Kenneth's story
After decades of physical setbacks and surgeries, Kenneth Young is walking again with the help of a prosthetic leg and the team at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Saddle Brook. A retired tool and die maker from River Vale, New Jersey, Kenneth had spent years managing complications stemming from a devastating car accident that changed the course of his life.
“I fell asleep at the wheel after a double shift at the welding shop and fractured my pelvis in five places,” Kenneth shared. “I was in the hospital for 88 days and developed bed sores. I had nerve and muscle damage that caused drop foot and eventually led to multiple surgeries.”
That was in the 1970s. Over the years, Kenneth got married, had two children and enjoyed hobbies like woodworking, fishing and computer games. But his right leg continued to deteriorate. He endured a knee replacement, a revision to that surgery, a hip replacement and multiple fractures in his femur and recurrent infections. Kenneth then arrived at the decision to undergo a right hip disarticulation amputation, which removes the entire leg, including the hip joint. That surgery led him to Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Saddle Brook, where he began the long road toward recovering from the amputation and—eventually—learning to use a prosthetic leg.
Kenneth’s initial stay focused on pre-prosthetic rehabilitation, preparing his body for future prosthesis use. Physical and occupational therapists helped him strengthen his upper body and core. He was introduced to a rickshaw machine, which is a portable rowing machine that fits around a wheelchair and strengthens the arm and shoulder muscles. He also did cycling motions with his arms using an upper body ergometer and free weights and therapy bands to build strength and endurance. Additionally, Kenneth learned bed mobility, practicing transfer techniques and gaining confidence using a wheelchair.
However, healing was far from quick. “The biggest challenge was getting my wound to heal,” Kenneth said. “After two years and six surgeries later to heal the wound, I was re-admitted to Saddle Brook for prosthetic training.”
This second phase of rehabilitation focused on helping Kenneth walk again and care for himself with the prosthesis. Kenneth’s goals were “to learn how to take on and off my prosthesis, walk with a walker and eventually crutches, [and] do stairs.” A physician-led team of therapists created a plan that helped him get there.
Occupational therapy centered on donning and doffing the prosthetic leg, clothing management and safe transfer techniques. When he first arrived at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Kenneth found it difficult to put on and remove his prosthesis by himself. He found it extremely challenging to do much more than take a few steps using the parallel bars.
Kenneth wasn’t going to be deterred; he was motivated from the start. “I was looking forward to standing with my prosthesis and learning how to use it,” he said. “After the amputation, I was primarily at a wheelchair level and using the walker to hop for short distances within the house.”
Physical therapy continued to build upon his muscle strength and flexibility to allow him to move easier with his prosthetic leg. He used body weight support tools, like a LiteGait weight-supporting harness, to practice gait training and balance while gradually adding more weight. Kenneth learned to walk with a rolling walker and arm crutches and practiced walking on a variety of surfaces, such as ramps, turf and stairs. Therapists also introduced Kenneth to fall recovery strategies.
Kenneth made steady progress. By the time he was discharged, he could don and doff his prosthetic leg with supervision, walk household distances and climb stairs using dual handrails with minimal assistance.
“I was able to do a lot with the supervision and help from my therapists,” Kenneth said. “Realizing that I could do it and having to put the effort into it was a big milestone.”
One of the most emotional moments came when Kenneth successfully put on his prosthetic leg and walked on his own for the first time in years. Another was learning to climb stairs again—something he had not done in a long time.
Kenneth found strength and support from his wife Rosalyn to be vital to his progress.
“If it wasn’t for my wife, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said. “She motivated me to start doing more for myself and help around the house.” She also participated in the Care Partner Program, learning how to assist Kenneth with walking, managing the prosthesis and navigating stairs.
Kenneth praised the team at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Saddle Brook for their support. “All the therapists and staff are great,” he said.
Following discharge, Kenneth planned to continue outpatient therapy at Kessler Rehabilitation Center. His goal was to keep building on his progress and improve his walking even more.
Kenneth admitted that it was long and difficult journey that has changed him; however, he said, “I have a more positive attitude and am excited to keep working.”
“I fell asleep at the wheel after a double shift at the welding shop and fractured my pelvis in five places,” Kenneth shared. “I was in the hospital for 88 days and developed bed sores. I had nerve and muscle damage that caused drop foot and eventually led to multiple surgeries.”
That was in the 1970s. Over the years, Kenneth got married, had two children and enjoyed hobbies like woodworking, fishing and computer games. But his right leg continued to deteriorate. He endured a knee replacement, a revision to that surgery, a hip replacement and multiple fractures in his femur and recurrent infections. Kenneth then arrived at the decision to undergo a right hip disarticulation amputation, which removes the entire leg, including the hip joint. That surgery led him to Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Saddle Brook, where he began the long road toward recovering from the amputation and—eventually—learning to use a prosthetic leg.
Kenneth’s initial stay focused on pre-prosthetic rehabilitation, preparing his body for future prosthesis use. Physical and occupational therapists helped him strengthen his upper body and core. He was introduced to a rickshaw machine, which is a portable rowing machine that fits around a wheelchair and strengthens the arm and shoulder muscles. He also did cycling motions with his arms using an upper body ergometer and free weights and therapy bands to build strength and endurance. Additionally, Kenneth learned bed mobility, practicing transfer techniques and gaining confidence using a wheelchair.
However, healing was far from quick. “The biggest challenge was getting my wound to heal,” Kenneth said. “After two years and six surgeries later to heal the wound, I was re-admitted to Saddle Brook for prosthetic training.”
This second phase of rehabilitation focused on helping Kenneth walk again and care for himself with the prosthesis. Kenneth’s goals were “to learn how to take on and off my prosthesis, walk with a walker and eventually crutches, [and] do stairs.” A physician-led team of therapists created a plan that helped him get there.
Occupational therapy centered on donning and doffing the prosthetic leg, clothing management and safe transfer techniques. When he first arrived at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Kenneth found it difficult to put on and remove his prosthesis by himself. He found it extremely challenging to do much more than take a few steps using the parallel bars.
Kenneth wasn’t going to be deterred; he was motivated from the start. “I was looking forward to standing with my prosthesis and learning how to use it,” he said. “After the amputation, I was primarily at a wheelchair level and using the walker to hop for short distances within the house.”
Physical therapy continued to build upon his muscle strength and flexibility to allow him to move easier with his prosthetic leg. He used body weight support tools, like a LiteGait weight-supporting harness, to practice gait training and balance while gradually adding more weight. Kenneth learned to walk with a rolling walker and arm crutches and practiced walking on a variety of surfaces, such as ramps, turf and stairs. Therapists also introduced Kenneth to fall recovery strategies.
Kenneth made steady progress. By the time he was discharged, he could don and doff his prosthetic leg with supervision, walk household distances and climb stairs using dual handrails with minimal assistance.
“I was able to do a lot with the supervision and help from my therapists,” Kenneth said. “Realizing that I could do it and having to put the effort into it was a big milestone.”
One of the most emotional moments came when Kenneth successfully put on his prosthetic leg and walked on his own for the first time in years. Another was learning to climb stairs again—something he had not done in a long time.
Kenneth found strength and support from his wife Rosalyn to be vital to his progress.
“If it wasn’t for my wife, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said. “She motivated me to start doing more for myself and help around the house.” She also participated in the Care Partner Program, learning how to assist Kenneth with walking, managing the prosthesis and navigating stairs.
Kenneth praised the team at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Saddle Brook for their support. “All the therapists and staff are great,” he said.
Following discharge, Kenneth planned to continue outpatient therapy at Kessler Rehabilitation Center. His goal was to keep building on his progress and improve his walking even more.
Kenneth admitted that it was long and difficult journey that has changed him; however, he said, “I have a more positive attitude and am excited to keep working.”