Catherine Wanja

Catherine Wanja was only 18 when she started to feel sick. She had difficulty walking, and constant pain throughout her lower body. Eventually, it was discovered that a large cancerous tumor resided in her right leg. As a result, Catherine’s leg was amputated in 2002.

Catherine was initially fitted with a Jaipur limb containing a single-axis knee joint. She had a hard to getting around, and the limb was large and heavy for her, leaving her in constant pain. As a result, Catherine was unable to find steady employment for several years after her amputation. Catherine was ready to give up hope of ever finding a job, or any form of independence from her family and friends. In 2007, LIMBS International changed her perspective.

Catherine was initially fitted with a prosthesis containing the LIMBS Knee in 2007. Since then she found employment as a hairdresser in Nairobi. Her hair salon is located in a small studio space, so Catherine has to be adept at moving around in several directions without a lot of room; Catherine has mastered this, and can move around the salon without any difficulty. She wears her prosthesis for 12 hours a day and walks almost 20 kilmoters per day to and from her job. Aside from minor repairs, the LIMBS Knee has held up stride for stride with Catherine’s new, active lifestyle