Emma

At 21, a senior in college, unbeknownst to her, Emma was suffering from an undiagnosed asymptomatic hear tumor.  The tumor eventually embolized, causing a lack of blood flow to major organs which resulted in multiple brain strokes, kidney failure and the amputation of her right leg above the knee.  During the initial years that she lived with limb loss, Emma was, as are so many young women, disappointed in the limitations her prosthesis caused in shoe selection.  She was limited to strictly flat shoes and thought she may never have the opportunity to wear high heels again until she saw Heather at a HAF fundraiser in 2018.  Emma marveled at the prosthesis Heather was wearing, which accommodated her 4″ high heels and hoped that one day she would be able to do the same, but was also aware of the limitations outlined in her health insurance plan which does not cover prostheses that are considered “unnecessary” or “cosmetic”.  We were delighted to work with Next Step to provide Emma with the high heel foot that she longed for, allowing her to have some of the same choices that other young women have when it comes to fashion!