At just 19 years old, Tatum experienced an accident that changed her life in a matter of seconds. What followed was a long journey through emergency surgery, an above-knee amputation, rehabilitation, socket-fit challenges, and the difficult process of learning to trust her body and prosthesis again.
Her story is not only about survival. It is about determination, independence, and the importance of feeling secure and comfortable in a prosthetic socket.
Today, Tatum is walking independently, traveling, exploring new places, and rebuilding the life she fought so hard to keep. This is her story.
The Day Everything Changed
On August 12, 2024, at just 19 years old, my life changed in a matter of seconds.
I was hit by my own car and crushed against my garage wall, not once, but twice. I was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and immediately underwent multiple emergency procedures.
The blood flow to my left leg had been completely cut off, and my foot no longer had a pulse. My leg was dying, and the damage was beginning to threaten the rest of my body. Lactic acid and toxins were rapidly building up in my bloodstream. If they reached my heart, I could have died instantly.
My doctors marked me as being at imminent risk of death. They told my family that the only way to save my life was to amputate my left leg above the knee.
I was so unstable that I could not even be transported to an operating room. The doctors had to perform the amputation inside my ICU room.
From that moment forward, I had to fight with everything I had to survive.
Surviving Was Only the Beginning
I spent 28 days in the intensive care unit, more than 100 days between two different hospitals, and five months in rehabilitation at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. In total, I underwent 15 surgeries.
Every day brought a new challenge. For a long time, my only focus was staying alive.
But surviving the accident was only the beginning. Learning how to live again after leaving the hospital was an entirely different battle.
Because of severe nerve damage to my gluteus maximus, I was told that I would never be able to walk independently. I was told that I would likely need some form of support for the rest of my life.
I refused to accept that as the ending to my story.
At Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, I spent months learning how to stand, balance, and walk with a prosthetic leg. Every step required concentration, strength, patience, and determination.
Eventually, after countless hours of practice, I was able to walk without a crutch or physical assistance.
It was one of the proudest moments of my life, but my challenges were far from over.
When Residual Limb Changes Affect Prosthetic Socket Fit
During the first few years following an amputation, the residual limb can change significantly in shape and volume. These changes can make it difficult to maintain a comfortable and secure prosthetic socket fit.
As my residual limb continued to change, my socket no longer fit the way it should.
The poor fit caused severe discomfort and began damaging my residual limb. I regularly lost suction, sometimes without warning. My prosthesis could loosen at any moment, which led to several frightening falls.
I never knew when my leg might lose suction beneath me.
Going out with friends became difficult. Traveling felt nearly impossible. Even ordinary daily activities carried the fear of falling and injuring myself again.
For a long time, my life revolved around struggling to walk.
I had fought so hard to regain my independence, yet I still did not feel secure or comfortable in my prosthesis.
Why Prosthetic Socket Fit Can Change Throughout the Day
A prosthetic socket is designed to fit closely around the residual limb, but the residual limb is not always the same size.
Its volume may change because of activity, temperature, hydration, diet, time of day, weight changes, and the natural evolution of the residual limb following an amputation. Even relatively small changes can affect how the prosthesis feels.
When residual limb volume decreases, additional space may develop between the limb, liner, and socket. This can contribute to movement inside the socket, reduced stability, pressure in unwanted areas, discomfort, and changes in suspension.
Traditional prosthetic socks may help manage some of these changes. However, adding or removing socks throughout the day may require trial and error, and the resulting adjustment is not always as precise as the user needs.
For me, the changing fit created more than physical discomfort. It affected my confidence and made it difficult to trust my prosthesis.
Discovering the Ethnocare Overlay
Then I learned about the Ethnocare Overlay.
After seeing my content and hearing about the challenges I was experiencing, Ethnocare sent me an Overlay to try for one month.
I still remember the first time I put it on. The relief was immediate.
The Overlay helped compensate for changes in my residual limb and made my socket feel more secure and comfortable. That comfort changed much more than the way my prosthesis felt. It changed the way I felt about myself.
I became more confident because I walked with less of a limp. I experienced less pain and felt more comfortable wearing my prosthesis.
Most importantly, the fear that had followed me everywhere began to fade.
Instead of constantly wondering whether my leg might lose suction, I could begin focusing on the life happening around me.
What Is the Ethnocare Overlay?
The Ethnocare Overlay is an adjustable inflatable prosthetic interface worn over the prosthetic liner and inside the socket.
It is designed to help users manage residual limb volume changes and adjust the fit of their socket throughout the day. Its inflatable air cells can help fill space that develops when the residual limb decreases in volume.
Using the integrated pump and release valve, the user can add or release air based on the amount of adjustment needed.
The goal is not to overinflate the product or create additional pressure. The Overlay should only be adjusted enough to help reduce unwanted movement and restore a more secure socket fit.
The Overlay is not a replacement for a properly fitted prosthetic socket or professional clinical care. Persistent pain, skin problems, significant socket-fit issues, or sudden changes should always be discussed with a prosthetist.
Regaining Confidence Through Greater Comfort
Comfort affected every part of my experience.
When my prosthesis felt unstable, I thought about it constantly. Every step required me to wonder whether the socket would remain secure. I was afraid of losing suction, falling, or hurting myself again.
When the fit felt more secure, I could focus on something other than my prosthesis.
I could think about where I was going, who I was with, and what I wanted to experience. I could walk with greater confidence instead of anticipating the next problem.
The change was not only physical. It was emotional.
Feeling more comfortable helped me trust my prosthesis again, and that trust gave me more freedom.
Returning to Travel and Everyday Life
I have now been using the Ethnocare Overlay for more than a year, and it has helped me experience things I once wondered if I would ever be able to do again.
I traveled to Seattle with my mom and Costa Rica with my dad. I walked through London and Paris and explored Antibes, Monaco, Èze, and many other beautiful places.
Only a year earlier, these experiences had felt completely out of reach.
Traveling with a prosthesis can involve long days, significant amounts of walking, different temperatures, and frequent changes in activity. For someone experiencing residual limb volume fluctuations, those conditions can make socket fit even more challenging.
Having a way to adjust my fit helped me feel better prepared for those experiences.
The Overlay did not erase everything I had been through, but it gave me something incredibly important: the comfort and security to keep moving forward.
Every Step Represents Progress
My recovery has been a long and difficult road.
There have been painful days, setbacks, falls, and moments when I questioned what my future would look like. But there have also been moments of strength, freedom, and gratitude that I once could not have imagined.
Every step I take represents how hard I fought to survive, how far I have come, and how determined I am to continue living my life fully.
Today, I am grateful to be alive. I am grateful to be walking. And every day, I am grateful that I get to wear the Ethnocare Overlay.
- Tatum
Who May Benefit From an Adjustable Prosthetic Interface?
Every prosthetic user has different needs, and the Overlay will not be necessary or appropriate for everyone.
It may be worth discussing with a prosthetist when a person experiences:
- Residual limb volume fluctuations during the day
- A socket that becomes loose as activity increases
- Unwanted movement inside the socket
- Difficulty maintaining consistent suspension
- A need to repeatedly add or remove prosthetic socks
- Changes in socket comfort between the morning and evening
- Fit challenges during exercise, travel, or prolonged activity
The correct product size, positioning, inflation level, and compatibility depend on the person’s residual limb, liner, socket, and suspension system.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prosthetic Socket Fit
Why does my prosthetic socket become loose during the day?
Residual limb volume can fluctuate because of activity, temperature, hydration, diet, time of day, weight changes, and other factors. When limb volume decreases, additional space can develop inside the socket.
Can the Overlay replace a new prosthetic socket?
No. The Overlay is designed to help manage certain fit changes within an existing socket. It cannot correct every socket-fit problem and does not replace a properly fitted socket or an assessment by a prosthetist.
Where is the Overlay worn?
The Overlay is worn over the prosthetic liner and inside the socket.
How is the Overlay adjusted?
The user adds air through the integrated pump and releases air through the valve. Only the amount needed to reduce unwanted movement and improve the fit should be used.
Is the Overlay available for above-knee and below-knee prosthetic users?
Ethnocare offers Overlay configurations for both transtibial, or below-knee, and transfemoral, or above-knee, prosthetic users. Product compatibility and sizing should be reviewed based on the individual prosthetic setup.
Can insurance help cover the Overlay?
Coverage varies according to the country, insurer, medical necessity, and individual policy. In the United States, prosthetists may use the applicable HCPCS reimbursement information when submitting a claim. Patients should speak directly with their prosthetist and insurance provider before assuming coverage.
Ethnocare can provide clinics with product details and reimbursement support documentation.
Designed With Prosthetic Users, Not Just for Them
At Ethnocare, we believe that the people using prosthetic technology should help shape how it is developed.
Our products are created through collaboration with prosthetic users, clinicians, researchers, and industry partners. Their experiences help us understand the real challenges that occur outside a laboratory, including during work, exercise, travel, daily activities, and changing environmental conditions.
Stories like Tatum’s remind us why comfort and confidence matter.
A prosthetic product is not only a piece of equipment. It can influence whether someone feels secure leaving home, participating in an activity, traveling, or focusing on the moment instead of constantly thinking about their socket.
Our mission is to continue developing practical solutions that help people living with limb loss move with greater comfort, confidence, and freedom.
Discover the Ethnocare Overlay
Experiencing residual limb volume changes or an inconsistent prosthetic socket fit?
Speak with your prosthetist to determine whether the Ethnocare Overlay may be appropriate for your prosthetic setup.
Discover the Overlay
Contact Ethnocare
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How to Buy the Ethnocare Underlay
Jul. 21 2026 -
