Last week we told you how a Bakersfield police officer, who lost his leg in a gunfight with a gangmember, is back at work. Today we focus on the team of specialists who helped Officer Dennis Eddy get there, and the locally-born technology that put Eddy back on two feet.
Ten weeks ago, Officer Dennis Eddy could barely stand.Today, he's off and running and back on the force.
"I think when this first began, I didn't know if I was ever going to be able to run again," said Eddy. But before he could run, Eddy's journey started with just one nervous step.
"Man, I don't want to put all my weight on this leg. I don't know, and I found the more I did it, when you are actually using it the way you're supposed to, it's more comfortable," said Eddy.
It's a high-tech foot called the perfect stride invented and developed in Bakersfield by Barry Townsend. "That's what this design is doing. It's replicating human ankle function, and the spring is replicating muscle function. That is, the prosthetic foot helps capture, store and release energy in much the same way a normal human foot functions," said Barry Townsend.
Eddy's prosthetic foot was donated by a local group.
