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Ray Smitherman
 Hello
my name is Ray Smitherman and I am a below the
knee amputee. I was 27 at
the time of my amputation. I will start my story
and tell you how I became an amputee, how I have
accomplished the task of walking again and how
Alabama Artificial Limb has helped me obtain all
of my goals.
Let me give you a brief summary about myself. On
January 2, 1999 I was involved in a major car
accident which caused me to be hospitalized in
intensive care unit for 45 days. I broke
numerous bones in my body, including but not
limited to my pelvis being broken in three (3)
different places. My face was crushed and my
jaws were wired shut from January 1999 until
April 1999. Both of my legs were broken and my
right leg was crushed severely. After several
failed surgery attempts my orthopedic physician
approached me about the possibility of
amputating my right leg below the knee. I had
never been around any amputees and really was
not familiar with what happens “after” the
amputation. My doctor assured me that I could
live a normal life after the amputation. I was
very skeptical, however I had no choice. On
January 28, 1999 my right leg was amputated 2
inches below the knee. My horror did not end
there, I also had severe nerve damage in my left
leg and I am unable to pick my foot up and have
what is called “drop foot”.
I was released from the hospital on February 8,
1999 and sent home to recover. In March of 1999
I was sent to Alabama Artificial Limb to be
fitted for a prosthesis. I arrived in very bad
shape, my mouth was still wired shut and I had
been in a wheelchair now for three months. I met
Glenn Crumpton, CPO for Alabama Artificial Limb.
Immediately I became good friends with Glenn and
his staff. They worked with me diligently in
helping me walk again. I was fitted with a
temporary prosthesis to help me stand again and
practice the techniques of walking. I received
the prosthesis about one week after being
fitted. I remember putting it on and it being
the most horrible pain I have ever felt. Glenn
assured me that I would have to build a
tolerance in my stump and I would be fine.
Honestly I did not believe a word he said,
however he would prove me wrong.
I took the prosthesis home and attempted to wear
it, but could not bear the pain and the thought
of walking without my real leg. I threw it in
the corner and did not touch it for over three
days. After coming to reality with myself I
began to put the prosthesis on and wear it in my
wheelchair to help me transfer. After a few
weeks I began taking very small steps with my
walker and was really getting aggravated that I
could not walk on my own. In July, 1999 I went
back to Alabama Artificial Limb to be fitted for
my permanent prosthesis. I was fitted with Alfa
liners and a Flex Foot. I could immediately tell
a difference and I took my first step on my own
after 7 months. I pushed my wheelchair out of
Alabama Artificial Limb and have not stopped
since.
I have progressed over the past three years
unbelievably. I am now fitted with a Pathfinder
Foot and I am amazed at what I can do. I run and
coach my son’s baseball and football team. I do
everything that I could or was doing before my
amputation. My leg is covered, and when I wear
shorts you would not know I had prosthesis on if
I did not tell you. I owe it all to Alabama
Artificial Limb and their wonderful staff.
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