Meet an Amputee
Daniel Bastian, CP, (‘Dan’) is Vice-President and co-founder of Progressive O&P.
Dan is the paradigm example of an amputee who does not let his amputation define who he is; that is, being an above-knee amputee is a part of Dan’s life, but Dan doesn’t let his condition stop him from achieving his goals and living his life the way he wants to.
Dan is an active parent who coaches baseball, football, and basketball for his children’s sports teams. He is an avid boater, water-skier, and jet-skier (yes, that’s Dan on top of this page), he rides a bicycle for exercise, and he loves to snow ski as well. Dan is also a baseball fanatic and ardent Yankees fan, going to several games at Yankee Stadium each season with his family.
‘Zip-Lining’ in the Costa Rican rainforest canopy. Many amputees enjoy travel; we’ve received postcards from all over the world from our vacationing patients.
Dan was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma in his right leg in 1980 and underwent many (unsuccessful) reconstructive surgeries to repair the damaged bone and musculature. Dan made the difficult decision to have his right leg amputated in 1989. He’s walked with a prosthesis ever since.
Because of this, Dan has unique insight as to the challenges faced by new amputees. Things like, “Will I ever walk like I used to?”…. “Will I work again?” …. “How will my amputation affect my family relationships?” …These are some of the many questions asked by new amputees -- Dan understands these issues because he has lived them. Dan has had to face these issues head-on and has experienced the same difficulties as faced by most new amputees.
If you are facing amputation and have concerns or questions, please call to schedule an appointment to consult with Dan and learn about what prosthetic options you may have.
Can you ski as an amputee? Ride a bike? Jog? Well, you don’t know until you’ve tried, now do you? You just might surprise yourself. Dan shows here that even the double black-diamond ski trails can’t stop him.
Keeping your sense of humor throughout your amputation and rehabilitation is very important. On Halloween, Pirate Captain Dan helps his first mate Lily plunder the neighborhood’s candy treasure (thanks to his pirate’s peg-leg).
Even Pirate captains sometimes have to swab the deck! Luckily, his Otto Bock Genium™ bionic knee is water-resistant.
Dan takes a load off with the help of his water-specific prosthesis. Many amputees will take an older prosthesis that they no longer use and have it converted to be suitable for water use.
