Brooke's Kenevo Story.

Brooke Newcombe, a 15-year-old from Oldham, is a passionate learner with a love for English and creative writing. Currently in his final year of secondary school, he is preparing for his GCSEs, having already received an offer from college. His excitement for continuing his education reflects his natural thirst for knowledge, a drive that sets him apart.

However, Brooke’s journey is far from typical. For the past five years, he has faced extraordinary challenges after surviving a life-threatening illness. At the age of 10, Brooke contracted the flu, which led to sepsis. The infection triggered his body to attack its own organs, causing full organ failure and cardiac arrest. He spent several weeks in a coma and 4 months in intensive care, during which doctors made the difficult decision to amputate both of his legs through the knees and his left arm, all in a bid to save his life.

The road to recovery was long and gruelling. Over the next 10 months, Brooke underwent numerous surgeries and intense rehabilitation to rebuild his strength and overcome the toll the infection had taken on his body. By October 2020, he was ready to try prosthetic legs. While grateful for the increased mobility, the first prostheses were far from ideal. "I waddled like a penguin," Brooke recalls. "I felt self-conscious and didn’t want to be stared at." His mother, Susan, was determined that Brooke should have prosthetics that would allow him to walk more naturally. "When he first started walking with the prosthetic legs, I was worried that it wouldn’t be good for his back and spine because his walking style wasn’t natural,'" Susan says. "But I understood he needed to get stronger before he could move onto something better."

Brooke’s dedication to his physical therapy, along with the support of the team at the Specialised Ability Centre in Manchester, paid off. As his strength grew, he and his physiotherapist began discussing the possibility of transitioning to microprocessor knees (MPKs). By autumn 2024, Brooke was ready, and his prosthetist fitted him with two Kenevo MPKs.

The Kenevo is the lightest microprocessor knee on the market, weighing just 920g and designed with a small build height, making it an ideal choice for children like Brooke. One of its key features is its safety, unlike other MPKs, which rely on detecting a stumble to provide support, the Kenevo prepares for potential missteps during each swing phase, providing seamless protection without reaction time. If a stumble does occur, the knee prevents further bending, reducing the risk of a fall.

For Brooke, the difference was life changing. "It was hard at first because I had to relearn how to walk, but now I wear them every day at school. I feel confident on them, and it's given me more freedom," said Brooke. Navigating the busy hallways of his school became much easier. With his prostheses, he’s at the same height as his peers and he feels far safer than when he was using the mechanical knees. "With my trousers on, you wouldn't even know I have prosthetic legs," Brooke says with a smile. "My walk is so natural now."

The Kenevo also provides additional support when sitting and standing—an important feature for someone with bilateral amputations. The knee’s technology adapts to the user’s movements, offering resistance that helps control the motion, even if it’s slow or gradual.

"I know I’m safe wearing my Kenevo’s," Brooke says. "If I’m walking and worry about falling, I just remind myself that they are designed to keep me safe. It’s given me the confidence to step outside my comfort zone and walk more naturally. Before, I had to walk stiffly, bracing myself for a fall."

Brooke’s resilience over the past five years has been truly remarkable. His motto, "adapt to survive," has helped him overcome some incredible challenges, and now he's looking toward the future with hope and ambition. He recently delivered a powerful speech to the council, raising awareness about sepsis, meningitis, and organ donation—an effort that really made an impact on the councillors. With his passion for creative writing, Brooke dreams of continuing his education and eventually becoming both an author and an entrepreneur. With his courage and determination, there's no doubt he’ll achieve whatever he sets his mind to.