Let's help Evie get her new prosthetic leg.

My Name is Chris Seipel and I am a friend of Evie and help her with transport to her medical appointments and community access.

Evie is now a 22 year old woman living in Brisbane and she lost her left leg below the knee in 2017. Following her amputation Evie successfully completed a prosthetic rehabilitation program at the PA hospital. At this stage apart from minor irritations, she was able to walk all day in her prosthesis, even run on occasions.

Since being fitted with her first definitive prosthetics there has been a sharp decline in the amount of time she is able to walk. Sometimes preferring not to wear her prosthesis at all as the fit is so poor. This is also greatly effecting her mental health as she is a young woman and spends a lot of time at home because it is such a poor fit. Evie is also unable to work as much as she used to which is causing her huge financial stress.

The original provider fitted her with a prosthetic which is two sizes too big for her and this was determined by Leading Edge Prosthetics (a new provider that Evie sought out herself). Leading edge also noted in a letter that it was the worst fitting prosthesis they had ever seen. During this consultation photographs were taken and can be viewed to give people a true reference.

Evie was originally looked after by a young woman who had just finished university and although Evie made claims that the socket did not fit the woman kept telling her she would get used to it, basically dismissing her. She also kept no notes on Evie’s case and conveniently no longer works for the original provider.

Leading Edge Prosthetics also states in their letter that the foot weights almost 50% of the entire leg and physics proves that a heavy weight placed further away from the rotation of a joint will feel much heavier and would be contributing enormously to the discomfort that Evie is experiencing. Leading Edge after several consultations will provide a foot that is much lighter and a socket that is a perfect fit which will alleviate all of the problems and enable Evie to live a much better life.

After to returning to the original provider many times without success, Evie decided to return to the PA hospital. When the prosthetist and Rehabilitation Specialist saw her walk in they immediately agreed that the prosthesis was ill fitting and needed to be remade. Evie returned to her original provider, to find that the company agreed that the prosthesis was not the best for her.

This occurred in 2020 and still the provider has and looks like doing nothing to help Evie. There has been a notable decline in her health and wellbeing since this submission was made in 2020. It is now 2022 and there has been no progress in her situation with regard to the provider’s incompetence.

The tax payer through the NDIS paid this provider to fit Evie with a prosthetic to enable her to live a normal life. They failed miserably and although admitting fault want the NDIS to again pay for a new leg which is not the responsibility of the NDIS.

Evie is a young woman that deserves to be treated better than this. The original provider admit fault but are not willing to pay for their mistakes and Evie is suffering the consequences. Evie can’t afford to engage a lawyer and desperately needs to get her life back on track. We have quotes from Leading Edge Prosthetics which can be viewed on request which quote one leg at $14,000. We also have all correspondence that can be viewed to prove Evie’s position.

The NDIS which is tax payer funded have done their job but this provider has failed this young woman. We please ask for some empathy and kindness and help to get Evie back to her feet and enjoying life ASAP.  As soon as the money comes in it will be transferred directly to Leading Edge Prosthetics and Evie can begin the process of getting her new leg.