PATIENT STORIES
Our clients vary in age and background, and are willing to provide support and share their stories with others. New clients will learn how others have experienced similar fears and challenges and have overcome them. Here are a few of their stories:
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Carl
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"I was 28 years old when I lost my leg in June of 1972. It was very hard to accept but I prayed to God to help me with this, and I have been blessed. I lost my leg in a cement mixer. After being seen by a prosthetist in Asheville and Hickory my sister-in-law told me to come see Clay, so I did. They have all been so good to me and we have become real friends. Thank you so much for what you do for me. Thank you to Clay, Jordan, Andra and Jackie."
Yolonda
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"When the doctors first told me that I had to get my foot amputated, I cried and cried. I didn't understand how I was going to go on with my life. I have 3 kids and I had just given birth to my son. He was only 2 months old. My world just stopped, I didn't know how I was going to carry on with my normal life. I was only 33 years old. But it was God, that kept me strong. The doctors came in and said I want you to meet someone; and that someone was Mr. Clay. He came into my room and said don't be scared, I will help you and it's going to be okay. Mr. Clay changed my life, he is the best and sweetest person in the world. God has blessed him to help people that go through what I went through. I thank God for Mr. Clay, because now I can do whatever I want. God is good and I am so blessed to be walking again."
Don
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"I lost my foot in 1963 due to an accident that crushed my foot and ankle The first 10 years were rough because the technology was not here yet. I worked freight docks and rode fork lifts my whole working career, around the year 2000. I got my new leg which Clay build and also had a new liner which was very comfortable, unlike the wool socks and the leather liners they had in the 60's. Since the year 2000 I have not had any blisters or sores on my stump. The fit I got when Clay built my leg was great. I still have it and wear it all the time. It's my go to leg.
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I've had my legs going on 53 years, and worked 41 years on them. My advice to all who have to go through this is don't give up and believing in God helps also. I also love to fish, shoot skeet, and occasionally toss a baseball around. When I was a little younger I enjoyed water skiing too. The technology they have now, you can do anything you want except wiggle your toes!"
Melvin
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"I am a 67 year old man that had my legs amputated at the age of 65 on my birthday. I started to walk again one year later, with the help of Claiborne Prosthetics and Orthotics and Physical Therapist. My goal is to walk without canes, and to encourage others that they can overcome also."
Artie
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"God be merciful unto us, and bless us."
John
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"When I was 48 years old, I had a stroke paralyzing my left side. Walking was difficult and impossible without a cane. I am now 76 and met Clay about 2 years ago. He knew immediately what I would need that would assist my walking. Clay made me an AFO brace about 3 months ago. I am so happy to tell the world that I now walk better than I have in 25 years. I walked 1.5 miles recently without a cane."
Jeremy
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"Hello my name is Jeremy, I worked for a hydro mulch company for 15 years. I worked overtime every time my company had any to offer and so when I was asked to work some overtime on 02/06/2009 ( during shut down ) I didnt hesitate. Everything went on as usual through the day until it was time to do a routine clean out of a bagger machine. I went through the procedure the way I was trained to do 15 years prior and as I was pushing stuff through it to clean it out the blade came down and amputated my right hand and 4 inches of my arm. I managed to find help in another building where maintenance was working. They applied a turnicate and called for help and I was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and then flown to a larger hospital that was more equipped for my injuries. I was taken directly to surgery where the surgeon spent 9 hours trying to reattach my hand which didn't take and I lost 2 more inches of my arm.
After the surgery, like a lot of people who lose a limb, I couldn't imagine living my life without my dominant hand, let alone doing all the things I love to do . My 1st visit with Clay Claiborne was really hard, I never imagined my life would end up like this but unbeknownst to me it was my new beginning. Clay set me up with the best hand available at the time and a body powered hand. I was appreciative of it but I wasn't mentally ready for it because I was still in mourning over losing my hand and could only see what I couldn't do instead of what I could do.
It took me little by little over the next few years to realize, after I married a great woman who supports me and built me up and pushed me to my limits, all I could do. I started talking to Clay about wanting to do the things I once loved and he made it all happen. He opened doors for me with prosthetics and attachments I never would have dreamed existed. From my I-limb that provides me the ability to hold my own plate while eating, or going through a buffet, to shaking hands with the correct hand, cutting my toddlers food, to attachments for my body powered prosthetic that allows me to fish, hunt, weed eat, and so much more. I can't say enough about how Clay and his team have gone above and beyond anything I could have asked for. He has helped me more then he knows. The prosthetics he provided me have given me my independence and self confidence back."