Lauren: BladeXT & BladeVT

“Just One More Game”:
How Lauren Cooper’s Blatchford devices help her to reclaim lost movement

When a collapsing brick wall during Storm Eunice took Lauren’s leg in 2022, everything about her active life changed in an instant. As a PE teacher, netball player, gym-goer, and hillwalker, the idea of sitting still wasn’t just unfamiliar; it was unthinkable.

“I was devastated,” she says. “There were so many surgeries before the final decision to amputate. That whole period was just survival.”

But thanks to her rehab team and Blatchford Elite BladeVT and BladeXT, Lauren has gone from surviving to moving again with big goals and bigger plans.

“I burst into tears at my first appointment…”

“…but not because of the team!” Lauren laughs. “I was still traumatised by medical people and didn’t know what my future looked like.”

Her prosthetist, Sarah, and physiotherapist, Gemma, worked closely with her to find the right prosthetics for her needs that could handle long days teaching, long walks outdoors, and even the chance of getting back into sport.

That’s where Blatchford’s BladeXT and Elite BladeVT come in. Both are designed with energy return, stability, and impact protection to support higher levels of activity.

The BladeXT: Grip, stability and a boost of confidence

For Lauren, the BladeXT changed everything about how she moved outside and during sport. Designed for active users, the carbon fibre blade provides excellent forward propulsion while a unique tread on the underside improves grip on all types of terrain.

“I didn’t realise how much grip mattered until I had it,” she says. “The BladeXT lets me feel grounded. I’m not slipping or hesitating when I hike or exercise.”

The curved blade design flexes and stores energy as she steps, then releases it to help power the next one. This energy return helps reduce fatigue, even after long walks.

“I’ve hiked in the Sahara Desert with it,” Lauren says. “Without that spring and support, I couldn’t have done it.”

The Elite BladeVT: Control, comfort and all-day wear

Where the BladeXT supports sport and movement outdoors, Elite BladeVT is Lauren’s go-to for daily life, including teaching all day on her feet.

What makes it different? This prosthetic combines a carbon blade for energy return with vertical shock absorption and torsional rotation, so each step feels more controlled and less jarring.

“You can see the compression working,” Lauren explains. “It absorbs the impact when I walk and softens the pressure on my residual limb. It’s made a huge difference to my comfort, and my gait is much smoother too.”

The torsion unit allows her foot to rotate slightly when she twists or turns, which is especially helpful when walking on uneven surfaces or quickly changing direction, like she used to on the netball court.

Living and teaching with confidence

Together, the BladeXT and Elite BladeVT have restored more than mobility. They’ve given Lauren confidence to teach, travel, and plan for the future.

“I can stay on my feet for longer,” she says. “I’ve returned to gym classes. I’ve started hiking again. I even want to get back on a horse.”

But the dream closest to her heart?

“I’ve played netball for over twenty years. I know I won’t move the same way I used to, but I have to get back on the court, even if it’s just once. That’s my dream.”

She pauses, then grins: “Well… that, and doing a triathlon someday.”

Why the right fit matters

Lauren credits her prosthetic team as much as the tech.

“They ask me what I want to try next. They’re always ready with new options or ideas to help me push things a bit further.”

Having the right devices and people means Lauren isn’t limited by limb loss.

“The Elite BladeVT gives me the comfort and control to do everyday things without thinking. The BladeXT gives me grip and freedom to move like me again.”

From climbing mountains to managing classrooms, Lauren is building a new kind of normal one with plenty of movement, laughter, and big plans.

See BladeXT

See Elite BladeVT