RUN, RIKST, RUN

Rikst Bootsma from the Netherlands underwent an amputation as a result of osteosarcoma in the left leg. Before the operation, the 17-year-old girl was into sports, but she was unable continue with the prosthesis covered by the insurance company.

Rikst started: “In 2019, I received my first prosthesis after an amputation that had to take place because of cancer. Before I became ill, I was very active. The last few years that wasn’t possible. I could only walk with the prosthesis and that was very different from what I was used to. In 2020, I went to the running clinic De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation and saw that you could do more with a prosthesis. I started exercising with a trainer and was allowed to borrow a blade that allows you to run. That was such a special experience for me. Too bad I can only use that blade occasionally. It made me very happy. The focus on the cancer is gone, I can be active again! But the health insurance company will not reimburse the price of a blade to enable me to run and I cannot pay for it myself. Running means a lot to me”. 

The Red Line Foundation and De Hoogstraat Orthopedietechniek teamed up to provide Rikst with a sport prosthesis. Today, she trains in Zwolle, where she studies. To attend these training sessions, which take place whatever the weather, she travels from her hometown and back for more than two hours at least once a week. In addition, she does exercises at home to improve her core stability and muscle strength.

She concluded: “The new prosthesis is very nice - it is attached to my leg with a different system meaning that it also stays in place better. This prosthesis helps me with sports, making me feel better about myself. Especially now that I’m studying, I really like that I can run on my prosthesis for a while in the evening”.