Perhaps there’s no better way to thank our wounded warriors for their service than by helping them get back to what they loved before their injury.
Today, U.S. Army Captain Matthew Bacik can once again walk and even run like he did before losing his foot in an explosion in Iraq. After his injury, Capt. Bacik turned to the Mayo Clinic and Limb Lab for help regaining his mobility, independence, and confidence.
Watch the Mayo Clinic feature on Capt. Matthew Bacik’s journey:
“One of our goals in working with amputees is giving back their life and their function as they knew it before they were injured.” – Dr. Kenton Kaufman, Mayo Clinic
Mayo’s world-class rehabilitation specialists partnered with Limb Lab Founder and Licensed / Certified Prosthetist Brandon Sampson to design a custom device that restores natural movement, improves balance, and reduces pain.Together, we matched the right technology to individual needs. Brandon tested the fit side by side with Capt. Bacik, fine tuning every detail to increase stability, eliminate pain, and restore natural motion. After just two days, the difference was clear.
“It was so weird, because it didn’t hurt at all. Wearing it now, it just feels like a foot.” -Capt. Matthew Bacik
The advanced fit and responsive design allow him to move freely, climb stairs, and run again, just like before Iraq. For Capt. Bacik, the outcome goes far beyond physical recovery. Regaining natural movement has meant reclaiming independence, confidence, and the simple joy of being active again.
Every day, the Limb Lab team brings together deep technical expertise, creativity, and compassion. Knowing the state of the art inside and out and committed to hands-on precision, Brandon and our clinicians worked closely with specialists like those from Mayo to match the right technology with the right person, transforming advanced design into real-world freedom.
At Limb Lab, we’re honored to partner with Mayo Clinic in this mission, restoring function and the love of life. Every success story like Capt. Bacik’s reminds us that when innovation and empathy move together, anything is possible.