You CAN Still Play Golf
Don's Story

Don came into the ER with a cold pulseless leg. His symptoms started about an hour before he came to the hospital and he was in a lot of pain.

At the hospital an attempt was made to open the leg artery. This seemed to work for a few days until the artery closed off from a clot. Don's doctors then performed a bypass graft from his groin to his foot. Don was thrilled because his foot felt warm for the first time in years. He went home to his wife, Marilyn, and their farm in just over a week. He even got back to his only hobbyÑgolfing.

Don continued to work the farm. He faithfully went in for regular follow-up checks and saw his podiatrist frequently. He and his wife walked several miles daily over the farm and he played golf once a week. Four years later, Don's foot began to feel cold again and he again started experiencing more leg pain. In addition, he hurt his foot on a nail and so he made an appointment to see his doctor.

By the time Don came to his doctor's office, the injured foot was badly infected and the graft was obviously clotted. Don was prescribed antibiotics and dressings were put on his leg after the doctor cleaned the foot of dead skin. Despite this treatment, the pain from the lack of blood flow to the foot was too intense. Without good blood flow, the foot was becoming severely damaged. Don's doctor determined that the foot was no longer salvageable, so a below-the-knee amputation was performed. Don did well during the surgery and his recovery was excellent. He began rehabilitation and six weeks later he went to be fitted for prosthesis.

When he arrived for his fitting, Don had a special request "Could you make the ankle turn or pivot so I can still golf?" The answer was "yes!"

Don was delighted. He learned to walk on his prosthesis and was soon back to the farmÉ and golfing. He can rotate on his prosthesis when he golfs, and then lock the pivot when he is not golfing.

Now, four years later, Don does less on the farm and more on the golf course. His message is encouraging: "Even if you do have to have an amputation, it doesn't have to be the end of your normal life."