Barry
Confidence that never misses a beat.
"The C-Leg has restored my confidence to exist as an individual in life. It gave me back the ability to dance, to have almost 100% agility and mobility. It has restored my ego."
Barry Pickett, Ottawa, Ontario
On February 13, 2002, thirty-five-year-old Barry lost his leg in a devastating construction accident. Pinned between hard steel and 200 tons of concrete, Barry had planned to propose to his girlfriend the next day.
Clinging to life and suffering massive blood loss, Barry made it to the hospital on time thanks to the quick response of an air rescue helicopter. Miraculously, the doctors were able to save Barry's life and his right leg. Sadly, his left leg had to be amputated above the knee and Barry and his fiancée eventually split-up.
Barry is back on track and determined never to miss a beat. He has produced an innovative video for the Ottawa Child Trauma Institute to help children deal with the unique challenges of limb amputation. Within six months of receiving his C-Leg®, Barry now rides a bicycle, walks about 5km every day, climbs the Stairmaster 30 minutes a day, and is an avid kayak enthusiast and instructor. In his spare time, Barry can be found rollerblading, playing some basketball and volleyball, as well as cross country skiing.
"I have never fallen and actually found that the C-Leg gave me more stability in snow."
The C-Leg® System is based on revolutionary technology; a system so finely tuned that it uses PC software, board sensors and microprocessors to monitor and adapt to an individual patient's unique movements. Using the same advanced technology employed by the military to improve the performance and stability of their aircraft, the C-Leg® allows its users to easily walk down stairs and ramps, as well as maneuver uneven surfaces without the fear of falling. The unique software algorithms determine the phase of gait, then immediately adjust the knee functions to compensate. This electronic system monitors the patient's movement 50 times per second to create a prosthetic limb that models an individual's natural gait.
The C-Leg's microprocessor enables the amputee to move in a very natural way allowing for more smooth and stable movement. Thanks to this amazing technology available from Otto Bock Health Care, Barry continues to move forward in his life and his dreams.
