--- title: "The First Step Toward Recovery After Amputation | Sutter Health" description: "Jarrett followed the recommendation to go to acute rehabilitation and now encourages others to do the same." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/the-first-step-toward-recovery-1042868384" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Patient Stories](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) / 3. The First Step Toward Recovery After Amputation # The First Step Toward Recovery After Amputation * * * 2023 Jarett, a Type 1 diabetic with peripheral vascular disease, struggled with a non-healing wound on his right leg for years. With little progress, he and his doctors came to the decision to amputate his leg below the knee. This change meant he would need to relearn many day-to-day tasks in his life. It was suggested to Jarett that he would benefit from an inpatient rehabilitation program, but he was reluctant. He was tired of being in the hospital and just wanted to go home. He thought he could handle things on his own. Jarett reconsidered, and came to Sutter Rehabilitation Institute for a 13-day stay. There he built up his strength, balance and stamina. He learned how to get around with a walker, and how to hop up the stairs of his home. During this time, a prosthetist helped him prepare for a prosthetic leg. Jarett wasn’t alone in his recovery. His wife, Rahni, who works in healthcare, said the training they received made the transition from rehabilitation to home much easier for the entire family. Looking back now, he can’t imagine how he could have recovered without the help he received. Jarett’s advice to someone with a new amputation, “Go to Sutter Rehabilitation Institute, you won’t regret it.” ****Choose a Rehabilitation Program with Expertise in Amputations**** - Sutter Rehabilitation Institute’s Amputation Rehabilitation program is CARF accredited and recognized for excellence—one of only five in California. - 100% of amputees treated between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022 were very satisfied with their experience, and would recommend Sutter Rehabilitation Institute to others.\* - Specialized training for amputees from our highly trained nurses and therapists to promote healing and prevent complications. \*Source: IT HealthTracks ## Discover similar stories Choose a service topic below to read more stories like this one. 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[Book an Appointment](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22acceptingNewPatients%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5Btrue%5D%7D%2C%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_affiliate.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Gould+Medical+Group%22%2C%22Mills-Peninsula+Division%22%2C%22Palo+Alto+Foundation+Medical+Group%22%2C%22Sutter+East+Bay+Medical+Group%22%2C%22Sutter+Medical+Group%22%2C%22Sutter+Medical+Group+of+the+Redwoods%22%2C%22Sutter+Medical+Group%2C+Solano%22%2C%22Sutter+North+Medical+Group%22%2C%22Sutter+West+Bay+Medical+Group%22%5D%7D%2C%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_providerSpecialties.specialty.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Family+Medicine%22%2C%22Internal+Medicine%22%2C%22Pediatrics%22%5D%7D%5D&limit=10&verticalKey=healthcare_professionals) ## Related articles [View all articles](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) - Patient story ### [A hero's recovery](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/a-heros-recovery-1042868370) Travis went from fisherman to hero after he shielded his friends from an assailant with a gun. - Patient story ### [Taking a Step Forward with Ekso NR™](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/taking-a-step-forward-with-ekso-nr-1042868356) When Robert’s legs began to feel weak due to Miller Fisher syndrome, he turned to the Sutter Rehabilitation Institute. - Patient story ### [73-year-old amputee triumphs, completes open water swim](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/73-year-old-amputee-triumphs-completes-open-water-swim-2023563911) When Bob Duncan shattered his left knee in a motorcycle accident more than 30 years ago, he didn’t know the extent of the challenges he would later face. 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Testimonials or statements made by any person(s) within this site are not intended to guarantee outcomes or substitute for medical advice._ ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/the-first-step-toward-recovery-1042868384#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Patient Stories","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"The First Step Toward Recovery After Amputation"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/the-first-step-toward-recovery-1042868384#article","name":"The First Step Toward Recovery After Amputation","headline":"The First Step Toward Recovery After Amputation","abstract":"Jarrett followed the recommendation to go to acute rehabilitation and now encourages others to do the same.","description":"Jarrett followed the recommendation to go to acute rehabilitation and now encourages others to do the same.","keywords":["Physical therapy and rehabilitation"],"datePublished":"2023-01-01","dateModified":"2026-08-14","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/the-first-step-toward-recovery-1042868384","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/the-first-step-toward-recovery-1042868384","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/the-first-step-toward-recovery-1042868384#breadcrumblist"}},"author":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/Hjz6b91TmG3tWM8jDf_baJmly-sy9D2aDoqKQM3DiQU/fit=crop,gravity=auto,width=1200,height=630","width":"600","height":"300"},"articleBody":"Jarett, a Type 1 diabetic with peripheral vascular disease, struggled with a non-healing wound on his right leg for years. With little progress, he and his doctors came to the decision to amputate his leg below the knee. This change meant he would need to relearn many day-to-day tasks in his life. It was suggested to Jarett that he would benefit from an inpatient rehabilitation program, but he was reluctant. He was tired of being in the hospital and just wanted to go home. He thought he could handle things on his own. Jarett reconsidered, and came to Sutter Rehabilitation Institute for a 13-day stay. There he built up his strength, balance and stamina. He learned how to get around with a walker, and how to hop up the stairs of his home. During this time, a prosthetist helped him prepare for a prosthetic leg. Jarett wasn’t alone in his recovery. His wife, Rahni, who works in healthcare, said the training they received made the transition from rehabilitation to home much easier for the entire family. Looking back now, he can’t imagine how he could have recovered without the help he received. Jarett’s advice to someone with a new amputation, “Go to Sutter Rehabilitation Institute, you won’t regret it.” Choose a Rehabilitation Program with Expertise in Amputations Sutter Rehabilitation Institute’s Amputation Rehabilitation program is CARF accredited and recognized for excellence—one of only five in California. 100% of amputees treated between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022 were very satisfied with their experience, and would recommend Sutter Rehabilitation Institute to others.* Specialized training for amputees from our highly trained nurses and therapists to promote healing and prevent complications. *Source: IT HealthTracks"} ```