I just had my leg amputated below the knee on October 21, 2004 and I am doing GREAT! Hard to believe I would say that, but it is true. I may have lost my leg but I have been given back my life. I am grateful to Tony Barr and this web site, along with Dr. William Ertl, Dan Sheret and Ron King, who all helped me arrive at this decision.  Here is brief overview of how I got here.…

On April 24, 1999 I fell off a 6ft ladder while painting my dining room. I shattered my right ankle as well as my tibia and fibula. Over the next 5 and a half years I had 9 surgeries to repair the damage, two of which were ankle replacements that quickly failed. I spent most of the years in a wheelchair, on crutches or on my roll-a-bout. I was in severe pain and just surviving each day to care for my three young kids. Two years ago I asked several of my many doctors around the country about amputation and received the typical ”save it at all cost“ response. In November of 2003, I reluctantly agreed to my second ankle replacement, which also failed. After that, they wanted to fuse my ankle and lengthen my leg as the final option.  I decided to go to a Prosthetics/ Orthotics provider and talk options with the experts.  I asked them about amputation verses fusion and what would get me walking again. They said no question, amputation. Then they told me if I was thinking of having an amputation I needed to look into the Ertl procedure. That was the smartest thing I have ever done!

I met with Dr.William Ertl in OK City in May (who is not only a great surgeon but also kind and caring). I was ready to get rid of the pain and have the amputation. However, I tend to be too thorough and decided to see one more ankle specialist in Seattle for a last opinion.  Unfortunately he shared the opinion of a lot of doctors which is that amputation should be avoided at all cost. He told me ”As a woman, you would not be able to handle an amputation“ Well that set me back mentally and so I spent the next month researching, praying and finding encouragement from other amputees and my family. Finally I was able to come to a decision to move forward with it. I decided that after having worked so hard to save my leg, I wanted to have the best amputation procedure available. The more I researched the options, the more I was convinced that the Ertl  would be the one to get me walking again.

The surgery went great. I had a rough time the 4 weeks after surgery with nerve pain but at 6 weeks post-op to the day I got my first prosthesis. I stood up, dropped my crutches and took off. After being in pain for so long and unable to walk, it was so awesome! I have been in my leg for 6 weeks and can wear it all day and keep up with my three small kids (not an easy feat). They have their mom back and I have my life back! I am surprised how easy it is. The littlest things bring me so much joy, like the first night I slept without a sleeping pill, carrying my 6 year old and walking across the room which I had never done before, riding a horse, going to the gym, walking at the mall, standing at the sink to wash dishes (imagine finding joy in that!!)  I could go on and on…

Needless to say, I am so glad I did not listen to the doctor out west because I am very much ”handling it“.  After six years in pain and on medication, I am so happy to be enjoying my life again as an amputee. I have had the privilege recently of talking with several people across the country who are also looking at amputation and I hope I can help them see that a life of pain with very limited mobility just to have your limb is not necessarily the right choice. The quality of life does matter. I know that having the Ertl has played a major role in how well I am doing.  I have nothing but praise for this procedure!

UPDATE SEPT 2005:

I think it is time for an update. It has been 10 months since my Ertl and I am doing great! Recently, I went hiking in the Smoky Mountains to see hidden waterfalls and was amazed at all I could do with my new leg. I went off the beaten path and walked on steep, uneven, and slippery ground with ease. It was liberating after so many years of inactivity. I am ridding horses again and even started training for the 2006 NYC Marathon. There are so many possibilities!

I attended the ACA convention in Dallas in August and had the opportunity to talk about the Ertl procedure. Many amputees were amazed that I was a new amputee and doing so well. Most did not even realize I am an amputee because I have virtually no limp, and I ran around with high heel flip-flops with no problem. While at the convention, I attended gait training where I was basically told I have nothing to work on except strengthening my quads. Balancing, equal weight distribution and full range of motion are easy for me and I believe the Ertl procedure is why I have such ease. It has provided such a great weight bearing residual limb!

I am a certified ACA peer visitor, and have been called frequently by people who are looking at amputation as an option after many failed reconstructive surgeries. Recently, two of those people I have spoken with went on to having the Ertl procedure as a revision. They too are doing much better now. I hope to give encouragement to others who find themselves facing amputation. I chose the amputation after so many failed reconstruction surgeries. It is not an easy decision. But if you chose amputation, you are not "giving up" as so many say. You are choosing to improve the quality of your life. I was unable to walk the last five years... now I can do that and so much more. You can get your life back... I did!