SWANSON REGIONAL ORTHOTIC AND PROSTHETIC CENTER

Testimonials - Dave McGranahan, Toledo, Ohio

"I would recommend Swanson to any amputee"

A freak accident, at the age of 14, took my left leg above the knee. Through the support of family and friends, I have persevered and am living a very active, normal and ideal life. However, the ordeals I have encountered in trying to receive an optimal prosthetic fit over the past ten years have been less than ideal. The first 8 years, my leg(s) were made and maintained by Vern Swanson of Swanson O&P until I moved out of the area and began using other O&P centers. I did not realize, nor was I able to appreciate the level of skill and art Vern employs to create your customized prosthesis. As a fellow amputee, he inherently understands, and is able to mitigate all the little things that seasoned amputees encounter but new ones may not have ever thought of. This experience is worth more than its weight in gold. Examples of the little things include ensuring perfect knee / hip height to make kneeling comfortable in church, minimizing socket height at the front hip to prevent bumping / chafing while sitting or riding in a car, providing ample cut back at the calf section to provide for full pedal motion on a bike and the ability to bend back when kneeling. There are many others, but this is an example of a few.

An additional benefit, as a seasoned amputee, is his ability to work with the old technology, the good old fashioned "wooden leg" with rigid socket. Vern Swanson utilizes cutting edge technologies along with the craftsmanship and art of prosthetics, that many new prosthetists are not capable of recreating. He does not push the latest and greatest, but is sensitive to your lifestyle and recommends solutions that are best for you.

As noted, I did not truly appreciate what Vern brought to the table until I relocated and had to have legs made elsewhere due to the perceived geographical distance. In hindsight, I definitely would have overlooked the distance because the time saved with fewer fittings is worth it, balanced against an excellent fit. The problems I have encountered over the last 10 years have been the inability to achieve the type of fit I had with my Swanson legs. I went to several prosthetists with most sessions ending in frustration due to uncountable appointments for adjustments in the effort to achieve a "Swanson" fit. I would ultimately accept the leg "as is" and deal with it until health insurance would provide coverage for a new leg and I could try a new prosthetist in the area.

Good fortune permitted me to return to Toledo and I did not hesitate to return to Swanson. As it was a year ago, the leg I was wearing, which in itself was only a year old, was poorly designed and was broken. The calf section was too thin and had cracked.

Vern Swanson took measurements for a new prosthesis and I only needed 2 fitting appointments. A perfect "Swanson" fit was achieved. This was nice considering that other centers required 10 or more fitting appointments. "I would recommend Swanson to any amputee."