Sacha’s story
Sacha was born with Fibula aplasia type C. Her foot, which she couldn’t walk with, was amputated when she was two years old. Her leg has now been amputated through the knee.
Did you immediately get a prosthesis when you were little?
Yes. I could run and jump with it. But at a certain point my bone grew faster than my skin and the pointy shape of the bone bothered me a lot. As a result, I couldn’t walk well at all and was in a lot of pain.
Could something be done about it?
At the previous place where I was treated, they couldn’t do anything about it. They also said the pain was “between my ears”. At that time we went to an open day at De Hoogstraat and there my mother got into a conversation with a pediatric rehabilitation doctor who told her that they have a specialist team for child prosthetics at De Hoogstraat. We then moved to De Hoogstraat. That team then advised me to have my leg amputated through the knee, so that I could walk better without pain.
Sacha likes that she is finally being taken seriously, even though she is still a minor.
And are you now walking without pain?
Yes, I received a new prosthesis and also physiotherapy. I also tested several electronic knees to find out which knee would suit me best. Initially I did that in Utrecht. A while later I switched to Protec in Amsterdam. There they specialize in leg prostheses.
How do you get help at Protec?
Actually, for the first time I have the feeling that someone is listening to me. That I am taken seriously. Of course I’m a minor, but that doesn’t matter at all at Protec. My prosthetist listens well. For example, we chose a print for the socket together and I chose a specific knee during a trial run.
Can you walk well with your new prosthesis?
I am now receiving gait training from Frank Dik, Protec’s walking trainer. He teaches me to walk more neatly and teaches tricks that make me need less energy to walk. A very nice moment was last week. Then I managed to walk 2.5 kilometers in a row! That was really a huge progress.
What do you think of the building?
I think it’s a nice environment. It is a kind of factory that is very cozy! And of course I’ve also been on the swing!
Are you satisfied with the services provided by Protec?
Yes, I am very happy with what my prosthetist and movement trainer do for me. I can think along and even though I am a minor: I am taken very seriously! And yes: I’m moving forward step by step! I am very happy with that!
We are only happy when you are
"What I find a huge advantage of this method is the speed with which it works. In one day my prosthesis was ready and I could walk with it. I live on Vlieland and have to travel quite a bit to visit the instrument workshop. It is therefore wonderful if those visits are limited and you can walk out the door in 1 day with a new prosthesis that fits well."
Read John Peter's story
"I’ve now been a prosthesis user for half a century. For many years, I functioned quite well with my prostheses. I am a visual artist and a teacher, I lead an active life, and I have a job that requires me to stand. I’ve also always traveled a lot. However, I often suffered from sores in my groin, but I kept going. I simply want to do things and not always be focused on my prosthesis, which can limit me."
Read Hilli's story
"Renee had a moped accident at the age of 16 and has been wearing a leg prosthesis ever since. She has been a client at our Utrecht location for several years and first got to know Protec in Amsterdam: "What a special place! You absolutely don’t feel like a patient, because there is no medical atmosphere at all. The small-scale setting also creates a great feeling. Actually, it’s hard to explain—you have to experience it."
Read Renee's story
