Roman's Story
For Roman, the best kind of psychological rehabilitation has been finding a new purpose in life. His family, comrades, and everyone around him soon noticed his unwavering optimism, which became almost contagious.
Despite the loss of his limb, Roman never felt limited. He didn’t even notice the absence of his leg in his daily life. With a smile on his face, he kept moving forward. Refusing to let his injury define him he's now running marathons.
“Even though I’m missing a limb, I feel no limitations...I’m always smiling and always moving forward! ”
Roman
My Journey from the Battlefield to Marathon Finish Lines
My name is Roman, I’m 27 years old, and I’m from Ukraine. At 19, I volunteered to serve in the war and later signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During a combat mission, I stepped on an enemy anti-personnel mine, banned by the Ottawa Convention. Following the injury, my right lower limb was amputated at one-third of the shin.
The best psychological rehabilitation is finding yourself in a new life! My family, comrades, and people around me began to tell me that my optimism was contagious. Even though I’m missing a limb, I feel no limitations — I don’t even notice it. I’m always smiling and always moving forward!
At first, I focused on CrossFit, then tried adaptive strongman sports, where I set a Ukrainian national record by pulling a 16-ton airplane. Right now, I enjoy running full marathons, covering the entire 42-kilometer distance. It’s a battle with my own laziness, with “I can’t” and “I don’t want to” feelings. By overcoming these, I prove to myself and others that losing a limb doesn’t limit you and that anything is possible. This is the direction in life that inspires me.
“The most important thing is to choose a liner that is comfortable and suits you personally!”
Roman
How I chose my prosthetic liner
I have been using Össur silicone liners for a long time because they maintain compression, density, and shape over time while being soft and comfortable. I started using them on my prosthetists recommendation. The Seal-In rings that create extra vacuum support have also been a big help. As a result, I can train actively, run marathons, and still experience no inflammation, irritation, or sores on my stump.
Once, I tried using a prosthesis without a liner, only with socks. I simply walked for a few hours, but due to the constant gap-like movements, my stump quickly became damaged. In comparison, with a liner, I can run a marathon for several hours — constant movement — and still have no rubbing or injuries. The liner is the component that protects and preserves the health and condition of the stump.
The most important thing is to choose a liner that is comfortable and suits you personally! My advice: there should be pressure, but not to the point of over-squeezing. This comes with experience through use and comparison. So first and foremost, consult with your prosthetist—what you want to do, how you see yourself with the prosthesis, how you want to feel—and the prosthetist will help you select the best option. Everything I’ve tried from Össur has been exceptional, proving its quality over time and through marathons!
A Perfect Part of Me: Perspectives from Össur Prosthetic Users
A liner that fits well isn’t just about comfort; it’s about empowering you to live life on your terms.
You've heard Roman's story -- now hear from other individuals who have found the right liner for their needs and how it has become a key part of their daily lives.
From pursuing passions to enjoying everyday moments, they’ll share their personal stories about how the right liner has helped them live fully and embrace what matters most to them.