“Make it Unique, Make It Part of You”

Last fall I took my daughter and Granddaughter to the Casino for dinner. In the hall Dan Horkey, who had noticed my prosthesis, stopped me. (We both appear to have the same tendency to wear shorts.) I was given his business card and we parted.
 

Shortly after the encounter I was due be fitted for a new prosthesis. This one, however, would be quite different from the many I have had since my amputation in 1988. I decided that I wanted to begin training for the Breast Cancer 3 Day walk.
 

One of my children is a talented artist and I decided that I would like to have some of his artwork on my new leg. He drew me a picture of a Koi fish and explained that he saw that as representative of his feelings for me; that Koi represented courage and perseverance. I contacted Dan and sent him the picture and we got together to discuss options and prices.

In very short time I took delivery of my new leg. It is so much nicer than I could have even imagined. I feel great pride in the fact that I carry my son’s artwork with me. It attracts a lot of attention; and I love to let kids see and touch my “robot leg.” I think this leg takes me from the “disabled” list to the “differently-abled” list. I look at this leg each morning and it makes me smile.

I will walk with my daughter in the 3 Day this fall. I will walk with pride. After the walk I will be calling Dan Horkey at GTOPI to put a pink ribbon and “2009” on the prosthesis at the same spot on my “ankle” that my daughter is sporting a tattoo.




 

Nancy Andrist – Kingston, WA USA