"Let me show you a quick video," said mild-mannered Tom deWindt, of Sentro Orto-Fisiko of Curacao, after replacing my broken Hydraulik unit, as requested. "It's something new we are working on."

OK, thought the techno-snob, just to be polite. What could you expect in little Curacao, population 200,000 and located in the southern Caribbean about 50 miles north of Venezuela? 

Hmmm, what's this? A roll-on socket for an above the knee amputee? Are you sure? What?
You think you can change the socket shape to give me more comfort while sitting? 

"Just a thought," said Tom. I told you he was low-key. "Here is my e-mail address if you want to know more."

I left the quiet, pleasant office in the lovely residential section of Curacao and flew back to my even smaller little island. I wonder what else he knows that I don't know about? How can I be a techno-snob if I don't stay up to date? We started an e-mail correspondence in which he uncovered all those nagging little, and big, problems I listed above. He suggested a different, lighter weight knee that had the "stance control" I liked about my hydraulikó, but without some of the negatives. He even suggested a new foot that allows me to adjust it to accommodate different shoe heel heights. Now you're talking. 

But changing socket shape is not an easy project (been there, done that). To tell the truth, I just don't like changing prosthetists. And changing all those components is expensive. This was the biggest surprise of all - I could get all those improvements in a totally new leg for less than half of what I paid for a new leg several years ago. It would cost less than my last round of major repairs just six months ago!

So I took the plunge. In less than two weeks I went from socket cast to whole new system, including some walking lessons from Tom's physical therapist partner and wife Mieke. Her specialty is working with amputees. While I have been working with a physical therapist for the last couple of years, Mieke and Tom both gave me several good pointers to make walking easier and smoother.

The result was much more than I bargained for. Not only is the new system more
comfortable (sitting, walking, standing), it also stays in place when I'm hot and sweaty. Great holding power! I'm even walking better, according to my friends and family. The leg is about 2 kilos lighter and takes much less energy to walk. The new shape socket, which is part ischial containment and part something else, lets me control my abdominal muscles more easily, so there is much less back pain. The new foot is more adaptable to different terrain levels and is very easy to adjust for different heel heights, from flat sandals to about two inches.

There are two downsides. First, I had to buy some new shoes to celebrate. Second, I have had some changes in the shape of my residual limb, mostly because I had stopped all exercise for about a month. But all in all, it has been change for the better. 

What I found on the little Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao, when I finally gave up my techno-snobbery, was a very up to date prosthetist who is also very creative and was willing to look for solutions to my specific problems. (Tom and Mieke both studied and trained in Holland.) He asked a lot of questions and he listened to my answers. Then he customized a shape and a solution that was right for me. He even let me help in the creative process. All this and saving money, too! Wish I hadn't waited five years to find him.