Christopher Barcomb had been a law enforcement officer for the Albemarle Police Department for four years when he was injured during a standard annual firearms qualification. While running down the range to engage a horizontal target, Barcomb slipped and landed on his ankle.
What was originally diagnosed as a severe ankle sprain would eventually turn into a below-the-knee amputation, and inspire a series of children’s books: The Amazing Adventure of Superior Sam.
Before the injury, Barcomb described his life as, “Work, gym, paintball.” He enjoyed interacting with citizens he would meet on patrol and relationship building between the police and community.
That changed on November 3, 2011.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Initially diagnosed as a severe ankle sprain, the swelling continued for months as Barcomb was moved to light duty. As the agency’s workers’ compensation carrier at the time, VML Insurance Programs (VMLIP) soon approved an MRI, which revealed that a muscle in his foot was almost completely torn and might require surgery. Surgery couldn’t be performed until after the swelling had decreased, which took two rounds of cortisone shots and several months to achieve.
After the first arthroscopic surgery was performed, Barcomb began to experience nerve issues. A second surgery failed to relieve these symptoms.
Soon, Barcomb was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a chronic pain condition which, after injury or trauma, causes prolonged or excessive pain, skin discolorations, difficulty maintaining temperature, or swelling to one of the limbs.
“I was in more pain than I knew what to do with,” said Barcomb. “I was doing office work at this point, and all I really wanted to do was to be out on the streets with my colleagues. But, eventually I had to retire from the police force.”
Shortly after his retirement in 2013, Barcomb underwent surgery to implant a spinal cord stimulator in an effort to block the pain to his leg.
“At first it seemed to work,” said Barcomb. “But after time the pain came back, and I wasn’t as adept at dealing with it. I would be sweating profusely or my foot would get so cold my foot would change colors.”
It was after six surgeries without any improvement that Barcomb brought up the idea of amputation to his physicians.
“I met someone who had gone through over 30 surgeries trying to save her legs, and I wondered to myself if all that was worth it?” said Barcomb. “After being in pain for so long I wanted to move on, even though there was still a risk that the CRPS could spread to my other leg after the surgery.”
On March 19, 2015, Barcomb underwent a below the knee amputation, and so far, what remains of the pain has been manageable.
“I received my prosthetic a few months after the surgery and had to ease into being able to wear it. I still have nerve damage in my stump, so for me just the fact that I can walk is enough. I can’t run, I can’t play paintball – but I can walk now,” said Barcomb.
“And as my physical therapist said, in the event of a fire, I’ll get out fine.”
Superior Sam
After his retirement from the police department, Barcomb began working with an afterschool program in Charlottesville. When he made the decision to leave to have his amputation surgery, he had a hard time explaining it to the kids when they asked why he was leaving.
“I could explain to adults what happened, but with kids, I had a hard time explaining,” said Barcomb.
He asked his mother, a community relation’s manager with Barnes & Noble, if there were any books he could bring to the school to explain about amputations to the children. When he learned there was nothing that met that need, the idea for Superior Sam came to life.
“Superior Sam is a super hero and also an amputee. He’s not a hero in the way most people think; he just stands up for what he believes is right,” said Barcomb. “And the series will show he can still do all the things he wants to do, and that if you believe in yourself – even with difficulty – you can still be what you want to be.”
The first book in the series was published last November by Tate Publishing. The remaining six books in the series will chronicle Superior Sam’s adventures with his best friend Billy B.
VML Insurance Programs
Since 2011, Barcomb has continued to work with VMLIP Senior Indemnity Claims Representative Connie Myers. He admits that at first, he was unsure how well workers’ compensation coverage would take care of his injuries.
“When I realized this was going to be a long-term issue, I was told to get an attorney, and I heard a lot of horror stories,” said Barcomb. “But when I would go to my physician appointments, I would hear that they’ve already talked with Connie and everything is already authorized and taken care of.”
“Everyone involved in this process has had my best interests in mind,” said Barcomb. “For example the spinal cord stimulator – it may have to come out now, but at least VMLIP was willing to let me try. When I wanted a second opinion from another doctor, that wasn’t a problem either.”
Barcomb also benefitted from the assistance of VMLIP patient advocates Kathy Foulk and Joanne Allen.
“When I knew I was going to have the amputation Foulk would tell me, you’re going to need these things – but before I knew it, they were arriving in the mail. For example, I couldn’t take a shower after the amputation for awhile and VMLIP sent me shower cloths… or if I needed a particular sized bandage I would order it and they would reimburse me.”
Today Barcomb spends his time working on the Superior Sam series or talking with children in schools about overcoming difficulties to achieve goals. He brings along his prosthetics, decked out with super hero art, for the children to see.
“I’ve had a lot of kids open up when I’m at their schools talking to them,” said Barcomb. “I had one child tell everyone that he was blind in one eye and another girl talked about her prosthetic eye, and another who said he thought people were going to make fun of him for having to use a wheelchair because of his MS. I try to talk to them about accepting who you are.”
For more information on Christopher Barcomb and the Amazing Adventure of Superior Sam, visit his Facebook here.