking slowly and focussing on every single step not to fall.
In life we all need people who believe in us despite the dark and gloomy situations we might find ourselves in. We believed in Marissa’s ability to walk with a prosthesis without difficulty. Her husband also believed that she could live life as the healthy young woman.
So, it was all up to Marissa. She had to make the choice. Stay stuck in the situation she’s currently in, or shift her thoughts to positive prosthetic fitting and commit to a new journey that will change her life and her mindset for ever.
Boy did she deliver! And by deliver, we mean actually deliver – a baby! After taking the first few steps with her new prosthesis she broke the news: “I am pregnant!”.
A pregnancy poses very specific challenges, not only to Marissa, but to her treating Prosthetist as well. Constant changes in centre of gravity, volume fluctuations and increased load placed on the stump. Marissa took every single one of these challenges in her stride.
As a baby shower gift we bought her a new dynamic foot. We are all parents and thought that this was the very best way to contribute. Following a detailed prosthetic fitting protocol was the key to ensuring her mobility during the pregnancy period.
The stakes were high and our responsibility towards Marissa unquestionable. An extended test socket period carried Marissa to motherhood.
Her little girl was born – healthy and well – and this proud mommy is now beaming with pride. But she should also be very proud of herself and the journey she successfully travelled.
Marissa’s picture has changed from gloomy, lack of energy and demotivation to the ultimate feel-good outcome. Marissa, we can now comfortably refer to you as “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” while pushing your baby stroller and carrying the nappy bag over your shoulder!
