Help Tom upgrade to a safer prosthetic leg!

My name is Alison. I have created this page on behalf of my good friend, Tom, in order to help him upgrade to a safer and more capable prosthetic leg.

In February of 2022, Tom had to have his leg amputated above the knee. For those of you who are close to Tom, this came as quite a shock, but he must be given credit for handling this fate with the utmost strength, positivity, and perseverance.

Surprisingly to many, obtaining a prosthetic when you are an amputee is not a quick, easy, or streamlined process. Tom spent the first several months after his amputation struggling with his mobility by solely relying on the use of a wheelchair. Despite the significant challenges he faced, he never once complained or expected that anyone feel sorry for him. He was a true warrior battling the challenges of a non-ADA friendly environment.

Luckily, Tom was fitted and able to receive his first prosthetic leg after six months. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not cover the full cost of such an essential device. Tom had to pay $3400 out of pocket for his prosthetic, aside from other medical costs.

As Tom persevered and learned how to get around using his new leg, he found that he was limited in his ability due to the construction of the prosthetic itself. The knee and foot were both limiting his ability to walk safely without mobility aids such as a walker or crutches. He is unable to walk as fast as he would like because the components do not have the rebound and swing speed of a higher grade prosthetic. He is at constant risk of falling, as the mechanical knee can collapse on him if he is not careful. Walking along a surface with any degree of slope is considerably challenging, often requiring him to approach and tackle the surface by walking sideways to prevent the knee from collapsing on him. Going up and down stairs is a slow process because he must take them one at a time and going down requires he carefully step to ensure the mechanical knee is fully locked. Tom has fallen when the knee did not securely lock.

Prosthetics are rated by a system called K levels The levels range from 0-4, where a K0 prosthetic is appropriate for someone with little to no mobility and a K4 is appropriate for an elite athlete. These levels dictate what an insurance company will pay for. If you have limited movement the insurance company will not pay for a prosthetic that is suitable for maximum motion. When Tom initially left the hospital, he was determined to prove to the insurance company that he was eligible for a prosthetic at the K2 level. He was successful in this effort, which was not an easy accomplishment. This alone speaks to Tom’s grit and determination to not allow this new disability to hold him back from anything.

If someone improves their K level, they can petition their insurance company for a new prosthetic. This is where Tom is currently at now. He has increased from K2 mobility to K3 mobility. He has increased to the level of the average adult amputee but is being medically limited by his current prosthetic.

After a multi-month fight with his insurance company and an initial denial, Tom filed and won an appeal with the insurance company to upgrade his prosthetic. Tom can now upgrade to a K3 prosthetic with a microprocessor knee which will enable him to walk about town, negotiate hills, curbs, and stairs much more naturally and safely. The goal is that he will no longer need the assistance of crutches or other balancing aids. Before his amputation, Tom had a passion for driving and racing his manual transmission vehicle. This is not possible with his current prosthetic. Since the K3 prosthetic knee has the ability to lock, it will allow Tom to operate a clutch and get back to something he deeply enjoys.

Tom is currently looking at $5500 of out-of-pocket expenses to receive his new prosthetic. We all know that in this difficult economy, even coming up with a fraction of that amount is beyond the reach of many. I am requesting that you help my wonderful friend with any amount that you can. Donations of any size will be greatly appreciated and help soften the out-of-pocket financial burden that Tom will face this time, and every 3-5 years, if and when, the prosthetic needs a replacement or he is eligible for an upgrade.

Thank you for your time and consideration while reading this! Any donations above and beyond Tom’s out of pocket expenses will be donated to a charity organization that helps amputees with their medical costs.