Meet David
This month’s Limber Patient Story spotlights David – a farmer in Pennsylvania who has been working the land for over 20 years. He has five kids and eight grandkids, and his daily routine is physically demanding—long hours, constant movement, and work in all conditions.
Amputation and Early Challenges
In 2016, David was injured while working at a feed mill. In the early hours of the morning, before the sun even came up, David was completing his typical farm chores when his foot became stuck in a machine. He was able to wrangle his foot free, but the damage required amputation.
Since then, he has used multiple prosthetic legs due to fluctuations in his residual limb and the physicality of his lifestyle, which can take a toll financially, especially without insurance.
Discovering the UniLeg
David was first introduced to the Limber UniLeg at the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association National Conference, where he came across the Limber display and saw the UniLeg for the first time. At the time, he viewed it as an ideal secondary prosthesis—lightweight, waterproof, and more affordable.
A few months later, David and his wife traveled to San Diego. While there, he visited the Limber office to begin the process. He was scanned on a Monday, returned Wednesday for his first fitting, and by Friday, he left wearing his UniLeg.
“There’s no one else that can do that – have you walk in on a Monday and walk out the door with a brand new device on a Friday. I never even knew that was possible.”
Limber’s digital fabrication process allows for a faster turnaround by using 3D scanning and streamlined manufacturing to deliver a prosthesis in about five days.
Performance on the Farm
As a farmer, David wears his UniLeg for extremely long periods, often from early morning to evening while working on his farm.
“There are days I am wearing my UniLeg from 5am in the morning to 8pm at night on the farm. That’s a testament to its durability and performance.”
His daily activities include feeding animals, driving his truck, working in the field, and hunting. The device holds up in dirt, water, and heavy use. At the end of the day, he can rinse it off or wear it in the shower.
From Backup to Primary Use
Although he originally planned to use the UniLeg as a backup, it quickly became his primary prosthesis.
It is lightweight and streamlined, allowing him to move naturally throughout the day.
“I have workers on the farm that don’t even know I’m an amputee because I’m working beside them everyday and when I’m wearing pants, they can’t tell I have my UniLeg.”
He was also able to travel easily with it, including going through TSA without issues and walking into the Pacific Ocean for the first time while visiting San Diego.
Maintaining His Lifestyle
David remains as active as he was before his amputation. The UniLeg allows him to continue working, moving, and living without significant limitations.
His experience reflects Limber’s goal: delivering a prosthesis that supports everyday function, durability, and independence. From firefighters to farmers, Limber is committed to helping amputees maintain the highest possible quality of life.