At 15 years old, Björn Eser was diagnosed with bone cancer. This was a very difficult situation for the free-spirited teenager who loved spending time outdoors. “Dying was not an option,” the outdoor enthusiast recalls today, almost 40 years later. In 1987, Björn received an artificial joint in his left leg at the University Hospital in Homburg. However, doctors did not know how long the model would last, as there is little long-term experience with people of such a young age and implants of this size. The prognosis ranges from a minimum of five to a maximum of fifteen years.

“I voluntarily chose to have an amputation”

When Björn caught an infection during a stay abroad in East Africa 18 years later, the doctors wanted to remove the implant and stiffen his leg. “What am I supposed to do with a stiff leg?” says Björn firmly, who now works as a strategy consultant and trainer in the field of international development cooperation. Instead, he voluntarily decided to have an amputation. His left leg was amputated above the knee in September 2005. This was a step that most doctors initially advised him against – but also a step that he has never regretted to this day. “I had a doctor who took me seriously when I described how I want to live my life in five years time. We then considered together what would be the best way to get there. He was a transfemoral amputee himself and was also very athletic and loved the outdoors, just like me. It really helped to have someone who was committed to finding a solution: “Instead of thinking in terms of keeping your leg, let's think about how you want to live your life,” Björn recalls.

Today, the attitudes that Björn feels many doctors and orthopaedists had, such as Two legs are better than one and Amputation is a sign of defeat, have changed. “There has been a change. The prosthetics are better and you can do more with the prosthesis. This restricted way of thinking has been broken down and the different disciplines are now working better together. Under these circumstances, amputation may be the better option.”

Returning to an independent lifestyle

Just three months after his amputation in 2005, the then 34-year-old was back in England, where he was living at the time, embarking on his first 6 km walk and returning to his full-time job in international development cooperation. Just five months after the amputation, Björn regularly returned to Uganda and its neighbouring country of South Sudan for work, even using public transport.

“Prostheses are complete works of art”

In Björn’s eyes, a prosthesis isn’t just a replacement for his leg; it’s a complete work of art. All the individual parts have to suit you and your lifestyle. He now uses a leg prosthesis with the Genium X4 smart knee joint. Functions such as start-to-walk, which allows the first step to be taken with the prosthesis side, dynamic backward movement and navigating uneven surfaces and inclines make everyday life much easier. “Transfemoral amputees have to expend much more energy pe step, per kilometre. The prosthesis detects whether it is going uphill or downhill and does a lot of the work for you, which reduces the effort required. With the Genium X4, I can walk in a more energy-efficient, gentler and simply softer way. I don't have to exert myself as much and, all in all, at the end of the day I don’t feel like I’m completely exhausted,” says Björn, describing his experiences with the high-tech prosthesis. “I also like the uphill function and the fact that it can be turned on and off. There are also some types of terrain where I don't want the knee joint to do all the thinking for me. I want to continue to have full control over this. This is easy to control using the app.”

But what Björn finds most impressive about the Genium X4 is its battery life, the flexible USB charging port and the fact that it is waterproof. The father of three often sits at his computer for hours at work. Being outdoors and keeping active provides him with an important balance. On the one hand, it prevents incorrect weight bearing, and on the other, he can spend time with his family and friends and find some peace and quiet. “This improves my quality of life and gives me independence. I can teach my child to swim without standing shakily on one leg in the lake. On a hike, I don't have to ask my wife to carry me across the river, which is three metres wide but only 15 centimetres deep, otherwise my prosthesis would be ruined. I can go camping knowing that the rechargeable battery lasts four days on a single charge, and with the USB battery charger and power bank, I can get another four days out of it.” And Björn makes full use of his independence: he hikes through the Pyrenees, abseils down rocks and goes on canoe trips.

“Do, do, do”

Lacking a personal port of call when his leg was amputated, Björn launched the blog and podcast The Active Amputee in 2017. It is a place where people who have had an amputation themselves, as well as their relatives, can ask questions and share experiences.

“Do, do, do. Don't be held back, let go of your inhibitions and try things out. And find people you can turn to,” Björn advises other amputees. This is a piece of advice he has been following for years.