Necessity is the mother of invention. This is how the journey started, with the need for some type of normalcy in the simple act of putting on one’s pants and shoes. Amputation takes that normalcy away. Not only does one lose a limb, but one also loses the ability to choose. Choosing which pair of shoes to wear because the prosthetic has already been adjusted to the height of one pair, choosing jeans vs. shorts vs. sweatpants because the jeans might not fit over the socket; this was part of Mike’s story. He became an amputee with a need and desire to change his new situation and create a better one, not only for himself, but for other amputees.
I remember the day the idea of QuickFoot was born. It was a day of extreme frustration, anger, and tears. Mike just wanted to put on his jeans like anyone else and not struggle with the socket and prosthetic leg in doing so. He wanted to be able to change his shoes and not worry about the height discrepancy between pairs. “There has to be another way,” he said to me. We soon found that there really wasn’t an easy alternative so the process began.
Mike was the first amputee to test QuickFoot. I will never forget the expression on his face when he “clicked” into his shoe and then “clicked” into a different shoe. He could finally choose.
On October 15, 2017, Mike died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, and I wish he could see the results of his idea. His hope was to help change not only his life but the lives of other amputees. I hope that QuickFoot allows you to choose, too.
Best regards,
Donna M. Will
