Toyah:
Echelon VT

Meet Toyah - physiotherapist, snowboarder, amputee by choice. 

Toyah Blackwater’s journey to amputation began at just 13 years old. A simple ankle injury led to years of investigations, pain, and countless procedures but no real answers.

"I spent 12 years struggling with chronic pain, poor foot positioning, and difficulty walking. Eventually, I had to ask myself: Is this living?"

After over a decade of trying to hold onto a limb that no longer worked for her, Toyah made the courageous and personal decision to choose amputation. 

"People assume choosing amputation makes it easier, but it doesn’t."

One year after surgery, Toyah is not just walking again; she’s thriving. She’s back working full-time as a physiotherapist for the NHS, snowboarding and surfing, and even climbing mountains for charity. The physical and emotional transformation has been life-changing, and the right technology has played a key part.

“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made. But I would 100% make it again.”

Confidence, comfort, and the freedom to move

Toyah wears the Echelon VT, a hydraulic ankle that helps her move naturally across various terrains. Its terrain response technology and self-aligning ankle help her adjust to slopes and uneven ground, which is crucial for someone as active and professionally mobile as Toyah.

"Having a hydraulic ankle has meant I can move more freely throughout the day. It’s made a real difference to how I support my patients and it’s taken away the pain I used to feel with every step."

The vertical shock absorption and axial rotation also reduce the strain on her residual limb, making daily tasks, long workdays, and even mountain hikes more manageable.

A return to work and the outdoors

As a healthcare professional, Toyah understands the impact of good prosthetic alignment, but living with it has given her a new perspective.

"When I wear trousers at work, most people don't even notice I have a prosthetic. My walking looks typical now. It's given me confidence again I even feel comfortable wearing skirts and dresses."

Outside of work, she's thrown herself into the kind of life she once thought she'd left behind. Just one year postop, Toyah hiked Snowdon in under seven hours, raising nearly £900 for the Positive Bones charity.

"My goal for 2026, two years postamputation, is to hike two of the Three Peaks. I want to raise money and show people what's possible."

She's also back on a snowboard, paddling on a board, and planning for even more.

A quick connection and a strong foundation

Toyah's favourite feature? How quickly she can get going.

"The pin lock system is speedy and easy to use. And the hydraulic ankle gives me more freedom with footwear I don’t need to compromise when it comes to my hobbies."

That ease of use is a small but essential part of what simplifies her daily life, giving her the time, energy, and stability to focus on her work and passions.

A difficult beginning and a new future

Toyah remembers her first appointment with her prosthetics team as a tough moment.

"It was intimidating, daunting I felt overwhelmed. But my therapist was patient and understanding. They even let my husband come in with me to support me."

That early reassurance made all the difference and helped her begin to see what life after amputation could look like.

Today, Toyah is focused on giving back. She’s raising money for the charities that supported her, challenging assumptions about life with limb difference, and proving that sometimes the most difficult decisions lead to the most extraordinary outcomes.

"This was never an easy choice, but it gave me a new way of living."

SEE ECHELON VT