Gina York

“I’ve been on a very long journey, and I know that I am blessed that I survived,” said Gina York. In 1986, York was nearly killed in a motorcycle accident that crushed her left thigh, pelvis, severely injured her spine and kidney, and caused her lungs to collapse. Her injuries put her in the intensive care unit for more than nine months where she underwent more than 70 surgeries and was transfused with more than 50 pints of blood.

Six months later, York actually made the decision to amputate her foot. Doctors removed approximately 22 pounds of gangrene from York’s ankle. “I chose to amputate because my foot would have been no use and because of the damage to the nerve endings and infection, I would have been in extreme pain,” explained York.

Because of the extent of York’s damage, it was important to not only to find a prosthesis that would fit, but also to take into account her other injuries, including her pelvis and pressure put on her spine.

York says her original prosthesis caused her to fall in such a way that caused even more injury, including more damage to her spine and a broken distal femur. York was left looking for a prosthetist who could take on her challenging case. “It was very difficult to find the right prosthetist because I am a very hard fit from what I’ve been told,” said York. “Whenever I walk, it affects my spinal cord all the way up to my neck.”

“Matt has kept me walking,” said York. “Ever since the day I met Matt Bulow, he helped me with a better fit and more function. He made me a new leg and was aware of all my existing injuries.”

York is fitted with the PROPRIO FOOT^®, which she calls a lifesaver. “With the other types, I have to ‘hip hike,’ and with all the damage to my spine, hip and pelvis, it was extra weight and effort to step because I would have to lean to one side. The PROPRIO FOOT^® actually reads my floor level and step level to anticipate what it needs for me to make my next step.”

Now, York says you can hardly tell the difference when she is walking. “I can walk down a hill without having the ‘old goat syndrome’ because the PROPRIO FOOT^® acts like an ankle,” she said. “Other than pumping blood, it is almost real.”

“When they designed the PROPRIO FOOT^®, they thought it would be good for an amputee that cannot take the pressure on their other leg and spine. Someone with injuries like me or an elderly person,” explained York. “I tell Matt it makes me feel like dancing.”

York has been a patient of Bulow BioTech since 2004. “His team is such a good group. They are genuine and go out of their way to accommodate those in need,” said York.

 “I feel blessed that I ever walked in and met Matt,” stated York. “I am pretty persistent and he finally got me where I needed to be.”