Lucy's Kenevo Story.

Lucy Strain — kicking limits.

Lucy Strain, 15, from Cheshire, is sporty, fashion-loving and unstoppable. She was born with two rare congenital conditions affecting her right leg: Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency (PFFD) and Fibular Hemimelia (FH). At 15 months old she underwent a Symes amputation, removing her foot through the ankle while preserving the heel pad for future prosthetic fit.

Lucy powers her prosthetic using her 'little' leg — and because of hip-joint instability, that requires remarkable strength, balance and adaptability. Her mum Sue says, “She has superseded all our expectations. We've never wrapped her in cotton wool.” At 5, Lucy discovered Kuk Sool Won; over nine years she earned her black belt, competed across the UK and Europe, and medalled at every tournament.

Over the years she tried many prostheses but always preferred her running blade with a free knee — for the spring it gave her and the freedom to move naturally. Heavier mechanical knees often felt uncomfortable. At 13, Lucy had the chance to trial the Kenevo, the lightest microprocessor knee on the market.

“It was really hard to master at first, but once I got used to it, I never wanted to take it off. It's just so much more comfortable.” The Kenevo's Stumble Recovery has prevented Lucy from falling and let her put more weight through her right side, dramatically improving her balance and gait. “It's the best gait she's ever had,” her mum says.