by Kim Ousley
“I love the way you decorated your leg,” says a stranger walking by. “Thank you!”
Ever since I acquired my first prosthetic socket, I have tried different ways to jazz up the beige shell. I’ve had covers made from stretchy material with a cute ocean-and-beach theme that included a couple of little sharks swimming around from Fred’s Legs online. I’ve taped on battery-operated Christmas lights during the holiday season. I’ve even used glow-in-the-dark stickers at first just to find my leg in the dark when I had to get up and head to the bathroom.
The last few years, I decided every time I obtained a new socket I would decorate it with stickers. Yes, I am a sticker girl. I love browsing all of the stickers in any store I go to and shop. They’re a fun, easy, and affordable way to turn my prosthetic leg into something artistic. I have been a walking art show for awhile now. It’s a ‘conversation piece’ that sparks interesting queries and appreciative looks. People enjoy checking out the different types of stickers on the leg.
Some of my stickers represent places I’ve already visited or are on my bucket list. Others show my interests such as writing and crocheting. I love sunflowers since they have been chosen to represent Sarcoma, the kind of cancer I had in my left foot and ankle. I also love butterflies, bees, and funny sayings. But the sticker that received the most attention was the Buc-ees sticker my friend gave me after she got back from the Smoky Mountains.
I’ve had a few of those over the past couple of summers. I’ll be walking along and hear someone behind me say “Buccees!” It’s a Southern staple to shop at these Godzilla-sized gas stations with huge convenience stores. On one end there’s all the impressive snacks. Walls of jerky, gummies, candy, and beaver nuggets. In the middle are the delicious brisket-type sandwiches that stick to your ribs. On the other end of the store, it looks like a mini-Walmart with home décor, shirts, and plenty of items with the Buc-ees logo (a beaver in a baseball hat, smiling).
I have seen the 3D-printed covers that people are wearing, especially for above-the-knee prosthetics. I’ve seen awesome designs and stump covers by Sydney the Amptivist at Amputee Sock Prints online. He has a great sense of humor and will design what you want. I’ve also seen strange ways to decorate, such as a beer bottle opener installed on a leg (people pay to have the waiter open the beer with his attached device). I have seen women who have totally blinged out their legs with all kinds of beautiful gems and lights. One guy put a gun holster on the side of his leg because he was a former police officer. Amputees are the most artistic and creative folks I have met along this journey.
I just took all of the past stickers off of a few past sockets I had stashed in a drawer. Those parts are going out west to a non-profit that takes anything sent to them to make prosthetics for those who desperately need it but don’t have the resources. Limbs for Humanity is a global non-profit providing prosthetic limbs for those with limb loss.
I’m getting a new socket soon, and I’ve started planning out my decorations for this summer. I have asked friends to send me stickers that are funny, that represent their home state, or that are just cute. I’ve already got a large sunflower puffy sticker that will go front and center. I’ve been thinking about sticking on letters that spell out ‘My eyes are up there,’ with a big arrow pointing up. I have developed a warped sense of humor over the years. I’ve heard all of the pirate jokes and the Eileen/Irene jokes. My own jokes are much better. I tell people if I tell the joke, it’s ok to laugh.
I love the tradition of wearing orange every Wednesday during Limb Loss / Limb Difference Awareness Month. My socket stickers are my way of raising awareness and normalizing limb loss the rest of the year. Go display your metal and decorate it any way that suits you! Be proud and enjoy the life in front of you.
