Tru's New Leg (#2) !

About six months after receiving his first prosthesis the Prosthetists began making Tru a new one. By that time he has already had around four height adjustments and continuing to lengthen his prosthesis was not a problem. The problem was (and it is a great problem to have!) that Tru's right femur was growing longer (taller) so he was growing out of his socket (the part of the prosthesis that his residual limb fits into).
So our little, three year old boy, who had only been walking for eight months at that point, was already ready for a new, bigger, more advanced prosthesis.
It was not a quick process. His first prosthesis was made from rather simple measurements. This time they actually casted Tru's leg, ordered parts, had it assembled, had fittings, more adjustments, a final fitting with his physical therapist present, and then the ultimate prize...


Goodbye red leg. Precious baby leg. Cute leg. Starter leg. Amazing leg. The leg that started it all.














In comes the new leg for a final fitting. With a new leg comes a new foot. Unfortunately I did not think about that - Tru needed bigger shoes!














So they borrowed Tru's old foot and placed it on his new leg. As simple as that...









Waiting... waiting...

















The first fitting of the fully assembled leg. Tru was not happy at all. He kept looking over at his original red leg and reaching for it saying, "My leg! My leg!"












Lisa, his physical therapist, was there to help Tru take his first steps with the new leg.
















After watching Tru walk it was amazing to hear all of the things they saw wrong with the fit. There were a minimum of five changes/adjustments made that day.









Finally, it was the big day, time to grow into a new, advanced, big boy leg.


After Tru and I arrived and were waiting for the unveiling there was a knock on the door. A surprise guest - Daddy! This was the first opportunity that Dallas had to join us on an appointment at Dankmeyer.












More adjustments!

The yogurt raisins ran out so Dallas offers a piece of gum to entice Tru to continue walking.












One final check.

















Tru says he has had enough! "Let's go Daddy!"














The knee on this leg is much more "bendable" (for the lack of a better/medical term).

Tru is able to have more natural motion with this leg.



It was time to try it out at physical therapy the following morning. Lisa worked with him on the treadmill which he loves. He walks as Lisa sings, "The ants go marching one by one...."


Tru loves working with Lisa.

Here is one of his favorite activities. He lays on a rolling board while Lisa pulls him around the room with a hula-hoop. He thinks it is loads of fun but it is a super workout for his core muscles.






So far so good with the newest, multi-colored leg. It is much heavier than his first leg which certainly took a toll on him (and me) for a few days. When I pick him up now I am still not used to the immediate change in his weight. And the new knee will quickly bed and snap around your fingers when you remove the leg. Yes, I know this from personal experience. Another lesson learned quickly was to be much more careful when pulling Tru up into your lap. The new, heavier, bendy leg will really leave a nice bruise on your knee if you are not careful.

Other immediate changes: Tru's shoe size when from a 6.5 to a size 8, his size 2T pants were above his ankles, and don't forget about the new socks.
So we took Tru and his new leg on a shopping spree the following weekend!
Keep growing Tru-Tru!!