And She's Off

Alright - today was the big day!  We met with Kim - our prosthetist - and Samantha got her leg.


This first picture is what it looks like.  Kim starts with a clear socket so she can see how the limb looks when she is wearing the leg.  It is malleable with heat and so adjustments can be made easily.


You can see the pretty shoes Sam picked out.  They have a specific heal and the leg will be adjusted for this height of shoe.  If she decides she wants to wear a flat shoe, wedges will be used until the rod portion is vertical again. 


The video is of Samantha's first steps - I am so proud and happy...

 This next picture is with just the 'skin'.  When Samantha was cast for the socket, she was wearing this layer.  It will always be the first thing that goes on her leg.  It has the mineral oil on the gel side that goes next to her skin.  As her leg shrinks, Sam will have to add socks over this until the socket fits snug again.  Kim gave us nylon socks, half mil thick socks all the way up to 3 mil socks.


Sam will be able to do any combination depending on how small or big her limb is on different days.

Here you see Sam just before she is starting to walk.  There is a lighter colored sleeve over the socket up to her thigh.  This creates a vacuum seal holding the prosthetic onto her leg.  This is a common first option for prosthetics because the work is distributed up to her thigh and it protects the bottom part of the limb while the incision heals.  Later she can chose a pin option.


Samantha said it felt pretty weird - no real words to describe - but she said she could feel her foot going into the socket...


She still has a lot of work to get her hip strength back and she tends to keep all the weight on her right leg.  It makes sense since she has been protecting her left leg for four years now.  When she started walking she didn't put too much weight on the prosthetic; however, by the end of the appointment she was trusting it a bit more and working on getting her weight evenly distributed over both legs.


When we finally got home, Samantha was a bit worn out - she will sleep well tonight!  


Monday she will start her physical therapy with Tony.  This first appointment will be at the same place as today's - at the prosthetic office.  That way if Kim needs to make adjustments - she can do it right there.   


Next week is going to be fun - tomorrow night we are going to dinner at Carmines.  We do this every year to celebrate our anniversary.  Then on Saturday, Jeremy flies out to Brazil for work and the girls and I have a birthday party to attend.  Daniel and Jennie are coming home for the weekend to help Samantha with her Senior Capstone project.


I will be a single mom for a few days - getting Isabella to her after school activities and Sam to her PT.  I will miss Monday's PT appointment but Sam is OK with it so that is all that matters.


It was wonderful watching Samantha walk today.  No limp and she is so tall!  For the next few days she will wear the leg one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening.  She can walk with the leg but she will still need to use her crutches.  Five weeks ago we were adjusting and grieving but today we are celebrating! 


Love to everyone!