In March, we wrote about Reda — the three-year old chocolate lab with a new lease, or should we say leash, on life. By thriving despite a disability, Reda quickly became a favorite of the staff and patients of Premier Surgical Prosthetic Center in Knoxville, so we checked in with her new owner to see how she’s been doing.
Her rehabilitation has been remarkable, especially considering the shape she was in just nine months ago. In November last year, Reda was anonymously turned into the Blount County Animal Center in Maryville. She was in poor physical shape and her lower hind leg had recently been amputated and had not healed properly. The Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation and 4 Chics and a Cat began a fundraising campaign to raise money for her vet costs and a prosthesis, and when a local TV station aired their story Tim Muncy of Premier Surgical Prosthetic Center was watching.
Tim knows what it’s like to be an amputee. He lost his leg in 2012 due to a car accident and came to Premier Surgical Prosthetic Center first as a patient. His strength and determination to make the best of his situation inspired other prosthetics patients, so Tim became a patient advocate for Premier Surgical Prosthetic Center. Eventually, he was hired as an assistant to help Premier’s Prosthetist build and refine artificial limbs.
With both personal and professional experience, Tim understands what’s involved in maintaining and wearing a prosthesis. He and his wife, Denise, also happen to be a dog lovers, so they offered to become Reda’s owners. She officially became part of their family on February 19th.
“She continues to do great,” says Tim. “She’s made herself right at home and is a part of the family. It’s actually like she’s in charge,” he says, laughing about how she constantly wants to play with their other dog, a 100-pound Chocolate Lab named Buck, even when he wants to rest.
Underweight when she first arrived, Reda has gained 15 pounds and no longer needs the anti-anxiety medication she had been on. She was recently a hit during a special Amputee Support Group outing at The Gentle Barn in Knoxville, along with Dudley, a cow with a prosthetic foot.
Reda has also become quite popular at Premier Surgical Prosthetic Center. “People saw her on TV and call to ask how she’s doing,” Tim says, adding, “Two new patients started coming to us because of her story. They recognized that compassion must be one of our big priorities, which it certainly is.”
Premier Surgical Prosthetic Center patients partner with a physician and a prosthetist to accomplish a common goal – restored vitality. We offer patients in Knoxville and surrounding East Tennessee communities the latest in prosthetic technology to achieve their vitality goals, whether those be living independently at home, spending quality time with grandchildren, or pursuing sports interests.
Are you currently facing amputation, struggling with a poorly fitting prosthesis, or something in between? Call Premier Surgical Prosthetic Center in Knoxville today at (865) 474-7096 or schedule a free consultation online.