“There’s no better place than home” – Engel returns home after rehab

After weeks at Heliomare rehabilitation centre, Engel is finally back home in IJmuiden. From missing the gym and walking Bob the dog, to finally feeling comfortable in his prosthesis and setting new goals for the future — Engel shares what life has been like since returning home.

Finally home

“It felt good,” Engel says about finally returning home.

He stayed at Heliomare for around two extra weeks so that any remaining issues with his residual limb could be resolved with help from Cor and Arnold at Livit Ottobock.

“It was a mixture of feeling happy, nervous, and also thinking… it’s enough now. I was ready to go home.”

What he misses from rehab

“There are definitely things I miss from Heliomare, especially the fitness sessions and swimming. I trained really hard there to rebuild a lot of lost muscle strength. But I also miss the laughs between everyone and the conversations men quickly have with each other.”

At home, he admits he is not exercising much yet, but plans to join a gym soon.

“I’m signing up to a gym where they have physiotherapists with an orthopaedic background. I’m definitely not going to one of those gyms where people check the mirror every ten minutes to see if their muscles have grown.”

Despite missing certain parts of rehab, Engel is happy to be home.

“Even with the excellent care and rehabilitation techniques, I’m glad to be home. There is no better hospital than home 😉”

Adjustments at home

Before returning home, Engel had already organised several adaptations including handrails on the stairs, a shower chair, toilet raiser and walking frame.

After returning home, one more adjustment proved helpful.

“Through Heliomare, I rented a trippel chair for six months. It’s especially useful in the mornings because sometimes I still struggle a bit with walking first thing.”

A stairlift would also make life easier.

“When you have problems with your residual limb, having to go upstairs on your backside really isn’t easy or pleasant. Especially if you’ve developed a wound, it becomes a real challenge.”

Fortunately, their home is relatively compact.

“The distances between the kitchen and living room are only a few steps. We actually haven’t needed to move much around. Although there is still a small cabinet in the hallway that needs removing because it blocks the space needed for a wheelchair.”

Daily life at home

“The nicest thing about being home is seeing my wife every day again,” Engel says.

As an early riser, he is usually awake around 4:30 or 5am.

“Now the first thing I do is put on my liner, then my prosthesis, and straight out of bed. I always need a little time to adjust to those first few steps. Sometimes it’s difficult, but there are far worse things in the world!”

He is also happy to be taking care of his aquarium again.

“Although my wife did a fantastic job with it while I was away.”

Then there is Bob — the family’s American Bulldog.

“He still likes to suddenly pull in another direction… and an American Bulldog really means it when they do that. Next week I’m going to try walking him myself, although my wife will come with me.”

Some daily routines have naturally changed too.

“I used to always take the bins outside, but now Irina does that. I want to take it back over, but she insists on doing it. She also cooks more often now, whereas I usually did the cooking. It’s all those little everyday things.”

Improvements with the prosthesis

Things are finally improving with Engel’s prosthesis.

“Cor and Arnold from Livit Ottobock are two incredible men. They never gave up on me and always helped me.”

At one stage, Engel was wearing his prosthesis for 12 to 14 hours a day comfortably.

“At the moment I have a small wound on my residual limb, which is frustrating, but it happened because my limb is shrinking quickly. I’ve been using my recumbent bike a lot…”

A new socket is already on the way.

Goals for the future

“My goal is still to eventually walk without a walking stick. At home I can already do that. Outside is more challenging because pavements are not always level.”

Even so, he is already relying on the stick less and less.

“I still take it with me, but I try to use it as little as possible.”

One place still high on Engel’s wish list is the beach.

“I’ve already been onto the beach at Wijk aan Zee with two physiotherapists from Heliomare, and that went pretty well. So hopefully I’ll manage it here in IJmuiden too.”

A heartfelt thank you

Engel wanted to thank every member of staff at Heliomare.

“I have huge respect for the way they treat their patients.”

He also had special praise for Cor and Arnold at Livit Ottobock.

“They only need half a word before they already come up with a brilliant solution.”

After 68 years living with a club foot and completing an intense rehabilitation journey, Engel is now back home looking ahead. Despite a few setbacks along the way, he is focused on the future — waiting for his new socket, enjoying his recumbent bike again, returning to the beach, and continuing towards his goal of walking confidently without a stick.