  Name: Tim Sutherland
Occupation: Surfer by day/ waiter by night
Type of Amputation: Left BK
Ask anyone who knows Tim Sutherland and they will tell you that he has always been an outgoing, active person with a positive outlook on life. However, in 1994 when Tim lost his left leg in an automobile accident, nobody knew quite what to expect; only Tim held the answer.
When he regained consciousness in the ICU Trauma Center at UC San Diego, Tim saw his father standing over him in tears. His first thought was to reassure his dad, so Tim said, "Don't worry dad, I'll surf again."
 
Within 5 months of his injury, Tim delivered on that promise and was back in the water.
He surfs more today than he did before the accident. Tim has taken control of his life and participates in many of the same activities he used to. Tim's outlook is simple, "Do you ever realize how fun life is? Maybe it's because I'm getting a new leg and my foot is holding up absolutely wonderfully, but I could not be happier." Tim says he's learned a lot since the accident, and adds, "Whatever you put your mind to, you can do it."
 In between surfing and working during the evenings as a waiter, Tim routinely puts his prostheses to the test. He stays active by swimming and biking and says, "I wear the College Park TruStep and Venture Feet and without a doubt, the feet function better than anything else I've tried. I can easily achieve superior ankle movement, and the level of flexibility is great. I love that my prosthetist can change the bumpers for a variety of needs. The feet rule!"
As he travels through life, Tim manages to stay hard at work and play, and maintains a very positive attitude. We enjoy sharing in Tim's life because he has truly achieved success in the face of adversity. As Tim himself put it, "If you like dealing with winners... I believe I'm a winner." We couldn't agree more.
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