One of the things that drive me is seeing problems that seem insurmountable. Creating a practical electric light seemed that way at one time but then along came Edison. And his attempt to improve it created a device, the vacuum tube that grew to become the backbone of the electronics industry till it was replaced by the solid state device in the second half of the twentieth century. The backbone industry had only to adapt to the new device.

If we could find a substance that would allow human flesh to interface with some inanimate structure, like a plastic, or if we could find a way of picking up nerve impulses and insert them in the nerve at another place to in effect bypass a break in a nerve there are many advances we could make. Many think this is impossible. But many thought the incandescent light bulb was impossible and after Edison created it research into making it better resulted in the vacuum tube that kicked off the electronics industry. I believe out there somewhere is another Edison who will create another leap.

A substance that would connect with human flesh would revolutionize the care of a stoma. It would make long term care of a PEG tube easier. It would make some advances possible for amputees. Some things like what I describe are being tried without this and they provide significant enhancement, but they create infection risks because it is an opening in the skin.

Kathy’s Legs explores some of these issues, “what if they were possible” and how they might impact human lives. People sometimes ask about the themes I use. Some of it is because of my own life experiences. I faced a possible leg amputation in 1963 and have spent about six months on crutches because of several leg surgeries and injuries. I know I don’t know what any of these are like but I have seen the human spirit rise to the situation and thrive.

June 1

Kathy Cramer raised herself on her toes and clicked her heels together as soon as the elevator door closed and she was alone. It was something she unconsciously did when she was happy. And Kathy was very happy. Things she had only dreamed of and worked for years to make happen were falling into place, one by one. It was almost like they had been lined up like a row of dominoes. Finals were over last Friday ending her Junior Year in college. She had one year left to attain a BA in Computer Science. Saturday, Bill Jansen gave her a diamond. Although not a surprise, it was wonderful. She was now officially engaged to be married. Today, Dr. Dave Western, the director of a hospital research project hired her for the summer. The job would pay more than she had ever dreamed and it was fabulous training and experience in her field. It also looked very fulfilling and Dr. Western had hinted it could lead to a permanent job. She would be working on a project that would help people, one of her goals in life. She would be a participant in an exciting research project, not a spectator, but a doer and innovator, not a bureaucrat. She was to report to the doctor’s office Tuesday morning at eight AM for her first assignment.