Active and creative with an arm prosthesis

Lina

Lina was diagnosed with a tumour near her wrist when she was 17 years old. The lab analysis showed that she had a spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of tumour that primarily occurs in children. Lina underwent a number of courses of chemotherapy and radiation, but nothing worked. So she and the doctors treating her finally made the decision to amputate her entire hand and parts of her forearm below the elbow. “After everything that had happened to me up until then, that was the biggest shock. I simply couldn’t imagine life without my right hand,” Lina says. “I suddenly realised that I would never have two hands again.”

Lina’s O&P professional, Hans-Magnus, also understands that an amputation doesn’t have to be the end of an active life. Because the amputation was planned, Hans-Magnus had the chance to get to know Lina before her operation and provide her with support and advice. “The key to successful treatment is considering how the amputation should be carried out ahead of time,” he says. “After the operation, it’s important to make sure a prosthesis is fitted quickly if at all possible. This is combined with physiotherapy and occupational therapy to prepare patients for their new life.”

The process of considering the fitting before the amputation was helpful for Lina as well. She can still clearly remember meeting Hans-Magnus at the hospital. “After speaking with him, I wasn’t afraid of the future anymore. He showed me just how much is possible with technology today, and I’m so glad to have received this kind of personalised care.” Today, Lina is living life the fullest again. She skateboards, is a film photographer and has moved to Berlin to get involved in the creative scene in the big city. But she doesn’t want to make any fixed plans for the future. “Just see what life has in store,” is her motto.