The memories remain vivid. It was a nondescript evening in 1985 when Dan Horkey was traveling on his motorcycle through Tucson, Ariz. — an ordinary routine for him. That was until the sky darkened and Horkey failed to notice the car in front of him had its turn signal illuminated. Almost in an instant, Horkey slammed into the car of the vehicle and was ejected off the motorcycle several feet.
Horkey, who now lives in Port Orchard, considers himself grateful that the accident did not kill him as he was not wearing a helmet. But Horkey, 48, still has a constant reminder of the accident — a prosthetic lower left limb.
“It was just severely smashed below the ankle,” Horkey said. “Gangrene set in about two days later and that was the leading reason for the amputation.”
After the accident, Horkey returned to work in the construction industry in Tucson. He often found himself wearing clothing to disguise the injury. That changed about a decade ago when Horkey decided he not only was ready to change professions, but also wanted his prosthetic limb to become a showpiece rather than a blemish. He took a position at Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics in Tacoma, where he learned how to make prosthetic sockets and braces, before opening Global Tattoo Orthotic Prosthetic Innovations in 2008 in Port Orchard.
Horkey’s prosthetics resemble a shiny custom paint job that might be seen on a hotrod or chopper with fiery orange and yellow flames shooting up around it.
“I wanted to sport some flames to remind me of the burning sensation I felt after the amputation,” he said. “The moment I put on this socket, I felt instant pride. That inspired me to start a custom service for others. No one was bringing this service to the amputee community.”
In less than five years, Horkey has worked with a variety of clients, including veterans, to depict anything from combat to a design as simple as a solid color. His business caters to a growing number of people. According to the National Limb Loss Information Center, 1.7 million people were living with limb loss in 2007 in the United States. That is one out of every 200 people.
Horkey cites ongoing wars along with medical issues, such as obesity rates and diabetes and vascular disease, as reasons behind why that number could increase.
Horkey offers an array of pricing options to apply “tattoos” to the socket. The least expensive technique, from around $150 to $375, would entail a process where fabric with a design is applied to the prosthetic. The high-end technique would be airbrushing — similar to those seen on cars — which ranges from about $450 to $600. After networking that Horkey said began at the “grassroots” level, he met a Navy commander who had contacts in Washington, D.C.
He said he received an email shortly before Thanksgiving 2009 that stated the Veterans Administration would completely cover his services. Horkey, whose father served in Guam during World War II, was excited about the prospect of assisting veterans. That service was curtailed in November when Horkey said he was told that compensating him for his work was at the discretion of each VA hospital.
“Some have been turned down or offered a lesser product,” Horkey said. “Some didn’t take no for an answer.”
 Once the financial terms are set, Horkey said he asks the client to email clip art of their favored design to him. He then uses a local artist to “tattoo” the prosthetic before mailing it back. Horkey said the amputee usually receives the prosthetic back in 2 to 5 days, but it “can be longer if the design is more detailed.”