David P.
For the outdoor enthusiast, South Texas can be a veritable playground, and David P. takes full advantage of it. Despite having bilateral transtibial amputations and using prostheses, David, 56, says he still participates in almost all of the activities he enjoyed prior to his amputations, including hunting, hiking, and fishing. He does much of his hunting perched in a deer blind but can walk moderate distances over uneven, natural terrain. He says he makes certain adjustments to his gait to maintain his balance, such as exerting extra upper-body strength, adding that it’s also important to be mindful of his surroundings. “As a double amputee, you can walk out into the woods sometimes and there are things out there that can make you stumble, so you've really got to be careful about what you’re doing.”
During day-to-day community walking, however, David says he doesn't give his prostheses much thought. When he first meets someone, he’ll sometimes carry on a conversation without the stranger noticing his prostheses until he says goodbye. “I’ll start walking away and they’ll say, ‘Hey, man, you don’t have any legs!’”
David, who lives 65 miles northwest of San Antonio in Kerrville, is a commercial painter and ordained minister. He became an amputee two years after surviving a head-on car collision in 1997.
“It is by the grace of God that I’m even alive,” David says. He was not expected to survive his numerous injuries, which included shattered legs. He underwent six surgeries to salvage his right leg before opting to have it amputated in 1999. His left leg was salvaged with reconstructive surgery using metal plates and screws to piece the bones back together. However, in 2010 he fell from a scaffold during a painting job, and the metal in his leg shattered from the impact, forcing him to undergo another amputation.
David has worked with several prosthetists over the years, and he calls it a blessing to have been referred to Ricardo (Rick) Morales Ramos, CP, LP, CPed, in March 2012. “Rick and the team…really step up for me and do what I need to have done that keeps me walking.” He adds that one of the first things he noticed about Premier Prosthetics was its welcoming, family-oriented environment.
Because David’s prosthetic systems seemed effective prior to working with Premier, Rick has not made any major changes to David’s componentry; the focus has instead been on maintaining residual limb health and prosthetic function. “Rick is very meticulous,” David says. “He wants everything to be perfect, and believe me, it’s perfect.”
As he also has diabetes, David is susceptible to ulceration on his residual limbs, and Premier is prepared to assist him on short notice. “It’s important to see the patient right away to find out what exactly the patient was doing to cause the blister,” Rick says, adding that David’s ulcerations are commonly caused by wearing either too few or too many socks during activity. “Finding the cause and treating the wound with medication and protection is the key to a speedy recovery.”
David makes a 130-mile round trip to Premier’s San Antonio office when he needs to see Rick. “But I don’t mind spending the extra [gas] money for the travel because I’m taken care of,” he says.
Not shy about showing his prostheses, David enjoys having conversations about them with people he meets at the grocery store, gun shows, and other public places. He also visits medical centers to provide peer support to people who have undergone or will soon undergo an amputation. “He wants to be a teacher and a person other people can talk to whenever they need help,” Rick says.
“Being upright makes a world of difference,” David says. “I’m alive, I’m upright, God is in control, and I’m blessed.”
Bailey E.
All of my experiences with the staff at Premier Prosthetics have been outstanding. The level of patient care and customer service well surpasses my expectations. The staff is knowledgeable and strives to ensure the prosthesis fits perfectly and goes out of their way to make sure it looks exactly like I envisioned it to look. I couldn't be happier with the service I have received here at Premier Prosthetics. I would recommend anyone looking for prosthetic services to try Premier Prosthetics, they will not be disappointed.
02/27/2014
Luis R.
Premier Prosthetics is like visiting family, Thank you!!
02/27/2015
Alfredo T.
Premier Prosthetics has been very helpful starting with the front office along with the persons who make my prosthetics. They also educated me on taking care of my prosthetic. I will refer them to anyone who has lost a limb. I am very happy and satisfied with my prosthetics. Thank you,
02/23/2015
Joseph M.
I want to thank the staff here at Premier Prosthetics for helping me get my new prosthetic leg in a timely manner. All my appointments were very helpful. Thank you,
02/23/2015
Jose A.
My visit to Premier Prosthetics has been a very pleasant visit. The staff is so helpful and generous with my concerns that I have during my visits to help me in getting my prosthetic to where my life as an amputee is working out better. From the time you walk through the doors to the time you leave, you feel like they are there to help you with every needs you have. The setting is almost like a family setting. For every problem I feel I have that comes up, they pay attention and work with the patient as a team to get the problem fixed.
02/23/2015