Meet Board Member Larry Frazier

The way of life for Larry Frazier took a major detour on July 14, 1994.  The day started like any other day.  Mr. Frazier went to work as usual at the Hartsville Oil Mill in Darlington where he had been employed for 13 years.  All that changed around lunchtime, when Mr. Frazier’s leg got caught in the machine and ultimately lost his leg below the knee.  He spent the next 3 months in the hospital and at the age of 36 he felt like his life was over. 

 “In the hospital, I had a lot of time to think and felt like I would never again lead an active life,” he said.  “All that changed for me when John Nolan with Hanger Clinic visited with me and showed me that I could have my old life back.  I was determined that I would have an active life and master my prosthetic leg.”

 Since 1994, he has gone through about twenty prosthetic legs and took him about ten years to really master the use of his leg.  Thanks to new technology, Mr. Frazier has a computerized prosthetic leg.  The leg is a revolutionary new prosthetic foot/ankle system with microprocessor controlled speed and terrain response. 

 Now he spends his days serving on both CareSouth Carolina and Care Innovations board of directors, mentoring a child at WestHartsvilleElementary School, and helping guide and educating new amputees.  Mr. Frazier and his wife of nine years live in Hartsville and have three children and nine grandchildren.

 “I have come a long way since 1994 with my leg,” said Mr. Frazier.  “Now a days most people do not even realize that I have a prosthetic leg.  Turns out what I thought was a major detour in the road was just a mere speed bump.”