FINDING SUMMER IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER

Wearing shorts in December on his way to Anchorage, Alaska is the way Lindy likes to travel. He laughs recalling the stares from other travelers. Ever since Sept. 11, 2001, Lindy often sports shorts in airports to avoid an extra hour of security measures that include removing his legs. Lindy is a bi-lateral, below-the-knee amputee, and his prostheses trigger alarms at airport security checks.

This wouldn't be such a big deal if Lindy was more of a homebody, but his work as a mechanical engineer for Spectrum Engineers, requires him to travel around the world. One week he might be in Asia, and the next in South America. "I'm a million-miler," quips Lindy, who is also the father of five and a grandfather of three.

His grueling travel schedule sometimes requires him to wear his prostheses 36 to 48 hours straight, with no break in taking them off. Comfort was a key concern when he worked with SPOT in developing a special system that fit his lifestyle; Lindy uses a modified version of the Harmony Vacuum prostheses without the pump. The vacuum is maintained using a chamber built into the prostheses. He points out that an amputee cannot callous where there is pressure; it is only the skin on knees, elbows, palms, and feet that callous. "Amputees get blisters or sores instead," explains Lindy, who speaks from experience.

Born with congenital clubfeet, Lindy had his left foot amputated when he was two, due to extreme deformation. He underwent multiple surgeries on his right foot, but as a result the foot stopped growing after it reached a child's size 13. "I had more problems with my foot than my prosthesis," recalls Lindy, who made the decision at 15 to have his right foot amputated. "It changed my life-there were some things I couldn't do anymore-but I've never regretted my decision."

Lindy, an avid golfer and part time snowmobiler, joined the National Amputee Golf Association 11 years ago not only to golf but also to find out from other amputees the best technologies available to them. After seeing the same prosthetist for more than 30 years, he started traveling to California and then Minnesota to be fitted with the most current technologies. When he learned of SPOT, he realized he didn't have to travel to be fitted. "The people at SPOT are by far the most caring and innovative group of people I've dealt with since my original prosthetist some 30 years ago. They are current on technologies and into the quality of your life," says Lindy.

Growing up in Perry, Utah, Lindy attributes his well being to parents who never put limitations on the physical activities of his life. "They allowed me to determine what physical activities I wanted to do, they never told me that I couldn't -with the exception of bullfighting and skydiving," says Lindy who grew up with three siblings. He also recalls the four "Rules of Mother Johnston," not the least bit sugar-coated:

1. This too my son will pass.
2. It will feel better after it quits hurting.
3. A little healthy neglect never hurt anyone.
4. And, never take offense Lindy, you wouldn't know whether to be offended or not.

Lindy also attributes his healthy attitude growing up as an amputee to a strong peer group. "My friends accepted me for who I was, included me in all activities, and never made me feel inferior in any way."

When Lindy isn't wearing his summer garb (he wears tennis shoes snowmobiling), he says most people don't even know he is a bi-lateral amputee sans shorts. "You might notice a slight limp (a knee injury from his softball days) but that's it," says Lindy. "This shows how well SPOT does with fitting and alignment. I have found that it is your prosthetist you rely on more than anyone, even more than your orthopedic surgeon, to get what you need for the best quality of life."

By Peta Owens-Liston
February 2005

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