Richard’s Story

Richard Kusters lives in Leiderdorp with his childhood sweetheart and their daughter. Previously a plasterer in restoration/renovation, Richard lost his right leg in 2008 and since then has retrained and started working in the workshop of OIM Noordwijkerhout making prostheses and orthoses. Now he works at OIM Orthopedie Amsterdam where he's responsible for the logistics and stock management of several branches in North and South Holland. 

"In 2008, we were riding our horse and carriage with the family. Due to a car that was coming towards us a bit fast at a road narrowing, our horse panicked. I stood next to my horse to calm him downbut at that moment, our horse was startled andreared up. As a result, I was hit by our carriage and both my legs were run over. My left knee was severely damaged, but my right leg was broken in over 30 places! I subsequently had 9 bone grafts over a period of 3 years. Unfortunately, this was accompanied by hellish pains and I also no longer had any function in my knee, so I could no longer walk. After those terrible 3 years it was decided to amputate my right leg. When I heard that, my world collapsed, butI was in unbearablepain, so I went for it."

"Pretty soon I started looking for information on different prostheses on my own. Of course, it was necessary to check with a specialist (prosthetist and physiotherapist) to see what was actually possible and what would suit me best, but I certainly didn't want to just let myself be prescribed something. After reading information about various prostheses, my prosthetist offered me a trial session with different feet and knees. My choice then fell immediately on the then RHEO KNEE (RHEO KNEE 2, ed.) and the Pro Flex XC Rotate foot. With this foot and knee, I could walk my horse through the pasture without any problems, it immediately felt very natural.

I had to rearrange my life after my amputation. A prosthesis is and remains an aid, but I do everything I want! I have become a real go-getter and 'I can't' or 'I can't' are no longer in my vocabulary! My prosthesis comes very close to a normal leg for me. So normal, that sometimes I even forget! 

We have a family hobby: our horses. My wife is a coachman, my daughter is a jumper and dressage rider, and I was a western rider. I am not a western rider anymore, but now I make horse harnesses and leather jewelry; I work a lot with wood and I like to take pictures. But one of my biggest hobbies is wheelchair basketball. In 2016 my team became Dutch champions, and we will definitely defend that title! I am also a trainer and coach of the beginner team. I have played in several cinema films including Michiel de Ruyter and Fatal. In addition, I am an Ambassador for Össur, and I often attend seminars and trainings as a demo user. In this way I show prosthetists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation therapists etc. together with the Össur Academy colleagues what is possible with the different feet and knees."