Juanita Naranjo

Juanita Naranjo, now 76, has been a below-the-knee amputee since she was a preteen. She fractured her leg when she was a preschooler. Doctors tried bone grafts, braces and other treatments, but the leg never developed. When she was 13 doctors decided to amputate it.

“It was better after my amputation,” said Naranjo. “I was glad to get rid of the brace,” she added. She started seeing Matt Bulow, founder of Bulow BioTech Prosthetics (BBP) in 1994 and would never consider going to anyone else. “Being and amputee, he really understands,” she explained. “He knows exactly what I am talking about when I bring a problem to him.”

Naranjo uses the vari flex-foot with a vacuum socket. She has had it for a couple years and likes it.  Prior to using a vacuum socket prosthesis she was using one which required the use of a wool sock.  The sock, she said, would get very uncomfortable and hot.  The new system is much more in line with what she needs.

Naranjo spent thirty years overseas teaching the children of military personnel.  While in Germany, she went to world-famous prosthetic providers.  Despite that, she prefers BBP. “Matt listens to me and he gets after me if I get down.  He is so good. I feel very close to him—and not just because of my leg,” she said. “I tell him, ‘if your parents ever decide to divorce you, I’ll take you on as a son.’”

Naranjo tries to give back to Matt and the staff, making brownies or some other treat for the staff every time she has an appointment. “The other reason he (Matt) has to put up with me is that I always bring him a goodie,” she said.