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Life Without Limitation

 

“On June 10, 2002, I came to a roadblock in my life.  I was involved in an industrial accident that left me with a right arm that was only 4 inches below my elbow and a left hand that barely had an index finger and a thumb.

 

For someone that was deeply involved in football, basketball, and baseball as a high school student, this created a dramatic change in my life style.  I was always a “hands-on” type of person.  Aside from sports, I enjoyed helping my dad and brothers build our home and horse barn.  I enjoyed riding my dirt bike, water skiing, and just about any outdoor activity.  During the summer of 2002, I had picked up a job working with a stamping powerpress.  About half way through my shift, there was a miscommunication between the operator and me.  The press was activated while I had reached in to readjust a part.  The amputation was immediate; the machine didn’t budge an inch at the presences of my arms in its way.  I was rushed to a local hospital and later life-flighted to MCO.  I went through four different surgeries and was in the hospital for eleven days.  After about a month of trying to salvage my index and thumb with therapy, the doctors needed to amputate all that remained of my left hand.

 

It seemed to me like life was starting all over again.  I was going to have to learn to do everything in a new manner.  That is, of course, if I would be able to do them at all.

 

One of my uncles was visiting someone in a hospital and while briefly discussing my story, Sam Santa-Rita from SRT overheard.  Sam, wanting to help and knowing he could help, offered his business card.  By this time, I was already assigned to a prosthetist by my orthopedic surgeon, but my gut was telling me, “There should be something better.”  I made an appointment with Sam just to see what he could offer me.  He quickly got my attention with a demo of a myo-electric prosthetic, and I have been seeing Sam ever since.  I do not believe there is someone in the field that would be a better fit because of what I have asked of Sam, and what I have put him through.  Being a bi-lateral amputee at twenty-two years old, I can be fairly rough on these prosthetics.  Because I frequently made short work of a new or newly repaired hand, I had the attention of the largest upper extremity company.  They flew out to specifically sit down with me to discuss how to get longevity out of their myo-electric hands that I was using.  I was challenging the leading myo-electric company, and I was challenging Sam at SRT.  Thankfully, it has been a challenge Sam has welcomed.   

 

Sam has helped make a “dramatic change in my life style,” not so dramatic.  He makes himself readily available, and he has worked around my schedule.  We’ve held late night appointments, and we have even had appointments at his home on Saturdays.  He always strives to make my prosthetics better and my life better by working with me to achieve what I want to achieve.  I can be fairly picky at times and anytime I have “complained” about something, he finds a way to make it better.  I have asked him to create an air suction socket for better suspension; he developed one for me.  I told him I wanted to play football again; he created padding for me.  I told him I wanted to play baseball again; he developed a way for me to do so.

 

I have since graduated from college and have been in the workforce for one and a half years as a program manager for a tool and die shop.  There are many things I accredit to overcoming the roadblock I was faced with.  A few of those would be my faith, my family, my friends, my high school football coaches, and SRT.  Everyday can be a challenge but with the right people, those challenges are much easier to overcome.  Today, I enjoy an active life style with the help of SRT.  I have a full-time job which requires typing emails and writing.  I enjoy playing church league softball, and of course, cruising around in my four-speed dune buggy.”–Brad Hurtig


 

Norman Terrill is 78 years old and resides in Hicksville, Ohio, with his wife Vada of 52 years. They have 4 children together and 5 grandchildren. He worked at General Tire in Bryan, Ohio, for 25 years and retired in 1992. During that time, he was also a Volunteer Fireman for the village of Hicksville for 25 years. He currently works part-time delivering flowers for the Posey Peddler in Hicksville. Norm and Vada spend a lot of time during the summer at Branch County Campground on Messenger Lake in Coldwater, Michigan. While he is there, he gets to spend much time fishing, which is one of his favorite things. Norm also likes to garden, spend time with his family and friends—and of course—watch Ohio State Football. Norm lost his leg in June 2006 because of poor circulation. He received his prosthetic leg in November of that year. It has almost been a year and he is back to doing normal, everyday tasks. Norm would like to thank SRT Prosthetics for giving him his life back.


 

"Since I have been coming to your facility, I have been relieved to know that the design and care of my prosthesis is of paramount concern. I am very happy with the treatment and personal attention I have received. It is refreshing to know that quality is still being practiced over quantity. The time you take to assure things are correct is a refreshing change in the 'get them in, get them out' philosophy of other facilities." -Michael Merryman


"I have had my prosthesis for six years and have always been treated with great care by all the staff at SRT. If I ever have a problem, I know they will take care of me promptly and efficiently." -Reg Primeau


 

"When I moved from Tennessee to Indiana, I had already lost my lower right leg below the knee. I had honestly given up on myself; I considered myself a half of a person, through my eyes and others.

I started to need supplies and adjustments to my leg. That's when I came across SRT in the phone book, so I contacted them and made an appointment. They asked me about my leg, and how I am adjusting with my leg. And honestly I wasn't doing too good.

When I told them how I considered myself half a person, they shared their experiences with me; I knew that they wouldn't give up on me either.

They aren't just doing their jobs; they really care about their patients. The gang at SRT does more than build legs, arms, or whatever your needs are. They are friends, and I'm very thankful to have met each of them. It doesn't matter if I need supplies or just someone to talk to—they are there. Thank you Kokomo SRT."

- Kay Kerlin


 

We would like to thank all of our SRT Patients for the courage and fortitude they show, for the life experiences they share with us, and for enriching our lives!

-- The Staff at SRT

 

We invite you to contact us with any questions, or if we can be of service to you in any way.

 

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