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Artist expresses her ‘new normal’ through art
APOP will display Her inspirational painting
APOP’s office will soon have an original piece of art on display, created by one of their patients, Desiree, a talented artist who expresses deep meaning in her work.
The piece she is doing for APOP is based on a sketch she showed her prosthetist, Kai Newton, CPO, shortly after her amputation as she struggled to accept her “new normal.”
“This painting, titled ‘Rising,’ was inspired by that image,” she said. “I have painted a prosthetic leg as a vase, exploding with vivid island flowers. The lei is placed around the foot as if to say “Aloha (goodbye)” to my old foot/life and “Aloha (hello)” to the new one. Each flower has a symbolic meaning:
“I wanted to illustrate the process of grieving life‘s unexpected tragedy, accepting an unwanted but necessary circumstance or outcome, and then embracing it and growing out of that trauma. Only God’s grace has enabled me to rise up and move forward,” she said.
Desiree has led a very spiritual, as well as an artistic life, beginning at a very young age. “I grew up on the island of Guam in a family of artists, so art has always been encouraged and enjoyed. My parents also faithfully brought me to church where I learned about Jesus.”
In 2016, just as she was planning to publish a coloring book illustrating Bible verses, she began experiencing nagging ankle pain. “That nagging pain caused me to limp into the doctor’s office and request for investigative tests. They found a tumor in my right ankle.”
She was eventually diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She began chemotherapy, followed by radiation, and more chemotherapy.
“The treatment made me very weak and sick, which prevented me from creating any artwork. When I could, I would draw, color, and hand letter Bible verses and inspiring phrases to encourage myself and others who were also experiencing hard times.”
She completed treatment in September 2018, but 10 months later the cancer returned and ultimately resulted in the amputation of her right foot. Her physiatrist recommended APOP and spoke highly of their work. Desiree agrees. She describes her experience with the company as “Excellent!”
She explains, “There was a lot of uncertainty and fear with learning to walk in a different way, but they were very understanding and answered any and all my questions, even the ‘dumb’ ones. They put me at ease as I adjusted to the many changes and always let me know that they were available to help with anything.”
Kai fit Desiree with a below knee prosthetic device designed to restore her ability to walk and pursue mobility goals. “Prosthetic devices should be comfortable, durable, and meet the needs of the client,” he said. Desiree’s prosthetic incorporates advanced materials like titanium and carbon fiber resulting in a system that employs dynamic motion to improve stability and reduce the energy required by the prosthetic user when walking.
“I’m able to do most things. I can walk at 2 mph for at least 30 minutes. If I wore pants, I don’t think you would know I’m an amputee. I can swim without my prosthetic leg. I’m still figuring out how to drive. I can do all the housework. As far as sports like volleyball, tennis, and Zumba, I would like to get back into them eventually. And there are other sports I wanted to try like surfing, but I’m not there yet.”
Desiree lives in Hawaii with her husband and their young daughter. She currently freelances her artwork, which includes drawing, painting, lettering, and other art prints. Her vision is to connect with people through art and healing and to point them to the Creator and Healer of our souls.
It started as a normal day for David C. First work, then surf. But his life was suddenly turned upside down when he was run over by a forklift truck at his jobsite. “When that happened, everything changed. My injury was a degloving injury; all the tissue and skin on my foot was ripped off,” he said.
Doctors tried to salvage the foot through multiple surgeries and skin grafts. None were successful and David was in excruciating pain. After discussing options with his doctor, which included more surgeries without a guaranteed successful outcome, David opted for a below knee amputation.
“It was the best decision I made,” he said. “My main concern was getting to where I was before the injury, including surfing. I surfed my whole life and I wondered if I was going to be able to surf again. They said if I wouldn’t have had the amputation, I probably wouldn’t have been able to do anything anymore.”
Prior to his amputation, David had been seeing George Newton, CPO, for help with his foot drop, so he turned to George again to fit him with a prosthesis.
“I talked to my case manager and adjustor and said I wanted to go to the best in the island and they said, you are already seeing him.”
David was anxious to return to his job, but eventually had to leave it. “In my job, I had to be on my feet all the time and it turned out to be too difficult, mentally and physically. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to work. I was laid up for a long time and I wanted to get back, plus everyone was telling me that is the thing to do,” he said. “George disagreed and told me that I needed to be patient. I wasn’t. I was one of those guys waiting for my leg to be saved. I was on the internet looking at options and when I got amputated, I was on the internet again seeing other amputees running and being very active. So, I figure I’m going to get a leg, put it on and get going. Well that was humbling. It doesn’t work that way. You’ve got to be patient like George said and learn to adjust and adapt to it.
“Even though I’m 59 I’m still pretty active, but I can’t go that long length I used to – I can’t be on my feet 10 hours a day. Right now, I try to walk a few miles a day on the treadmill and I am surfing again. Being in the water is the only place I feel normal, because I’ve done it my whole life and it’s a nice relaxing thing for me to do. George understands the whole thing about the water because he is a surfer too.”
For surfing, George fit David with a TruStep waterproof foot from College Park. For everyday wear, he is in an Össur Pro-Flex.
David admits he is hard on his legs and like other amputees, has to deal with residual limb changes and volume fluctuation. “Every time I have a bit of an issue, George, and Kai Newton, CPO, are always there to refit me and get me back out there.
“George and Kai are compassionate about what they do and how you feel. They are focused on you as a patient and getting you the best equipment for you to get back to your life that you once knew and that is why I like them. They go above and beyond in getting me back to where I am.
“I’m thoroughly pleased with Advanced P&O,” David said. “Summer Contreras is wonderful, too. She is great at getting authorization and working with insurance. George, Kai and Summer take out a lot of stress and headache of being an amputee.”
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.