|
 |
||
|
|
Mark Farrell is
a director in National Decision Systems, a consulting company located
in the New York City area, and is a below-knee amputee since April,
2001.
In a summer job
after his freshman year at the University of New Mexico (1976), Mark
crushed his right leg in an accident on an oil rig. There was
significant permanent damage to his leg. In the years following his
original injury, Mark returned to college and graduated in 1984 from
Texas Tech University. He got married, had two children,
and--determined to not consider himself disabled--began bicycling,
studied Aikido for several years, and exercised regularly until he was
unable to do so because of pain.
In spite of 20
surgeries to correct various problems, increasing pain and functional
limitations caused him to choose amputation 25 years after the
original injury. After his amputation, Mark began airbrushing his
prosthesis ("just because I am gimpy, doesn't mean I can't be
creative!), has taken both skiing and snowboarding lessons, has been
ice skating and roller blading, and tries to exercise regularly,
primarily by walking with his dogs and children.
A user of the
Pathfinder foot since May, 2002, Mark has recently begun experimenting
with running, which he has been unable to do for 26 years. He is also
plans over the next two years to try sky diving, paragliding, and more
snowboarding. None of this was possible with the state of his foot and
ankle before the amputation. Wearing the Pathfinder, Mark has no
such limits.
|
||
|
|
|
||
BIKE ROUTE
SKYDIVES
DAILY JOURNALS |
|||
