Albert M.

September 30, 2020 8:49 am

Albert M. became an amputee nine years ago when he was 66. Although he planned to keep on working, the amputation coupled with diabetes caused him to retire.

However, that doesn’t mean that he is not active. Albert is a frequent visitor at rehab facilities where he encourages new amputees to live their lives to the fullest.

“A lot of patients just want to talk to another amputee because if they have a question, sometimes the only one that can give them a direct answer is another amputee,” he said.

Albert tries to keep up with innovations and assistive devices that can help amputees, often clipping articles about amputee athletes and other accomplished individuals to take with him on his visits.

He often gets questions about being able to swim, surf or paddle again. “I want to get answers about those things are available,” he said. He knows that he can always call his prosthetist, Kai Newton, CPO, for information.

“You can always go and talk to Kai or call the office,” he said. “If you have a question, they will call back with an answer. Everyone at Advanced P&O are very nice and very friendly. I always take their business cards with me when I meet with new amputees. They are very good to me so I want to pass it on.”

Albert is not shy about giving advice to other amputees, whether he knows them or not. To Albert, it’s all about trying to be independent, and trying to get back to the lifestyle pre-amputation, whether it’s work or play.

“I have a friend who used to work at the same hotel as me,” he said. “She became a double amputee and has prosthetics, but she won’t use them. I told her, it might be difficult at first, but if you don’t try your best, you won’t get up and about. I put it out there for her. You got two choices – yes or no.”

Albert is aware of his own limitations. “I was planning to keep working, but the injury caused me to retire and I physically can’t do what I did before,” he said. “I like to walk and I have a computerized prosthesis which senses uneven terrain. I can’t walk as much as before, but it does help.”

He also feels lucky because his amputation is on his left leg so he can still drive without his car having modifications. “I can’t stay at home and be a couch potato. I tell others, go out and do whatever you can as long as possible.”

Albert learned about Advanced P&O when his physical therapist referred him there. He was pleasantly surprised to find Kai Newton as his prosthetist because Albert went to the same high school as Kai’s father George Newton, CPO, and founder of Advanced P&O. “It’s a small world when you live on an  island,” he chuckled.