Real People...Real Stories

Meet Eleanor, 81 years of age. You’ll notice we didn’t say 81 years old, and there’s a good reason for that. Eleanor is one of our patients who will not accept limits, and that includes making assumptions about what an 81 years of age person with an artificial limb can do. She was an enthusiastic participant in our website because she “wants amputees to believe they can do anything.” And for Eleanor, that’s not just idle talk.

At the age of 49, Eleanor lost her left leg below the knee after being struck by a car. Having worn a prosthesis for over 30 years, she has really seen the evolution of prosthetic science and put it to good use as a nurse, mother, and grandmother. Living lakeside, Eleanor water skied until she was 67, and still enjoys the water during daily swims in the lake, canoeing, and kayaking.

Aside from the water, Eleanor’s other passions are bridge and tending to her beautiful gardens. She also takes care of her own home maintenance and can often be found climbing ladders in order to get the job done.

While some people who use prosthetics choose to allow them to be seen in public, Eleanor is most comfortable with a discreet approach, preferring to wear long slacks and generally not have people make a fuss over her.

From the time of her accident all those years ago, Eleanor has approached her prosthetic limb not as a limitation, but as a challenge she has met that has enabled her to go on living the life she loves the way she chooses. There is no arguing she has done just that.