Roland Toogood puts his best limb/foot forward
My paternal grandfather lost both his legs at a very young age working on the railways right here in East London. He was hit by a shunting train in the railway yard (now the SBDC), that amputated both his legs well above the knees. He spent 2 years on his own in a Johannesburg hospital overcoming his injuries.
This happened over 60 years ago, but the memories I have as a child of the ‘artificial legs’ he received after his recovery is something I will never forget. Those uncomfortable, unwieldily and inappropriately stumpy legs stood in the corner of my grandparents’ bedroom and I never once saw him wear them. It is only recently after meeting Roland Toogood, that I learned just how difficult it is to make comfortable, custom fitting prosthetics, and just how amazing these modern-day limb replacements are.
‘A Prosthetist fabricates a replacement limb’ & ‘An Orthotist fabricates devices to help a human limb or body part’
If you are one of the unlucky few who have suffered an amputation and quite literally have ‘no leg to stand on’, the person you should be meeting is Roland Toogood, East London’s renowned Prosthetist and Orthotist, operating out of The On Track Wellness Centre in Southernwood.
A born and bred East Londoner, Roland initially aspired to being a Dental Technician, but upon visiting a local technician to learn more about the profession, he was pointed in another direction namely prosthetics, which has become his profession and life long passion.
Roland started his career working at the Frere Hospital where he eventually reached the position of Chief Orthotist & Prosthetist. In 2005 after 12 years with the hospital, he decided to branch out on his own and left to start his own practice in Berea. From there his practice moved to Southernwood, closer to the Hospital where his services were required. In 2013 Roland extended his premises and built on a Track Room, a Foot Orthotic Gait Lab and a Hydrotherapy Pool… and The On Track Wellness Centre was born.
Roland has changed many lives through his work, one of them being a well known local East London photographer, JP Veaudry, who suffered a below the knee amputation as a result of a motor-cycle hit and run accident. JP initially went to Roland requesting a prosthetic limb to help him walk again. His progress was so good with the initial prosthetic that JP expanded his expectations and once again asked Roland for a prosthetic, this time to help him walk on the beach and go into the water, as was necessary for his lifestyle and photography business. Once again JP excelled so he headed back to Roland, this time for his biggest challenge… JP wanted to surf again.
JP and Roland worked together, customising a limb that would suit JP’s specific individual requirements and his third custom prosthetic was designed, allowing him to return to the water and the sport he loved. Never one to limit himself, in 2015 JP went out on a ‘prosthetic’ limb and entered the 2015 ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship held in La Jolla, California, USA, where he came joint 5th with Eric D’Argent of France. He entered again in 2016 and this time he achieved a bronze medal for his 3rd place position. JP’s talent, drive and determination along with his customised limb will no doubt see him succeed in achieving his goals, and is the main reason why Roland is so passionate about what he does.
Another amputee to benefit from Roland’s work is David Samuels, an ultra marathon runner from Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape, who suffered a below knee amputation as a result of a motor vehicle accident. A woman driving in her vehicle spotted David running in the street with a normal prosthetic and took him to The On Track Wellness Centre. Recognising his talent, she hoped that Roland could assist him with a limb better suited to help him achieve his running ambitions. With 4 Comrades Marathons under his belt prior to his accident, David’s ambition was to return to long distance running, but with the standard prosthetic, battled with muscle fatigue, blisters and downhill running. In consultation with Roland, a new prosthetic was designed specifically for David who has subsequently completed 2 Comrades Marathons, narrowly missing a bronze medal in the last. He is currently training for the qualifiers for this years’ Comrades Marathon’s and we will no doubt see more of this amazing athlete, who has overcome all obstacles to achieve his goals, and who has become an inspiration to so many.
The On Track Wellness Centre is a fantastic facility to have in East London, offering a wide range of services, not only to prosthetic patients. Roland is also a qualified Orthotist and provides these services at the Centre. So what is Orthotics you may ask? Orthotics is the manufacture of appliances that assist your natural limb or body part such as custom shoe orthotics, custom designed to assist with problems in the pressure area’s of the foot or help improve an individuals gait. Custom and off the shelf bracing are also orthotics that assist people with support for injuries to their spine, hip, knee, foot, ankle, neck, shoulder, elbow and wrists. You will be happy to know that if you have suffered a sporting injury, have been through an operation or are just needing some additional support due to pain, this is where you will find the relief you need.
The Mastectomy Clinic is another of the vital services provided from this Centre. Women who have been through the trauma of having a mastectomy can find all the support they need in the form of post-operative wear, breast prosthesis, mastectomy bra’s and even swimwear and swimming prosthesis as well as a qualified nursing sister, all in one place. In addition, there are 2 Certified Lymphedema Therapists at the Centre to help women with Lymphedema treatment, a condition often experienced by patients who have had mastectomy surgery.
The Centre also has a Hydrotherapy pool, home to the resident Biokineticist who helps knee and hip replacement patients regain their strength and aids the rehabilitation process for patients who have had knee injuries, strokes or respiratory infections. This amazing therapy also helps with a wide range of other ailments such as relieving inflammation in arthritic and rheumatologic patients, improving blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes, lowering blood pressure and reducing the symptoms of patients with multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, tendonitis, scoliosis, carpal tunnel syndrome and bursitis.
Compression stockings for post operative wound care as well as a wide range of mobility aids ranging from walking sticks to wheel chairs to automated scooters are also available, ensuring that the patients every need is met.
So who is Roland Toogood, you may ask? Well, he is a professional, constantly improving on his already impressive qualifications and skills to offer a one-of-a-kind service to the residents of East London. He is a family man, and his wife Adelma is the Practice Manager and keeps everything running smoothly, you know what they say … behind every successful man…! To relax, both she and their daughter enjoy a bit of well deserved retail therapy (what’s not to like)!
His son has just started studying Chemical Engineering at Tuks, and his daughter is currently at Merrifield College where she loves dancing and hockey and has won numerous awards for her art. To relax, Roland loves nothing more than to take a break and getaway with the family for some down time, which includes a round or two of golf, some fishing (self-confessed fair weather fisherman) as well as some other rather strange outings such as Canopy tours, Zip-line Tours and Rollercoaster rides. Why strange you may ask? Well Roland also confesses to be fine with speed but heights … well … not so much! His choice of activities clearly shows he is either into seriously challenging himself or maybe, just maybe, he is a pushover and goes along with what ever the family want to do. Either way, it is family first.
One of the best measures of a person can be their pets and the Toogood family have four, two Cats and two dogs – a Scottie and a Miniature Dachshund who is the runt of the litter and has an overbite like a sand shark (yes, I can picture it too). It also has a buckled right back leg that will require a brace when it gets older. Hmmm, I wonder who could possibly help with that? Yes, you guessed it! Roland can make a bracing for animals too.
I think it is fair to say that we are lucky to have these facilities and someone of Roland’s caliber providing these services to the people of East London. It is great to see the help available to patients who have been through traumatic experiences such as amputations, mastectomies, post-operative care and serious life-threatening conditions. It is even greater to see how many of these patients have achieved great success in the face of such adversity.
Moreover, I wonder what my paternal grandfather would think if he could see the skills, technology and facilities available to amputee’s in East London today? I am sure it would have warmed his heart and put a smile on his face.