Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior: Recent Episodes
Angie Heuser
Advocate and RiseWhat happens when the people responsible for helping you move forward stop listening? You learn how powerful your own voice can become.
In this episode of the BAWarrior Podcast, I step back from the idea of constantly pushing forward to talk about one of the most important skills every amputee must develop: advocating for yourself.
Self-advocacy has been a major part of my journey since long before my amputation. After tearing my MCL while preparing for my second-degree black belt test, I endured five years, ten surgeries, increasing pain, and complications caused by arthrofibrosis. Each surgery brought a new doctor, a new explanation, and another retelling of my medical history. Eventually, I realized I could no longer rely on someone else to connect every piece of the puzzle for me.
I began reading my surgical reports, researching unfamiliar medical terms, writing down questions, and paying closer attention to what my body was telling me. That process helped uncover the condition behind many of my complications and eventually gave me the courage to advocate for the amputation that changed my life.
That need to speak up did not end after surgery. It became even more important.
As amputees, we depend heavily on our prosthetists, especially after our surgeons are no longer involved in our everyday care. A prosthetic leg will never feel exactly like the limb we lost, so we must balance realistic expectations with the knowledge that constant pain should not be accepted as normal. Discomfort, adjustment, and awkwardness can be part of learning a prosthesis. Debilitating pain is a sign that something may need further investigation.
One of many appointments with my prosthetist.I share how ongoing socket pain led my prosthetist and me to continue experimenting, collaborating, and searching for answers instead of giving up. Eventually, an MRI revealed a large neuroma that no socket adjustment could fix. That experience reminded me that good care requires teamwork. My prosthetist brought his knowledge, but I had to clearly communicate what I was feeling and continue trusting my instincts.
Supportive medical teams are a must in your positive care and experience as an amputee
Living as an amputee also carries a daily mental load. Some mornings my leg feels strong and ready for everything I have planned. Other days, discomfort, swelling, skin irritation, or a poor fit can completely change the day. Even more than seven years after my amputation, I still have to remain flexible and listen to my body.
My message throughout this episode is simple: do not give up on yourself. Ask questions. Bring someone with you when you need support. Find professionals who are willing to listen, collaborate, and fight beside you. You are more than an insurance claim, a medical chart, or a difficult case.
My support system
Your voice matters. Your mobility matters. Your future is worth fighting for.
Ready to Advocate for Yourself?Your journey does not have to be walked alone. If you are struggling to feel heard, searching for answers, or simply needing a community that understands the realities of amputee life, I encourage you to reach out.
Join me and other women amputees during our weekly Amped Women virtual chats, where we come together to share, listen, encourage, and support one another. And if you are ready to move beyond survival, set meaningful goals, and take your next steps with accountability, Momentum may be the community you have been looking for.
Follow the BAWarrior Podcast, subscribe on YouTube, and connect with me on social media so you do not miss future episodes, live conversations, and community gatherings.
Most importantly, keep asking questions, keep trusting what your body is telling you, and never be afraid to use your voice.
You are worth advocating for. Your mobility matters. Your dreams matter. And you do not have to give up.
Have a beautifully blessed week ahead and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Building a New Version of NormalWhat happens when the life you want to return to no longer works the way you remember it?
After amputation, we are often told that we can get back to doing the things we love, and I believe that is true. But I have learned that those activities may look, feel, and function differently than they did before. Recovery is not always about returning to the person we used to be. Sometimes, it is about reimagining what life can look like now.
Losing a limb changes more than our appearance. It changes our balance, center of gravity, movement patterns, energy levels, and the way we approach everyday activities. Even something described as being “as easy as riding a bike” can become complicated. Getting onto the bike, positioning a prosthetic foot, balancing, starting, stopping, and reacting quickly all require new strategies.
The same is true for adaptive fitness, hiking, running, skiing, traveling, and even standing for long periods. Our bodies operate under different physics after limb loss, and we often use more energy to complete the same activity.
I think of energy as currency. Every activity makes a withdrawal, so I have to be intentional about how I spend it. If I know I have plans with family or friends, I may need to skip the gym, shorten another activity, or rest beforehand so I have enough energy to be present.
I also have to protect both my residual limb and my sound limb. Socket fit, skin irritation, phantom pain, neuromas, fatigue, and compensation can change how I move from one day to the next. There are days when pushing forward is appropriate, and there are days when pulling back is the wisest choice I can make.
Wisdom is not weakness.
Resting, using a mobility aid, shortening a workout, or changing a goal does not mean I am failing. It means I am protecting my body for the next twenty, thirty, or forty years. I have learned to ask myself, “Is it worth it?” Is the activity worth the pain, skin damage, lack of sleep, or extended recovery that may follow?
Success after amputation must also be personal. I cannot measure myself against who I was before surgery, another amputee on social media, or a Paralympic athlete with years of specialized training. My success may mean hiking a shorter trail, trusting a running blade, completing half a day of skiing, or simply showing up and moving my body.
Reimagining life after amputation means experimenting, adapting, learning from setbacks, and creating new goals. Progress is rarely linear, but every step still matters.
My life did not end with amputation. A new chapter began, and I get to decide what comes next.
Your Warrior ChallengeThink about something you have been trying to return to. Are you measuring your progress against your old life, or are you giving yourself permission to approach it differently?
Choose one goal this week and reimagine it. Adjust the pace, change the method, ask for support, and create a version that works for the body you have today.
Stop chasing your old normal. Start building a life that supports who you are becoming.
Keep moving forward, dear Warrior! One step at a time!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Learning When to Push and When to RecoverHave you ever started making progress with your fitness, only to be stopped by skin irritation, socket discomfort, phantom pain, fatigue, or an injury? As an above-knee amputee who loves working out, hiking, skiing, and staying active, I understand how frustrating it can feel when your body suddenly forces you to pull back.
In this episode of the BAWarrior Podcast, I’m talking about how we can pursue adaptive fitness without burning ourselves out physically or mentally.
As amputees, our journey is rarely a straight line. It often feels like two steps forward and one step back. We may receive a new prosthesis, begin walking confidently, and think everything is finally falling into place, only to experience discomfort, skin breakdown, pain, swelling, or a change in socket fit. These setbacks do not mean we have failed. They are part of learning how to live, move, and grow in a body that continues to change.
Burnout is not always caused by a lack of motivation. Sometimes it comes from the physical demands of walking with a prosthesis, protecting our sound limb, managing phantom sensations, and constantly thinking through every movement. The mental load of being an amputee is real. Curbs, ramps, stairs, uneven ground, exercise machines, and even getting onto a bicycle can require additional thought and energy.
That is why recovery must be considered part of training.
In this conversation, I share the importance of sleep, hydration, nutrition, stretching, rest days, and regularly checking the skin on our residual limb. I also discuss the danger of comparing ourselves to people on social media. Our progress should not be measured against someone else’s body, abilities, or journey. The better questions are: Am I stronger than I was yesterday? Is my balance improving? Am I walking with more confidence? Is everyday life becoming easier?
Adaptive fitness should support our independence. It can begin with practical movements such as standing longer, carrying groceries, getting up from the floor, playing with children or pets, or walking around the house with greater intention. These small accomplishments build confidence, momentum, and a positive mental attitude.
I also talk honestly about respecting our prosthesis. Some days the fit will feel great, and other days it will not. Heat, sweat, swelling, weight fluctuations, and activity levels can all affect how our socket feels. Listening to those warning signs is not weakness. Pulling back when necessary may prevent an injury or wound that could keep us out of our prosthesis for weeks.
My challenge to you this week is simple: choose one positive, adaptive goal. Take a few more steps, practice your balance, stand a little longer, or give yourself the recovery day your body needs.
The goal is not to prove how hard you can push today. The goal is to build the strength, wisdom, and confidence to keep moving forward for years to come.
Move forward, Warriors, even if that means that today you rest! Tomorrow is a new day, rest and rise up with even more conviction!
Have a beautiful week, and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
One Step at a Time: The Power of Small Steps Toward Big GoalsHave you ever looked at a goal and felt overwhelmed before you even started? Whether you’re learning to walk with a prosthetic, chasing a lifelong dream, beginning a new career, or simply trying to make it through a difficult season, sometimes the destination feels impossible. In this episode, I share a personal story that reminded me why the biggest accomplishments in life are built one step at a time.
1000 Step Challenge
While attending a family wedding in Washington, I decided to tackle Suncadia’s famous 1,000 Step Challenge-500 steps down to a breathtaking river and 500 steps back up. As an above-knee amputee, I knew this wouldn’t be easy. Every step required focus, balance, patience, and determination. Going down meant carefully riding each step on my prosthetic. Coming back up demanded grit, controlled breathing, and the willingness to stop when I needed to, not because I was failing, but because I was resetting for the next stretch.
That challenge became a powerful reminder that life works the same way. We often become so focused on the size of our goals that we forget success is built in the small, consistent decisions we make every single day. Instead of becoming intimidated by the entire staircase, I focused on the next step in front of me. Sometimes I paused to catch my breath, look around, and appreciate how far I’d already come. Those pauses weren’t setbacks, they were opportunities to realign, refocus, and keep moving forward.
In this episode, I encourage you to stop comparing your journey to someone else’s highlight reel. Every accomplishment you admire was earned through countless unseen moments of perseverance, setbacks, adjustments, and resilience. The people accomplishing incredible things didn’t avoid obstacles, they simply chose to keep taking the next step.
The view is always better on the other side of a challenge
I also share how returning to complete the challenge a second time pushed me even further. Instead of simply finishing, I challenged myself to climb all 500 steps without stopping. Competing only against the person I was yesterday reminded me that growth isn’t about being better than someone else-it’s about becoming stronger than you were before.
No matter what mountain you’re facing today, remember this: break the goal into smaller pieces, keep your eyes on the next step, and trust the process. Progress isn’t measured by perfection; it’s measured by persistence. One step becomes another, and before you know it, you’ll look back from the top and realize you’ve accomplished something you once believed was impossible.
If you’re ready to stop standing at the bottom of your own mountain and start moving forward, I’d love for you to join me. Together, we’ll keep taking the next step—one step at a time.
Figure out what your goals are, and begin b simply breaking them down into smaller chunks.
Remember greatness isn’t accomplished overnight, and it isn’t accomplished without setbacks. Keep the big picture in mind, but remember to break it down into smaller steps/goals that are doable each day.
Also, If you are a female amputee and would like to join myself and other likeminded women on achieving your goals, come join my first ever Momentum group. Space is limited so jump on today and sign up for Momentum
Don’t forget how amazing you are!
Have a blessed week and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Feeling Alone After Amputation? Why Community Is Part of HealingHave you ever felt completely alone—even while surrounded by people who love you?
For many amputees, loneliness isn’t about the absence of family or friends. It’s about carrying a journey that very few people truly understand. In this heartfelt episode of the BAWarrior Podcast, I share an honest conversation about isolation, fear, healing, and the courage it takes to build meaningful community.
Drawing from my own experiences and countless conversations with amputees, I explore why loneliness often becomes one of the greatest hidden challenges after limb loss. The mental load of navigating everyday life, the quiet nights when phantom pain and anxious thoughts seem the loudest, and how fear can slowly convince us that staying home feels safer than stepping back into the world are all a part of our journey.
But healing was never meant to happen in isolation.
Throughout the episode, I talk about how community becomes one of the most powerful tools in recovery. Whether it’s sharing your story, joining an amputee support group, striking up a conversation at the gym, or simply reaching out to one other person who understands your journey, every connection becomes another step toward healing. Remember that telling your story doesn’t make you weak, it helps release the weight you’ve been carrying while encouraging someone else who may feel just as alone.
This episode also explores the importance of boldness. Community doesn’t magically appear; someone has to take the first step. Whether that’s sending a text, attending a virtual support group, introducing yourself to another amputee, or simply saying hello to a neighbor, courage opens the door to belonging.
As I prepare to launch my new Faith Through the Fire series, I have been reflecting on how faith, resilience, and community often come together when we choose to move beyond fear. I want to encourage you to embrace this new chapter after amputation—not as the end of life, but as the beginning of a richer, more connected one.
If you’ve been struggling with loneliness after amputation, phantom pain, fear of falling, or simply wondering if anyone truly understands what you’re going through, this episode serves as a reminder that you are not alone. There is hope, there is healing, and there is a community waiting to welcome you.
This week, take one brave step.
Reach out to one person. Send one text. Join one support group. Attend one Zoom meeting. Introduce yourself to another amputee. Healing begins when isolation ends, and community starts with one courageous decision.
If you’re looking for connection, visit WarriorGround.org to learn more about the BAWarrior Podcast, Amped Women virtual gatherings, Warrior Circle, and other opportunities to connect with people who truly understand the amputee journey.
Connect with another amputee
Get outside, bring a friend
Surround yourself with those who want to see you succeed as much as they want to, and love you for who you are!
Remember: You don’t have to walk this journey alone.
Have a beautifully blessed week,
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Understanding the Types, Triggers, and Coping StrategiesWhat if the most intense pain you’ve ever felt came from a part of your body that no longer exists?
As an above-knee amputee, phantom pain is one of the most difficult parts of my journey to explain. It’s invisible. It’s unpredictable. And unless you’ve experienced it yourself, it’s almost impossible to fully understand. Yet for many amputees, it becomes a reality we learn to navigate every day.
On this episode of the BAWarrior Podcast, I pull back the curtain on phantom pain and share my personal experience living with it over the last several years. From the constant burning and tingling sensations that feel like a foot trapped in a vice grip, to the sudden stabbing pains that can stop me in my tracks, phantom pain has taught me more about resilience than I ever expected.
I talk openly about what these sensations feel like, how they can affect daily life, and the emotional toll they can take when they strike unexpectedly. I also share my experience undergoing a revision surgery and AMI procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital, where surgeons discovered a foreign object near my femur that had been contributing to years of severe pain.
While there is no universal solution for phantom pain, I’ve learned that understanding potential triggers can make a difference. Poor socket fit, overuse, nerve irritation, stress, and even life circumstances can all influence how our bodies respond. Through years of trial and error, I’ve discovered that managing phantom pain often requires a combination of strategies rather than a single fix.
Most importantly, I share the mindset tools that have helped me endure some of my hardest moments. Deep breathing, movement, distraction techniques, mindfulness, and refusing to give pain control over my identity have become powerful parts of my personal toolbox. While pain may be part of my story, it does not get to write the ending.
If you’re an amputee struggling with phantom pain, I want you to know something I wish someone had told me during my darkest moments: it will not last forever. The pain comes and goes. The valleys are real, but so are the mountaintops. You are stronger than you realize, and you do not have to walk this journey alone.
I believe healing is about more than physical recovery. It’s about learning how to keep moving forward, even when the road feels impossible.
Join the MovementIf this story resonates with you, I invite you to become part of our growing Warrior community. Subscribe to the BAWarrior Podcast, connect with us through Warrior Ground, join our conversations, and discover the strength that comes from walking alongside others who truly understand the journey.
Together, we heal. Together, we grow. Together, we rise.
Because being a warrior isn’t about never feeling pain—it’s about refusing to let pain define who you are.
You are strong, dear Warrior, and you are worthy.
Have a blessed week, and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Reclaiming IndependenceWhat if the thing holding you back isn’t the possibility of falling, but the fear of what happens if you do?
As amputees, we talk a lot about mobility, prosthetics, and recovery. But there is one challenge that often doesn’t get enough attention: the fear of falling.
In this week’s episode of BAWarrior Podcast, I share my own experiences as an above-knee amputee and explore how fear can quietly limit our lives if we allow it to take control.
The truth is, for many of us, the fear of falling isn’t really about the fall itself. It’s about everything we think might happen afterward. We worry about losing confidence, losing independence, or proving our fears right. We wonder what other people will think if we stumble. We question whether we’re strong enough to keep going.
I’ve been an amputee for more than seven years, and I have fallen while learning new skills, while using my running blade, and while pushing myself beyond my comfort zone. Even today, there are moments when fear tries to creep in and convince me to play it safe.
But I’ve learned something important: the more we avoid challenges because we’re afraid of falling, the smaller our world becomes.
Fear doesn’t just stop us from taking a step. It can stop us from living.
Throughout this episode, I share how I learned to trust my prosthesis, build confidence through repetition, and move beyond the fear that so many new amputees experience. I discuss the importance of physical therapy, consistent practice, and creating safe opportunities to challenge yourself little by little. Confidence isn’t built overnight. It comes from showing up every day, taking one more step, and proving to yourself that you can do hard things.
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that the best parts of life often exist on the other side of fear. Whether it was learning to run, trying adaptive sports, surfing for the first time, or simply trusting my body again after amputation, every meaningful milestone required me to face uncertainty and keep moving forward anyway.
If you’re struggling with fear—whether it’s fear of falling, fear of failure, fear of judgment, or fear of the unknown—I want you to know you’re not alone. Every amputee faces these challenges in some form. The key is not waiting until fear disappears. The key is taking action despite it.
This week’s Warrior Challenge is simple:
What fear is holding you back right now?
Identify it. Acknowledge it. Then take one small step toward facing it this week.
Remember, courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s moving forward in spite of it.
You are stronger than you realize. Don’t stop before you give yourself the chance to prove it.
Keep moving forward, warriors.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Join the Movement for Above Knee AmputeesWhat if joining the movement means becoming part of the future of amputee care?
In this episode of the BAWarrior Podcast, I had the honor of sitting down with Jake and Hiva, two PhD students from the University of Michigan, who are working on research that could help shape the future of prosthetic technology for above-knee amputees.
This conversation was personal for me because I know what it feels like to step into the unknown for the sake of healing, hope, and future possibilities. Last year, I chose to take part in an experimental surgical procedure, and I know the questions, fears, and emotions that come with making that kind of decision. It is not easy to say yes to something new, especially when it involves your body, your mobility, and your future.
Jake and Hiva are currently working with RPNI, which stands for Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface. In simple terms, this procedure helps give nerves a new place to grow by wrapping them in small muscle grafts. These “muscle burritos,” as Jake described them, may help researchers better understand movement intention and even explore how a person could one day control a powered prosthetic knee or ankle more naturally.
What excites me most is that this research is not only about technology. It is about trust. It is about sensation. It is about helping amputees feel more connected to the ground beneath them and the prosthesis they rely on every day. As amputees, we know the physical work it takes to walk again, but many people do not see the mental load that comes with every single step. Research like this could help reduce that disconnect and move us closer to more natural, confident movement.
This study is currently looking for above-knee amputees who are comfortable using their prosthesis, able to navigate daily life without a wheelchair, and willing to be part of something bigger. Travel, lodging, and food are covered for participants who qualify. The study does involve surgery, so it is not a decision to take lightly, but it may be an opportunity for someone who is already dealing with nerve pain, neuromas, or who feels called to help move the prosthetic field forward.
Research does not move forward without us. Every advancement we see in prosthetics today happened because someone before us said yes.
So here is my call to action: Join the Movement. Do not just listen to the conversation; become part of the change. Visit WarriorGround to learn how you can get involved, support amputee research, become an ambassador for Limbs for Humanity, connect with Stride Robotics, or explore opportunities like this University of Michigan study.
You can also email Jake at: jkanetis@umich.edu
or email Hiva at: razavih@umich.edu
Let’s rise up, warriors. Our stories, our bodies, and our willingness to step forward can help build a better future for amputees to come.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Click the link below to see the flyer for the University of Michigan study:
LL RPNI Flyer (1) 2
What I Wish Every New Amputee KnewSeven years ago, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life: to amputate my leg. Looking back now, I can honestly say that journey has taught me more about life, resilience, and myself than I ever could have imagined.
In this episode, I share seven of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through seven years of living as an above-knee amputee. These lessons aren’t just about limb loss, they’re about navigating life’s unexpected challenges, embracing change, and discovering strength you didn’t know you had.
One of the first things I learned is that life is incredibly uncertain. None of us know what tomorrow holds. I certainly never imagined that a martial arts injury would eventually lead to amputation. Yet even in the uncertainty, I’ve learned that life is still beautiful and worth embracing. Every day we wake up with breath in our lungs is an opportunity to live fully, regardless of our circumstances.
I also talk about change and why fighting it often creates more suffering than the change itself. As amputees, change becomes a constant companion. New sockets, new challenges, new routines, and new versions of ourselves. While change can be uncomfortable, it can also open doors to experiences, relationships, and opportunities we never would have discovered otherwise.
Another lesson that stands out is realizing just how strong we really are. Not physically, although that comes too, but mentally and emotionally. Strength isn’t built on easy days. It’s forged through setbacks, disappointments, pain, and the choice to keep moving forward anyway. Like a diamond formed under pressure, adversity has a way of shaping us into something stronger than we thought possible.
I also share why learning to appreciate the good days matters so much. Living with limb loss means navigating physical challenges, phantom pain, socket issues, and countless ups and downs. The difficult days teach us to cherish the ordinary ones. They remind us not to take comfort, mobility, or peace for granted.
Perhaps one of the most important lessons is this: don’t do it alone. Finding community has been one of the greatest gifts of my journey. Whether through my Amped Women chats, fellow amputees, or supportive friends and family, connection matters. We were never meant to carry life’s challenges by ourselves.
Finally, I talk about friendships, mindset, and embracing the roller coaster that is amputee life. The road isn’t always easy, but it can still be meaningful, beautiful, and full of purpose.
My hope is that whether you’re a new amputee, a caregiver, or simply facing a challenge of your own, you’ll walk away encouraged. Life may not look the way we planned, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be extraordinary.
Mindset matters. Give yourself grace. Find your people. And remember—you are stronger than you think.
What’s one lesson your journey has taught you?
Whether you’re an amputee, caregiver, or someone navigating a challenge of your own, I’d love to hear from you. Share your biggest lesson in the comments, reply to this post, or connect with me through Warrior Ground.
And if you’re walking the limb loss journey, don’t do it alone. Join our community and discover the power of connecting with people who truly understand.
Join the Warrior Ground community and stay connected → HERE
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Rewriting Your Mindset After LossWhat happens when something you spent years building disappears in a single moment?
In this deeply personal episode of BAWarrior Podcast, I open up about the emotional aftermath of being massively hacked on social media and losing access to over twenty years of connection, community, memories, and support systems I had built through Facebook. What started as frustration and heartbreak became something much bigger: a reflection on faith, identity, resilience, and what it truly means to keep moving forward when life knocks you down.
As amputees and warriors, we know what it feels like to sit in the middle of the “why.” Why the injury? Why the pain? Why the setbacks? Why does it feel like we keep fighting battles no one else can see? This episode parallels those same emotions with the unexpected grief of loss and change, reminding us that struggle comes in many forms.
I share honestly about the anger, sadness, anxiety, and feeling of being stuck over the last few weeks, and how I slowly realized that if I truly believe everything happens for a reason, then I must believe this difficult moment can also lead to something greater.
At the center of this episode is a phrase I carry with me every day: Even If.
My “No Matter What” reminder
Those two words are literally written on my prosthetic socket as a reminder that even if things don’t go as planned… even if life feels unfair… even if we are hurting… we are still capable of rising above it.
This conversation is about choosing faith over fear.
Choosing peace over panic.
Choosing to rebuild instead of giving up.
I talk about how Warrior Ground was born from this exact mindset, creating a space where people can come together through podcasting, advocacy, community chats, equine therapy, connection, education, and support. A place where nobody has to walk their journey alone.
You are never alone on this journey! Reach out, find your tribe, connect with community!
If you are struggling right now: physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually then this episode is for you.
You are not abandoned.
You are not forgotten.
And your story is not over.
Sometimes the hardest moments are refining us into something stronger than we ever imagined.
Even if life knocks you down…
Even if you can’t see the purpose yet…
Even if the road feels heavy…
You will rise again.
Because warriors do.
Listen in for a heartfelt reminder that hope still exists, healing is still possible, and there is strength waiting for you on the other side of the struggle.
Have a beautiful week and as always…
Be healthy,
Be happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Join the Warrior Effect-Get Involved TodayWhat if one story had the power to help someone walk again?
After seven powerful weeks of interviews during Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, this episode of BAWarrior podcast becomes more than a reflection-it becomes a movement.
In this heartfelt finale to the “Survivors to Warriors” series, I take listeners back through the incredible stories shared throughout the past seven weeks. These were not just interviews about limb loss. They were deeply personal conversations about fear, trauma, cancer, grief, PTSD, faith, family, resilience, and the decision to keep moving forward when life changes forever.
From children facing amputation at a young age to young adults rebuilding their confidence and independence, every guest brought honesty and courage to the table. While each story was unique, one thing tied them all together: resilience. Warriors are not born-they are built through impossible moments, painful setbacks, and the daily choice to rise again.
As an above-knee amputee myself, I share openly about how some days I feel strong and empowered, while other days limb loss completely knocks me down. That reality is something many amputees understand deeply. But what inspired me most about these guests was watching people so young choose courage, faith, and perseverance despite everything they had faced.
This episode introduces what I call The Warrior Effect-the ripple effect created when one person’s story, kindness, or support helps change someone else’s life. When someone shares their story, another person feels less alone. When someone donates to organizations like Limbs For Humanity, another person gains the opportunity to walk again. When companies like Stride Robotics innovate and create more affordable, lightweight prosthetic technology, they help restore independence, dignity, and hope to amputees around the world.
Co-Founder, Randy West, of Limbs For Humanity with one of their youngest patients
Co-Founder and CEO, Revanth Damerla, Stride Robotics
Throughout this episode, I discuss why mobility is about far more than simply walking. Mobility impacts emotional health, confidence, mental well-being, freedom, and quality of life. I share the mission behind Limbs For Humanity and their efforts to provide prosthetic care and mobility to underserved communities globally. I also highlight the groundbreaking work Stride Robotics is doing to create lightweight, waterproof powered prosthetics designed with real amputees and real-world accessibility in mind.
But this episode is not meant to simply inspire listeners for a moment before moving on. It is a call to action.
The time to act is now!
I challenge listeners to become part of the movement by supporting the limb loss community in whatever way they can. Whether that means volunteering, fundraising, donating, becoming an ambassador, spreading awareness, investing in adaptive innovation, or simply listening and learning-everyone has a role to play.
I also introduce the new ambassador program for Limbs For Humanity, encouraging listeners across all fifty states to help spread awareness and become part of something bigger than themselves. This movement is not about competition between nonprofits or organizations. It is about collaboration, compassion, and filling the gaps for communities that are underserved and often forgotten.
*Become an Ambassador for Limbs For Humanity here
*Find ways to help bring nobility to those without access here
*Or check out how to become a part of the innovative side with Stride Robotics here
This powerful finale reminds listeners that healing and resilience grow stronger when people come together. The “Survivors to Warriors” series may be ending, but the mission is only beginning.
The Warrior Effect is real-and now it’s your turn to become part of it.
Have a beautifully, blessed week and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Stride Robotics Lightweight Power Knee Redefining MovementThis episode wrapped up Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month in a powerful way by looking toward the future of mobility, technology, and what it truly means to help people live again after limb loss.
After a month full of stories about trauma, cancer, amputation, grief, fear, faith, and resilience, I wanted to end this series by asking a bigger question: once someone survives, how do we help them truly reclaim their life?
That is why I invited Revanth, cofounder and CEO of Stride Robotics, onto the BAWarrior podcast. Stride Robotics is working to redefine mobility through lightweight powered prosthetic technology designed to restore strength, endurance, and freedom for amputees. I also have the honor of serving as an advisor for their company, helping give feedback from the lived experience of an above-knee amputee.
In this conversation, Revanth shared his journey from robotics and engineering into the prosthetic world. What stood out to me most was his honesty. He admitted that, early on, he was focused on building something impressive. But through conversations with amputees and prosthetists, he realized that innovation only matters if it solves a real human problem. That shift — from building something cool to building something truly useful — is where the heart of this conversation lived.
We talked about the communication gap between engineers, prosthetists, and amputees. All three groups are speaking from different perspectives, and yet all three must work together if prosthetic technology is going to improve real lives. As an amputee, I know firsthand that we do not always describe things in technical terms. We describe how something feels. We talk about trust, effort, fear, exhaustion, balance, and whether a device allows us to live the way we want to live.
One of the most powerful parts of this episode was our conversation around “mental load.” True mobility is not just about walking. It is about not having to think through every single step. It is being able to hike and look at the view instead of staring at the ground. It is walking into a room without calculating every movement. It is trusting your body and your prosthesis enough to live fully.
Revanth explained how Stride Robotics is working on a powered knee that is lighter, quieter, more affordable, and more functional than many powered options currently available. Their goal is to reduce strain on the hips, back, shoulders, and intact limb while helping amputees move with more confidence and less compensating. We talked about battery life, USB-C charging, fall prevention, waterproof possibilities, loaner programs, clinician support, and even future data feedback that could help prosthetists better understand how their patients are moving in real life.
But what I loved most was that this was never just a conversation about a device. It was about dignity. It was about access. It was about making sure technology does not only serve the few who can afford it, but eventually reaches amputees around the world who are desperate for mobility, independence, and hope.
This episode is also a call to action. Whether you are an amputee, prosthetist, engineer, student, investor, donor, or simply someone who cares, there is a place for you in this movement. Stride Robotics needs feedback, connection, research, support, and people willing to help move innovation forward.
Limb loss awareness cannot end with awareness. It has to move us into action. My hope is that this episode inspires you to get involved, ask better questions, support meaningful change, and become a beacon of hope for those still fighting to reclaim their mobility and their life.
Join the Movement. Bring dignity, independence, and mobility to all.
Today, that’s YOUR Call to Action, your charge from this month of story telling.
Be a part of the change, today! You can reach out to us:
Angie: BAWarrior360@gmail.com
Revanth: LinkedIn
Stride Robotics: LinkedIn
Stride Robotics: Website
Thank you for watching, sharing, and subscribing.
Let’s change lives, TOGETHER!
See you next week, and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Limbs For Humanity: Restoring Hope One Leg at a TimeIn this powerful and perspective-shifting episode of Be a Warrior Podcast, I sit down with two men who have not only walked alongside me in my own journey as prosthetists, but who have also chosen to step far beyond the walls of their profession to answer a much bigger calling. Randy and David, co-founders of Limbs for Humanity, join me to share the heart, mission, and real-world impact of bringing prosthetic care to those who would otherwise never have access to it.
After spending the past month highlighting the deeply personal stories of survivors rising into warriors through limb loss, this conversation takes us one step further. Because what happens when someone has the strength, the will, and the fight… but no access to care? What happens when survival isn’t enough because the resources simply aren’t there?
That’s where Limbs for Humanity steps in.
Randy and David open up about how their work as everyday practitioners exposed a growing and heartbreaking gap—even here in the United States. Patients with jobs, families, and insurance still found themselves unable to afford prosthetics due to overwhelming deductibles and lack of coverage. What began as quiet, pro bono care quickly revealed a much larger need—one that couldn’t be ignored.
That need didn’t stop at our borders.
A single message about an underserved clinic in Rocky Point, Mexico sparked what would become a life-changing mission. Within months, they packed up their car and headed south, unsure of what to expect. What they found was staggering: hundreds of amputees with little to no access to prosthetic care. But what impacted them most wasn’t just the need—it was the people. Their resilience. Their gratitude. Their spirit.
We talk about the stark differences between limb loss in the U.S. and in underserved countries—where something as treatable as an infection can lead to amputation. Where young parents in their twenties and thirties lose limbs and, with them, their ability to provide for their families. And yet, even in the face of that, their strength is undeniable.
Through heartfelt stories—like young children receiving their first prosthetic and running, playing, and simply being kids again—you begin to understand that this work goes far beyond mobility. It restores dignity. Independence. Purpose.
But it’s not without its challenges.
The greatest barrier? Resources. Not time. Not skill. But the tangible components—knees, feet, liners—that make each prosthetic possible. Even with reduced costs and donated materials, the need far outweighs what they can currently provide. And that’s where this episode becomes more than a conversation—it becomes a call to action.
There are so many ways to get involved. From donating funds or unused prosthetic parts, to volunteering time, offering professional skills like grant writing, or simply spreading awareness. One of the most exciting calls to action introduced in this episode is the push for ambassadors in all 50 states—individuals willing to be the voice of this mission in their own communities.
Because here’s the truth: you don’t have to change the whole world to make an impact. You just have to be willing to help change one life.
This episode is a reminder that being a warrior isn’t just about overcoming your own battles—it’s about reaching back and lifting someone else up. And together, we have the power to do just that.
Join the journey!
Check out their website HERE and ways you can get involved!
Want to find out how to become an ambassador? Check it out on my Warrior Ground website, HERE!
Become a part of something bigger, and join the movement!
Have a blessed week, and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Faith Fueled Resilience: Abri Bentley’s StoryThere are moments in life when everything slows down just enough for you to hear what truly matters. This episode was one of those moments for me. As I sat across from Abri, I wasn’t just interviewing a guest-I was witnessing a living, breathing testimony of what it looks like to hold onto hope when everything else tries to take it away.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” That verse from Romans 12:12 felt like it wrapped itself around this entire conversation. Because if there is anyone who embodies that kind of faith in motion, it’s Abri.
Abri’s first dance recital after amputation.
I first met Abri years ago, just after my own amputation. I was standing in a church parking lot on crutches, when I heard someone call my name. I turned to see a young girl—no older than nine—being carried over to me, full of light, full of joy, completely unshaken by the challenges she had already faced. In that moment, she didn’t just meet me… she steadied me. She spoke life into me without even realizing it. And I remember thinking, “If she can do this… I’m going to be okay.”
Fast forward to today, and that same young girl-now seventeen-is still walking through more than most people will ever understand. But what struck me the most during our conversation wasn’t just her strength. It was her honesty.
A young Abri battling cancer.
Abri didn’t sugarcoat the hard. She didn’t pretend that faith erases fear or pain. She spoke openly about the anger, the confusion, the loneliness. About the moments where her faith was shaken to its core. About isolating herself because fear felt safer than being seen. And yet… she didn’t stay there.
That’s the difference.
She made a choice-again and again-to lean back into God. Not perfectly. Not without questions. But with a willingness to trust, even when nothing made sense.
Laughter and sense of humor is so helpful amidst trials. Never lose your smile!
And what I see in her now is something even more powerful than the fearless little girl I first met. I see depth. I see resilience forged through pressure. I see a young woman who understands that faith isn’t about having all the answers-it’s about knowing where to turn when you don’t.
As we talked about what’s ahead for her-another amputation this summer, stepping into adulthood, reclaiming her voice in her own medical journey-I couldn’t help but feel in awe. Because she’s choosing courage in real time. She’s choosing hope in the middle of uncertainty. She’s choosing to believe that something good can still come from something incredibly hard.
And when I asked her what gets her through it all, her answer was simple, but profound: Jesus.
Not as a distant idea. Not as a checklist. But as a constant presence. A friend. A place to bring her anger, her fear, her questions—everything.
That kind of relationship… that kind of faith… it changes you.
It doesn’t mean the road gets easier. But it means you’re never walking it alone.
What Abri reminded me-and what I hope you take with you—is this: it’s okay to feel the hard things. It’s okay to be angry, to question, to struggle. But don’t stay there. Don’t build a home in that space.
Our reunion after several years of non-stop trials in Abri’s life.
Life is too short to live without hope.
And hope doesn’t come from the world—it comes from something deeper. Something steady. Something unshakable.
So if you’re in a season right now where everything feels heavy… where fear is loud… where you’re not sure how to take the next step… start small.
Find community. Find people who remind you of who you are when you forget. Open the door-even just a crack-to something bigger than yourself.
And maybe, just maybe… like Abri… you’ll begin to see that even in the pressure, even in the pain, something beautiful is being formed.
A warrior.
Be joyful in hope. Be patient in affliction. Be faithful in prayer. -Romans 12:12
Your story isn’t over.
And neither is the strength inside of you.
As always…
Be healthy,
Be happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
A Daughter and Mother’s Story of ResilienceThis week on BAWarrior Podcast, I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Bridget and her mom, Jamie, during Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, and I can honestly say this conversation will stay with me for a long time. Bridget is only fourteen, but the strength, maturity, and perspective she carries are far beyond her years. From the moment we started talking, I could feel that this episode was going to be something special.
I first wanted people to meet Bridget for who she is today, not just through the lens of her diagnosis or her limb loss. She described herself as funny, athletic, and someone who tries to be outgoing, and I loved that. What stood out most to me was how clearly she wants the world to see that amputees are not limited. She wants people to understand that having limb loss does not mean your life becomes small. In her mind, amputees can still go after anything they want, and I think that message alone is powerful.
Bridget found her passion and purpose with volleyball. She made her high school volleyball team!
As we moved into her story, her mom Jamie helped fill in some of the earliest pieces. Bridget was only six years old when a soccer injury led to swelling in her leg, which quickly turned into tests, X-rays, an MRI, a biopsy, and the devastating news that no parent ever wants to hear: cancer. Jamie shared how ironic and heartbreaking it was that their family had already been deeply involved in raising money for St. Jude before ever realizing their own daughter would become a patient there. Within days, their whole world changed, and they moved to Memphis where Bridget underwent chemotherapy, a below-knee amputation, and months of treatment.
Listening to Jamie speak as a mother hit me deeply. She talked about the helplessness of watching your child suffer and not being able to take that pain away. As a mom, I felt every word of that. She described the trauma of treatment, the fear, the exhaustion, and the emotional weight of having to stay strong in the middle of the battle. And yet through all of it, Bridget kept moving forward.
Bridget’s strength was apparent almost immediately! She’s a fighter!
What amazed me most was that cancer and amputation were not the end of Bridget’s hardships. After treatment, she endured broken femurs, osteoporosis, growth plate complications, more surgeries, and more recovery. But even with all of that, she never seemed to settle into a mindset of defeat. Instead, she kept looking for the light. She kept believing there would be something better ahead.
For Bridget, that turning point came through sports. When she was able to get back into athletics, especially volleyball, it gave her life, purpose, and joy again. You could hear it in her voice. Sports helped her step out of survival mode and back into being a kid, an athlete, and a competitor. That part of her identity mattered, and it became a huge part of her healing.
One of my favorite moments in this episode was hearing about her determination on and off the court. She made her high school volleyball team, and even after her prosthetic blade cracked, she still found a way to keep going. Duct tape and all, she showed up. That story alone says so much about who she is. She is tough, gritty, and absolutely unwilling to let obstacles define her.
We also talked about her dream of making the U.S. Paralympic volleyball team, and I have no doubt she is on a beautiful path toward something incredible. She spoke about how meaningful it is to be in a space where her disability feels normalized, where she is not looked at as different, but as fully belonging. That really stayed with me.
USA Paralympic dreaming
What Bridget shared at the end was simple, but powerful: it gets better. Maybe not overnight, maybe not quickly, but there is always something better ahead. That kind of wisdom from someone so young is exactly why this month’s Survivors to Warriors series matters so much.
This episode reminded me that warriors do not always look loud or dramatic. Sometimes they look like a fourteen-year-old girl with quiet strength, relentless hope, and the courage to keep going. Bridget is absolutely one of them.
Make sure to join us on YouTube, HERE , or your favorite streaming platform for Bridget’s story and for several more Limb Loss Awareness month interviews of Survivors to Warriors. Like, Share, Subscribe today!!!
Have a beautifully, blessed week and remember what a warrior you are!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Finding Joy in Chronic PainWhat happens when the warrior you planned to interview is not quite ready to speak, but her story still needs to be heard? Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is pivot, honor the moment, and make space for healing.
This week’s episode was deeply special to me because it was a beautiful reminder that not every story unfolds the way we expect it to. I had planned to sit down with Abri, a young woman who has inspired me for years, but life asked us to pivot. Instead, I had the privilege of talking with her mom, Nikkole, and together we shared the story of a young woman whose life has been marked by unimaginable hardship, extraordinary courage, and unwavering faith.
A young Abri, when they discovered Ewing’s Sarcoma.
Even during the early struggles, humor was her super power.
I first met Abri years ago, shortly after my own amputation. I was still on crutches, still trying to process what my future might look like, when this little girl came over to meet me in a church parking lot. She was only around nine years old at the time, and yet she was the one encouraging me. She told me I was going to be okay. I have never forgotten that moment. Even then, I knew there was something incredibly special about her.
Shortly after my amputation, Abri made her post-amputation debut with her dance troupe, I went to be inspired… and I was!
In this conversation, Nikkole opened up about who Abri was before cancer ever entered their lives. She was fearless, fiery, adventurous, and full of life. She was the kind of child who made her mom nervous because she was always climbing, running, exploring, and living boldly. Then came the devastating diagnosis of Ewing’s sarcoma at just seven years old. What followed was every parent’s nightmare: hospital stays, chemotherapy, surgeries, uncertainty, and heartbreak.
What struck me most in talking with Nikkole was not only Abri’s strength, but the strength it took for her family to keep going. As moms, we so often go into survival mode for everyone else. Nikkole shared what it was like trying to hold her family together while watching her daughter suffer. She talked honestly about the crying in private, the fear, the exhaustion, and the isolation that can come when you are trying to be strong for everybody in the room.
A teenager at heart, doing teenager things, despite being more experienced in things no teenager should have to be experienced in.
Abri’s story did not stop with surviving cancer. She endured a failed limb salvage, chose amputation in order to get back to living, and returned to dance with the kind of determination that leaves you speechless. But even after all of that, the battles kept coming. Chronic pain, sepsis, ongoing medical trauma, and the emotional toll of living in a body that has endured so much have all continued to shape her journey.
And yet, through it all, Abri continues to shine. Her faith is powerful. Her spirit is undeniable. She is still in survival mode in many ways, and that deserves our respect. Some stories are not easy to tell while you are still living them. Some wounds are still tender. This episode is a reminder that healing is not linear, strength does not always look loud, and having a voice sometimes means knowing when you are not ready to use it yet.
Sharing her talents with guitar playing and song writing, using worship music to tell her story and to connect with God.
What I hope listeners take from this episode is simple: do not give up. Your story is not over. You are more than what has happened to you. Abri is not just a cancer survivor. She is a warrior, a young woman of deep faith, and a light that is touching lives whether she realizes it or not.
When she is ready, I know she will tell her story in her own words. Until then, this episode is about honoring her journey, her family, and the sacred space healing requires.
Make sure to Like, Share and Subscribe so you have access to all of my episodes and especially so you don’y miss out when Abri is ready to tell her story.
Keep moving forward, Warriors. Your story is not over, it is just beginning!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Kainoa Spenser’s Road to RecoveryWeek 2: Survivors to WarriorsApril is Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, and this episode of BAWarrior Podcast is one that will stay with me for a long time. In this powerful and deeply emotional conversation, I sat down with Kainoa Spenser, someone whose story reflects the very heart of what it means to move from surviving to truly living as a warrior.
Kainoa and I first connected while I was facing my own amputation journey, so having him on the podcast felt especially meaningful. What makes his story so extraordinary is not just the severity of what he endured, but the way he speaks about it with honesty, humility, faith, and wisdom beyond his years. Kainoa is a quadruple amputee, having lost both legs and most of his fingers after a devastating and sudden illness in 2017 while he was away at college.
Meeting Kainoa for the first time at PT!
Before everything changed, Kainoa was a young man full of curiosity, ambition, and heart. He was studying international affairs, deeply involved in school, active in sports, passionate about history and philosophy, and rooted in the values of family and community. Those Hawaiian values of ohana—that no one gets left behind or forgotten-were already woven into who he was long before tragedy struck. And in many ways, those same values became part of what carried him through the darkest season of his life.
During our conversation, Kainoa shared the terrifying progression of his illness, from feeling sick during finals week to being misdiagnosed, flown home in critical condition, and rushed into emergency care where his health rapidly deteriorated. A strep infection had entered his bloodstream and lungs, leading to septic shock and necrotizing fasciitis. He spent weeks in a medically induced coma, and when he woke up, his life had changed forever. Some of the amputation decisions were made while he was unconscious, leaving his parents to make impossible choices. Other decisions, including the loss of his fingers, required his own consent in the middle of unimaginable pain and confusion.
What impacted me most was not only the heartbreak of his story, but the courage with which he spoke about the mental and emotional battle that followed. Kainoa was honest about the grief, the fear, the thoughts of being a burden, and the moments where he wondered if the weight of it all might break him. He spoke about missing the things many people take for granted-interlocking fingers with someone you love, standing in the shower, feeling sand beneath your feet. Those losses are real, and he did not try to minimize them.
But what also came through so clearly was this: healing does not happen in isolation. Kainoa’s story is a powerful reminder that community matters. Family matters. Faith matters. The right people around you can become the bridge that carries you from despair to hope. Through meeting other amputees, witnessing independence modeled before him, leaning into his faith, and receiving overwhelming support from loved ones and community, he slowly began to shift. He began to see that this was not the end of his story.
Today, Kainoa is thriving. He finished his education, worked in high-level public service roles, became a homeowner, regained independence, and is now continuing his education at Thunderbird School of Global Management. He is living proof that resilience is built in layers, in waves, and through the willingness to keep turning the page.
This episode is a reminder that even in our deepest pain, there is purpose. Even in the valley, there is light ahead. Kainoa’s journey is not just about limb loss. It is about faith, perspective, gratitude, community, and discovering that life can still be beautiful, meaningful, and impactful after everything changes.
Make sure to Like, Share and Subscribe so you catch more inspiring stories, like Kainoa’s in the coming weeks.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Life Behind the Numbers of Amputees and Limb DifferenceApril is Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, and this year on the podcast, I’m doing something that means so much to me. Instead of focusing only on my own story, I’m opening the door for other amputees to share theirs. That has become a tradition for me over the last five seasons, and this year I’m building the entire month around one powerful theme: Survivors to Warriors. I truly cannot wait for you to hear these interviews, because the young adults I have coming on embody courage, resilience, grit, and hope in a way that will leave you inspired. Their stories are raw, real, and deeply moving, and I’m honored to call each of them my friend.
As I prepared for this month, I wanted to begin with something eye-opening: the statistics. Because the truth is, before I became an amputee seven years ago, I hardly ever noticed amputees around me. Maybe once in a while I’d see someone, but it felt rare. Now, just like when you buy a certain car and suddenly see it everywhere, I notice amputees much more often. Even so, the numbers tell me I should be seeing even more. And that is what really stopped me in my tracks.
Worldwide, someone loses a limb every thirty seconds. There are tens of millions of people around the world living with limb loss, and what absolutely breaks my heart is that up to ninety percent of them do not have access to prosthetic care. Ninety percent. That number is staggering. And it hits close to home for me because I know what it feels like to have the hope of mobility threatened.
Amputee Coalition Statistics used on American Endovascular & Amputation Prevention site, April 25, 2022
Before my elective amputation, I was told everything would be covered. I did my homework because I knew prosthetics were expensive, and I needed the reassurance that if I moved forward with surgery, I would have access to the leg I needed. Then, about a month after surgery, we filed the insurance paperwork and I was denied. I can tell you without hesitation that those four weeks were some of the hardest weeks of my life. In the grand scheme of seven years, it may look like a blink. But in the moment, it felt like everything. I had dreams, goals, and visions of what life could be after amputation, and suddenly an insurance company was telling me no.
So I fought. Every single weekday, I called. I kept climbing the ladder, talking to the next person and then the next. I refused to sit back and wait for someone else to decide my future. That season demanded every ounce of emotional and mental strength I had. I had to advocate for myself when I was exhausted, scared, and uncertain. And when I think about the reality that so many people around the world never get that access at all, it is heartbreaking.
Amputee Coalition Statistics used on American Endovascular & Amputation Prevention site, April 25, 2022
The leading causes of limb loss are also telling. Vascular disease, including diabetes, makes up the largest percentage. Trauma is close behind, including accidents and injuries. Then comes cancer, though at a much smaller percentage. My own amputation came after years of surgeries following a karate injury, and eventually I made the deeply personal decision to amputate. Elective amputation is not an easy road, and whether amputation happens in an instant or after years of medical struggle, both journeys carry their own kind of trauma.
That’s the part people do not always see. Yes, limb loss is physical. It is visible. But the emotional and mental toll can be just as life-altering. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, fear, isolation, and loss of confidence are very real parts of this journey for so many amputees. People may see someone walking on a prosthesis and assume they are doing fine, but they do not always see the inner battle. They do not see the fear of falling, the anxiety of being watched, the struggle to trust your body again, or the grief of trying to figure out who you are now.
Amputee Coalition Statistics used on American Endovascular & Amputation Prevention site, April 25, 2022
Physiopedia: The 5 Stages of Grief and Loss; Axelrod, J. September 26, 2018, https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-5-stages-of-loss-and-grief/
Prime Care, Blog by Eddie Zepeda. Published, January 20, 2025
And then there is phantom pain, something many amputees know all too well. Phantom pain and sensations can range from mild to absolutely overwhelming. It can feel like burning, stabbing, cramping, stinging, or relentless discomfort that comes out of nowhere and hits like a truck. It is one more reminder that the amputee journey is layered, complicated, and often invisible to the outside world.
That is exactly why this month matters so much to me. I want these interviews to shine a light on the real lives behind the statistics. I want you to hear from young adults who have endured the unimaginable and are now learning how to rise, rebuild, and become warriors. Their stories deserve to be heard, and I know they will inspire anyone who listens.
So as we step into Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, I hope you’ll join me. Like, share, subscribe, and most of all, listen. These stories matter. These lives matter. And together, we can bring more awareness, more compassion, and more hope to a community that deserves to be seen.
And as always,
Be healthy,
Be happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
The Canvas of CourageWhat if the very thing you’ve been trying to hide… is actually the most beautiful part of your story?
This week on the BAWarrior Podcast, I found myself sitting in reflection after a weekend of rest, sunshine, and quiet moments here in Arizona. As spring starts to show up and life begins to feel a little lighter, I couldn’t help but think about something deeper, the parts of ourselves we often try to cover up. The broken pieces. The scars. The moments we wish never happened.
The Beauty in the Cracks
And I asked myself, and now I’m asking you, what if that brokenness isn’t something to fix or hide… but something to honor?
As an above-knee amputee, my brokenness is visible. It’s physical. But what people don’t always see is the emotional journey that comes with it. The uncertainty, the identity shifts, the moments of feeling completely lost. Even though my amputation was a choice after years of surgeries, I still didn’t know what the outcome of my life would look like. I didn’t know who I would become on the other side of that decision.
It felt like my life had been rerouted-like I was on one track, moving forward with a plan, and suddenly everything shifted. A new direction. A new identity. A new path I didn’t ask for.
But here’s what I’ve come to realize: that “mess”… that disruption… that brokenness… it became my canvas.
This week at church, I heard a phrase that stopped me in my tracks: the mess becomes the masterpiece. And I felt that deeply. Because there have been so many moments over the past seven years where I felt like an absolute mess. Not put together. Not polished. Not “figured out.”
But what if we’re not supposed to be?
What if the process; the struggle, the rebuilding, the redefining, is actually where the beauty is created?
So often, society tells us to fix what’s broken. Heal quickly. Move on. Or if we can’t fix it, hide it. Cover it up so no one sees. But I want to challenge that. Because those scars, those cracks, they tell a story. They show where you’ve been, what you’ve survived, and who you’ve become.
Honoring my scars, not hiding them
And I don’t see mine as something to hide anymore.
Every scar on my body represents a battle I fought and didn’t quit. Every challenge I’ve faced has shaped me into who I am today. I am still here. Still moving. Still growing. And that, to me, is something to be proud of.
Next month, as we move into Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, I’ll be sharing more stories, because I believe so strongly in the power of storytelling. Every single person in this community has a story. And while they may look similar on the surface, the strength, the resilience, the warrior spirit behind each one is completely unique.
That’s why I named this podcast BAWarrior. Because I truly believe that’s what we are.
But being a warrior doesn’t mean life is easy. It means we fight. Daily. Sometimes hourly. We rise, even when the waves crash over us and try to pull us under. We find a way forward, even when it feels impossible.
And every one of those battles… every one of those cracks… becomes part of the masterpiece.
There’s a beautiful form of art, Kintsugi- a Japanese art that repairs broken pieces of pottery with gold! It symbolizes resilience, embracing imperfections, and the beauty of a repaired life. The cracks aren’t hidden. They’re highlighted. Honored. And in the end, the piece becomes even more beautiful because of where it was broken.
That’s us.
We are not less because of what we’ve been through. We are more.
So if you’re sitting here today feeling like a mess—good. That means something is being created. That means you’re in the middle of the process. And masterpieces take time. They aren’t rushed. They’re layered. Built stroke by stroke, day by day.
And here’s something I’ve learned along the way—when we take the focus off ourselves and begin lifting others up, something shifts. There’s healing in that. There’s purpose in that. When you help someone else rise, you rise too.
So this week, I want to give you something practical.
Name your cracks. What is your brokenness? Write it down. Then ask yourself—what meaning have I been giving this? And how can I rewrite that meaning?
And then—use it.
Use your story to help someone else feel less alone. Share it. Speak it. Own it. Because when you do, you’re not just healing yourself—you’re becoming a light for someone else who might be struggling in silence.
Stop covering your cracks.
Start honoring them.
Stand a little taller in your story. Smile when people look your way. Let curiosity open doors for connection. You are not something to hide—you are someone who has overcome.
And if you’re a woman walking this amputee journey and you’re looking for a place to grow, to be seen, and to be supported, I invite you to join our Amped Women virtual chats on Wednesdays. You don’t have to do this alone.
Because here’s the truth—I am still in the mess. Every day isn’t perfect. Every day isn’t easy. But I’m choosing to honor it. I’m choosing to trust that something beautiful is being created.
And I want that for you too.
You are not broken.
You are becoming.
You are a warrior.
And your masterpiece is still being written.
So chin up, rise up, warriors…
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!!
Much love,
“The Name on the Bottom of My Foot”Do you feel like you belong?
That’s the question I want to start with today. Because if you’re an amputee, or walking alongside someone who is, you’ve probably felt that quiet, unsettling shift… that moment where life no longer feels like it fits the way it used to.
Welcome back to BAWarrior Podcast, a space for resilience, healing, and living life amplified exactly as you are. I’m your host, Angie Heuser, and I’m walking this journey right alongside you as an above-knee amputee.
This past week, I did something playful… but it turned into something deeply meaningful.
I was outside, barefoot in the Arizona warmth, and I had my prosthetic off because I was using my running blade. And for whatever reason, I grabbed a marker and wrote the name “Andy” on the bottom of my prosthetic foot.
If you’re a Toy Story fan, you already know the reference. Andy writes his name on the bottom of Woody’s boot, and later Buzz’s foot, as a symbol of belonging. It means those toys have a place. They matter. They are part of something bigger.
And as soon as I wrote it… it hit me.
Isn’t that exactly what we’re all searching for after limb loss?
Because here’s the truth, amputation doesn’t just change your body. It changes your identity. It changes how you see yourself, how you move through the world, and how the world sometimes responds to you.
For me, seven years ago when I chose to amputate, it felt like I was on a train that suddenly switched tracks without warning. I wasn’t going where I thought I would anymore. And the first real question became:
Who am I now?
Because I didn’t feel like I belonged in my old life the same way. Yes, I was still a wife, a mom, an athlete, but I also stood out in ways I never had before. From wearing gym shoes everywhere because of my prosthetic limitations, to navigating how people perceived me, to questioning where I fit socially… it shook my confidence and my identity.
And what I’ve learned through talking to so many amputees is this:
The surgery isn’t the hardest part.
Learning to walk again isn’t even the hardest part.
The hardest part… is figuring out where you belong now.
That’s the piece no one really prepares you for.
And that’s where this idea of Andy’s name became so powerful to me.
Because in Toy Story, those toys aren’t afraid of being broken, they’re afraid of being forgotten. Of not having a place. Of not belonging anymore.
And isn’t that what we feel sometimes too?
But here’s the shift. Here’s where the warrior mindset comes in.
Instead of asking, “Why did this happen to me?”
I started asking, “What can I do with this?”
That mindset changed everything.
I began to see this journey not as an ending, but as a reinvention. I set goals. I pushed myself. I proved, to myself first, that I was still capable of living a full, meaningful life. And in that process, something bigger started to unfold.
This podcast was born.
Then the women’s amputee chat group.
Then stepping into research, working with incredible teams at MIT and Harvard, participating in studies, surgeries, and innovations to help move our community forward.
My Community, My friends who always have my back!
I found purpose.
And I realized something important:
Belonging doesn’t come from going back to who you were.
It comes from building who you are now.
Our adversity creates our strength.
Our identity evolves.
Our scars tell our stories.
And our community creates our belonging.
That’s why community matters so deeply.
Because sometimes, you won’t find belonging in the same places you used to. And that’s okay. We outgrow spaces. People come and go. Life shifts.
But there is a place for you.
Your new “toy box,” if you will.
A place where people understand you. Support you. See you, not in spite of your journey, but because of it.
That’s why I created the women’s chats. Because I saw how many women were struggling with identity, friendships, relationships, confidence… all of it. And they needed a space where they could just be real.
Because you don’t have to do this alone.
So here’s what I want you to do this week, your call to action.
I want you to mark yourself.
Not necessarily with a tattoo—but with something meaningful.
A word.
A symbol.
Your name.
A reminder.
Put it somewhere you’ll see it every day—your mirror, your prosthetic, your journal, your car.
Something that tells you:
I belong.
I have purpose.
I matter.
For me, it was “Andy.” It made me smile. It brought me back to special, warm memories with my kids. It gave me a sense of lightness and meaning all at once.
But yours can be whatever speaks to you.
Because on the hard days, and they will come, you need something to ground you. Something to remind you that even though life looks different…
You are still part of this story.
You are not forgotten.
You are not alone.
You are not without purpose.
You are evolving.
You are growing.
You are becoming.
So find your new community.
Find your purpose.
And most importantly…
Mark yourself in a way that reminds you—you still belong.
You are warriors.
You are strong.
And I am so proud of how far you’ve come—and where you’re going.
Until next time…
Be healthy,
Be happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much Love,
Advocating For Yourself is Self-Respect, Not EntitlementWhat if the life you want is waiting on the other side of one powerful decision, the decision to advocate for yourself?
In this episode of the Be a Warrior Podcast, I dive into something that took me years to truly understand and learn how to practice: speaking up for myself. Advocating for yourself sounds simple, but in reality, it can be incredibly difficult especially when you’re navigating the medical world, recovering from trauma, or learning to live life in a completely new way after an amputation.
If you’ve been following along with my recent episodes, you know that my word of the year is “trust.” Trusting the process. Trusting the journey. Trusting that even when things feel uncertain or uncomfortable, there is still growth happening beneath the surface.
I’ve placed the word trust all around my home-on my bathroom mirror, near my bed, and in my office, so I see it every single day. It’s a reminder that the goals I’m working toward aren’t short-term. They’re marathon goals that require patience and faith in the process.
But this week, I realized something important. Trust and advocacy go hand in hand.
As an above-knee amputee, my journey through the medical world has been long and complicated. Before my amputation, I went through years of knee surgeries and saw nearly ten different doctors over a five-year period. In those early years, I did what many of us do, I trusted everything my doctors told me. I assumed they knew best, and I rarely questioned the direction we were taking.
Now, to be clear, those doctors truly did their best. My complications were due to hyperscarring and my body’s unique response to surgery, not a lack of effort from the medical team. But what I didn’t realize early on was that trusting the professionals didn’t mean I shouldn’t also trust myself.
Learning to advocate for myself took time. It came through experience, frustration, trial and error, and eventually learning to listen to my own body.
Because here’s the truth: you know your body better than anyone else.
Doctors understand the body in general, but they don’t live in your body. They don’t feel your pain, your discomfort, your limitations, or your goals. That insight only comes from you.
This lesson becomes incredibly important when you’re an amputee.
One of the most important relationships in an amputee’s life is the one you have with your prosthetist. Your prosthetic leg isn’t just equipment, it’s the tool that allows you to move through the world.
And one thing every amputee learns sooner or later is this: if the socket isn’t right, nothing else matters.
You can have the most advanced knee or ankle technology available, but if the socket doesn’t fit properly, your mobility will suffer. Your comfort will suffer. Your ability to live your life fully will suffer.
That’s why clear communication and persistence are so important.
Advocating means taking an active role in improving your life by clearly communicating your needs, your goals, and your concerns. It means explaining where pain occurs, when it happens, and how it affects your movement. Sometimes your prosthetist has to troubleshoot based on what you tell them because they can only observe from the outside.
Every amputee is different. Even two people with the same level of amputation will have completely different experiences. Our bodies, our pain tolerance, our lifestyles, and our goals all vary.
So if something isn’t working, we can’t be afraid to say it.
My Team of professionals over the years.
Take time to talk with them, communicate clearly, don’t settle.
My PT’s who helped me prepare for amputation.
My Prosthetist who has my back always and knows what I want to accomplish in life.
My plastic surgeon who performed a TMR a year post amputation because the pain was too much!
Sometimes we hesitate because we feel like the professional already tried their best. We don’t want to seem difficult or demanding. But when we settle instead of speaking up, we often end up limiting our own lives.
The goal isn’t to take your prosthetic leg off halfway through the day because it hurts too much. The goal is to put it on in the morning and live your life fully until the evening.
Advocating for yourself isn’t just about medical care, though. It also applies to the relationships and environments you allow in your life.
I often tell my kids that friends come into our lives for seasons and reasons. Some friendships last forever, while others naturally fade as we grow and change.
Advocating for yourself means recognizing when a relationship is supportive and when it might be holding you back. That doesn’t mean you abandon people carelessly. Healthy relationships require balance-a give and take.
But it’s also okay to acknowledge when something no longer aligns with who you are becoming.
During this episode, I share a quote from a book called “The Rise of Me” by
Kristina Macura that really resonated with me. One line in particular stood out:
“There’s power in saying, this isn’t enough for me.”
That statement doesn’t come from entitlement. It comes from self-respect.
You are allowed to grow.
You are allowed to raise your standards.
You are allowed to take up space in your own life.
Settling doesn’t make you loyal, it often just makes you smaller than you were meant to be.
At the same time, advocacy also requires self-reflection. We have to ask ourselves if we’re giving as much as we’re asking for. Are we supporting the people who support us? Are we maintaining balance in our relationships?
Growth isn’t about burning bridges. It’s about recognizing when it’s time to move forward while still honoring the people who walked part of the journey with you.
Life as an amputee, and honestly life in general, is rarely comfortable. But growth happens when we challenge ourselves.
Whether it’s skiing down a run that scares you, trying something new, or speaking up in a room where you once stayed quiet, progress comes from stepping outside of what feels safe.
So wherever you are in your journey right now, I want you to remember this:
Knowing you deserve the best isn’t entitlement, it’s self-respect.
You are valuable.
You are capable.
And you are stronger than you think.
Advocate for yourself. Raise your standards. Build the team and the life that helps you thrive.
Because the life you’re dreaming about isn’t impossible, it simply requires the courage to believe you’re worth it.
Have an amazing week ahead,
And as always, warriors,
Be healthy!
Be happy!
And most importantly, be YOU!!!!
Much love,
What if the very thing holding you back isn’t your body… but your fear?
In this week’s episode of Be a Warrior Podcast, I’m coming to you in real time in the middle of something new, uncomfortable, and humbling. If you’ve been following along, you know last week I talked about life lessons from the ski slopes and how we have to stop looking down at our feet and start looking ahead at what’s coming. That lesson didn’t end on the mountain. It followed me straight into this week.
As an above-knee amputee, I’ve learned that one of our earliest survival habits is looking down. When you first get your prosthesis, you watch it constantly. You can’t feel your foot, so you visually confirm it’s there. Every step is deliberate. Every movement is monitored. Adaptive skiing taught me the same lesson when I ski with one leg, my instinct is to look down at my ski to make sure it’s under me. But when you look down, you miss what’s coming at you. Hazards. Forks in the road. The bigger picture.
And that’s not just skiing. That’s life.
This week, I’m leaning into something I do every year choosing a word that will guide me. My word for 2026 is trust. And wouldn’t you know it? I was immediately handed an opportunity to live it.
A prosthetics company from France, Hopper, reached out and asked me to try their running blade. Now, if you know me, you know I’ve used a running blade before. I even completed a 10K during my first year as an amputee adding socks mid-race as my limb volume shrank, hoping my leg would stay on. That race required grit. It required strength. But above all, it required trust.
This new blade, however, is different. It required a different knee a microprocessor knee I’ve never used before. For six years I trusted my Ottobock C-Leg. Last September, I transitioned to the Össur Navi knee because it’s waterproof I can snorkel with it, travel with it, take it into the ocean. I love how it responds. I trust it.
And now? I’m back at square one.
New knee. New blade. New mechanics. New fear.
New Blade- Trust the Process
Hopper Running Blade
Standing between parallel bars in an office, with people watching and cameras recording, I felt that old instinct creep back in. Tight muscles. Hesitation. Looking down. Wanting to be good immediately. Wanting to “perform.” Wanting to prove.
But trust doesn’t grow in 30 minutes under fluorescent lights.
So I brought the blade home.
And here I am walking in it around my house. Stepping outside. Trying to “run,” which currently looks more like a gallop from a newborn deer. It’s awkward. It’s humbling. It’s vulnerable.
And it’s exactly where growth happens.
Here’s what I’ve realized: when we don’t trust, fear takes over. And fear tightens us up. We don’t relax into movement. We don’t open up. We don’t visualize success we visualize what could go wrong.
What if I fall?
What if I break my wrist?
What if I embarrass myself in public?
I’ve fallen before. On sidewalks. In front of cars that didn’t even stop to check on me. I’ve tripped on hikes. I’ve fallen skiing. And every single time, I learned something.
Failure is feedback.
On my last ski trip, I intentionally chose the harder side of the slope. Why? Because I realized if I wasn’t falling, I probably wasn’t pushing. I did fall exhausted from aggressive turns my muscles weren’t prepared for. And that fall told me exactly what I needed to strengthen.
If we never risk failure, we never gather information.
And that applies far beyond prosthetics or skiing. It applies to relationships. To careers. To faith. To stepping into something new.
Trust requires us to first identify what we’re afraid of.
For me, I had to name it: I’m afraid of falling. I’m afraid of being embarrassed. I’m afraid of injury that could set me back. Once I name the fear, I can address it. Once I address it, I can begin building trust.
That’s my call to action for you this week.
First: choose a word. A guiding word for your year. Maybe it’s trust. Maybe it’s courage. Maybe it’s surrender. Maybe it’s strength. But choose something intentional.
Second: identify where fear is showing up in your life. Where are you tightening up? Where are you looking down instead of forward?
If you’re a new amputee and you’re exhausted from thinking through every step — I see you. I remember the mental drain of early prosthetic use. I remember wondering if I’d ever be able to carry laundry without watching my foot. And now? I do it without thinking.
But it took time.
It took repetition.
It took falling.
It took lifting my chin.
If you’re not wearing your prosthesis because you don’t trust it, the only way through is through. Wear it. Practice in your home. Slow your gait. Gradually lift your eyes forward. You will build that trust, one step at a time.
And if your struggle isn’t physical — if it’s relational, emotional, spiritual — the principle is the same. Face the fear. Name it. Then take one small step toward trust.
This week, I’m in the middle of it with you. Learning a new knee. Learning a new blade. Learning to open up again after five years of not truly running. I don’t know yet how it will end. But I know this: I won’t build trust by standing still.
There is a warrior within you. And warriors don’t avoid fear they walk straight into it with their chin lifted and their eyes forward.
So let’s do this together.
Choose your word.
Face your fear.
Trust the process.
And until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Facing Fears, Letting Go, and BreathingWhat if the thing you’re most afraid of… is the exact mountain you were meant to ski?
Welcome back to Be a Warrior. I’m Angie Heuser — above knee amputee, equine therapy lover, skier, and someone who refuses to live life from the sidelines. And if you’ve been following me the past several weeks, you know we’ve been diving deep into the energy of the Year of the Fire Horse — a year of movement, momentum, fearless expansion, courage, and decisive action.
But before the fire horse came the snake.
And I can’t stop thinking about that metaphor.
The Year of the Snake ended February 16th — a year of shedding. And if you’ve ever seen a snakeskin left behind, you know it’s both fascinating and a little unsettling. Snakes don’t just slip out of their skin like changing clothes. They rub up against rough surfaces. They press into discomfort. Sometimes it takes extra effort around the face or certain tight spots to fully shed what no longer fits.
It’s not gentle.
And neither is growth.
When I think about amputee life — about losing a limb, whether by trauma, illness, or in my case, elective amputation after years of surgeries — there is so much shedding. Shedding fear of the unknown. Shedding anger. Shedding grief. Shedding the identity we once had. And it doesn’t happen smoothly. It happens against the rough edges of life.
But once the shedding is done?
The new skin is ready to grow.
And that’s where the Fire Horse comes in.
This year only happens every sixty years — the Horse combined with the element of Fire. It’s bold. It’s fast. It rewards courage. It exposes comfort. It does not tolerate stagnation. And if you’ve built your life around playing small, it’s going to make you very uncomfortable.
Which brings me to the ski slopes.
If you follow me online, you saw we were just in Park City. I’ve been skiing since I was seventeen — long before amputation. But I’ll tell you something honestly: there isn’t a single day I clip into my ski that I don’t feel fear.
Even now.
Especially now.
Three months after my amputation in 2018, I got back on the slopes. I had already missed five years of skiing due to surgeries. I had told my husband if I didn’t ski that April, I might never do it again. So I did it scared. I did it sick to my stomach. I did it unsure.
And here’s what skiing has taught me — lessons that mirror life perfectly.
First: the person in front of you has the right of way.
On the mountain, it’s your responsibility to avoid the skier ahead of you. What’s behind you? That’s their responsibility.
Isn’t that life?
If I constantly look behind me — at my past, my trauma, my failures — I lose balance. Literally. With one leg, if I look back, I fall. And metaphorically? Same thing. If I live looking backward, I miss the beauty and the hazards in front of me.
That doesn’t mean I ignore the past. I learn from it. I listen. I stay aware. But I don’t let it dictate my line down the mountain.
Second: you will face forks in the slope.
Left might be safe. Right might be steep. Green or black diamond. Easy or challenging.
Comfort or growth.
The Fire Horse energy says choose courage. Choose the line that stretches you. And I had that moment on this trip — two blue runs splitting off, one steeper than the other. I heard myself say, “Just go.”
So I did.
I picked up speed. I carved hard. I pushed myself. And eventually, my leg gave out and I ended up on my butt. Not a dramatic crash — more of a tired surrender.
Take five and reassess your path every now and then
But here’s the thing: I was proud of that fall.
Because if I’m not falling occasionally, I’m not pushing hard enough. Growth requires risk. Risk requires vulnerability. And vulnerability sometimes ends with snow in your face.
Warriors aren’t built in comfort.
They’re built in the steep sections.
Third: breathe.
One of the biggest lessons my ski instructors taught me after amputation was breathing rhythm. As I carve down the mountain, I exhale into the turn and inhale as I rise. The mountain becomes a rhythm — breathe in, breathe out.
When I hold my breath, I tense up. When I tense up, I rely too much on my upper body. When I breathe, I find flow.
How often in life do we grit our teeth and forget to breathe?
When we breathe through discomfort, we release tension. We think clearly. We stay grounded. Whether you’re walking in a prosthetic, stepping into a hard conversation, or heading into an interview — breathe.
Finally: visualize the run.
I watched Olympic skiers at the top of the mountain, eyes closed, moving their bodies as they mentally rehearsed every turn. They had already succeeded in their minds before pushing off.
That’s not luck. That’s preparation.
If you only visualize falling, you’ll hesitate. If you only picture failure, you’ll create it. But if you visualize walking confidently in your prosthesis… if you visualize that difficult conversation going well… if you see yourself succeeding — you are building neural pathways toward that outcome.
Will you still fall sometimes? Yes.
But falling isn’t failure. It’s feedback.
The Fire Horse doesn’t reward perfection. It rewards courage. It rewards action. It rewards getting uncomfortable.
I came home from those mountains thinking about all of you. About the warriors who are afraid to let that bold part of themselves out because it might mean discomfort. It might mean risk. It might mean exposing the places you’ve been playing small.
But that’s where grit is forged.
That’s where character is polished.
That’s where life gets amplified.
So here’s my call to action:
Do the thing that scares you this week. Maybe in baby steps. Maybe messy. Maybe imperfect. But do it.
If you fall, smile. Ask yourself what you just learned. Visualize the next attempt. Breathe. Adjust your line. And go again.
Stop waiting for the perfect mood, the perfect date, the perfect version of yourself.
The mountain is here. YOUR mountain!
Embrace it, charge forward!
The Fire Horse energy is here.
And you, warrior, are more capable than you think.
Have a be-YOU-tiful week ahead and as always,
Be healthy.
Be happy.
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
What’s your “mountain”?
Moving from Recovery Mode into Momentum ModeYear of the Fire Horse Part 5There are seasons in life where we heal… and then there are seasons where we’re called to move again.
For a while, I was healing.
After my revision surgery and AMI procedure, my world slowed down whether I wanted it to or not. New sockets, new pain, scar tissue, relearning movement — it felt like starting over all over again. And just when I began to feel ready to push forward, life filled in the space. Holidays, responsibilities, travel, hosting, caring for others. Suddenly months had passed and I realized something important:
I wasn’t stuck because I couldn’t move forward.
I was stuck because I had gotten comfortable waiting.
This episode is about that moment of realization — the moment you understand that healing can quietly turn into hesitation if you’re not careful.
We’ve just stepped into the Year of the Fire Horse, and whether you follow that calendar or not, the symbolism matters. Fire brings energy, intensity, and transformation. The horse represents movement, courage, and momentum. Together, they create a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to stop sitting on the sidelines of your own life.
But before we can run forward, we have to shed what we’ve been carrying.
I talked about the Year of the Snake — the year we’re leaving — and how snakes shed their skin. They don’t gently outgrow it. They press themselves against rough surfaces to pull it off. Friction is required for renewal.
And honestly… that’s us.
Hard seasons, setbacks, medical struggles, emotional weight — those moments aren’t proof life is against us. They’re often the very process that removes the old version of us so a new one can exist. The mistake we make is trying to keep the old skin. We analyze it, revisit it, and sometimes build our identity around it instead of leaving it behind.
This year asks something different of us.
It asks us to stop waiting for perfect conditions.
As amputees especially, waiting becomes normal. We wait for appointments, healing, prosthetics, pain to calm down, energy to return. Waiting becomes a lifestyle. But at some point, waiting stops protecting us and starts limiting us.
So this episode is a challenge:
Stop saying “when things get better.”
Start asking “what can I do today?”
Because growth does not happen inside comfort.
Comfort leads to stagnation.
Stagnation leads to false alignment — a place where we convince ourselves we’re okay staying where we are, even when our heart knows we’re meant for more.
I see it in myself. I’ve been certified in equine therapy for months, yet I hesitated to begin. Not because I couldn’t… but because of the “what ifs.” What if I fail? What if I’m not ready? What if timing isn’t right?
But authenticity matters more than preparedness.
You grow by doing — not by waiting until fear disappears.
The Fire Horse energy is bold. It rewards decisive action, courage, and honesty with yourself. It exposes the places we hide in comfort and invites us to lead our lives instead of postponing them.
That doesn’t mean ignoring hard days. It means refusing to let them define every day.
If you’re not ready for a big challenge, start smaller.
Stop micromanaging everything wrong and start noticing what’s right. Write down blessings. Shift focus. Open your awareness to the parts of life still moving forward around you.
Because we are more than our bodies.
More than our pain.
More than our setbacks.
The warrior mindset isn’t pretending life isn’t hard — it’s deciding hardship won’t be the end of your story.
This episode is your reminder:
You don’t need a new year, a Monday, or perfect timing.
You need a decision.
Grab the reins.
Move forward.
Start now.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
My blessings and the people who keep me going! ♥
Year of the Fire Horse Part 4 Embrace Courage and Move ForwardThere comes a moment when life asks you a hard question: Are you ready to stop waiting and start leading your own life? Not tomorrow. Not when things feel easier. But now—right where you are, exactly as you are. That’s the space this episode lives in. And as we stand on the edge of the Year of the Fire Horse, that question feels louder, bolder, and impossible to ignore.
As we move closer to February 17th, the official start of the Year of the Fire Horse, I wanted to pause, breathe, and prepare—for myself and for you. Because this year carries a rare combination of energy and power that only comes once every sixty years. And if we’re ready for it, it can change everything.
I’ll be honest: I don’t typically follow the Chinese calendar. I’m a Christian, and my faith anchors me. But if you put a horse anywhere near my path, I pay attention. Horses transformed my life after amputation, which is why I pursued my equine therapy certification. I believe deeply in their power—movement, intuition, strength—and I believe this year invites us to embody those same qualities. This isn’t about superstition. It’s about preparation, intention, and courage.
Ole Ben, loves quiet time!
Me and my girl, Sakari. She is my Soul Horse!
This episode is part of a series designed to help you step into this new year with clarity and confidence. Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about movement, momentum, fearless expansion, and the shift from waiting to leading. Because waiting—especially as an amputee—can quietly become a habit. We tell ourselves we’ll start when the pain eases, when our body feels better, when life calms down. And while rest is sometimes necessary, waiting can also keep us stuck.
Quiet Energy…
…And silliness!
I speak from experience. I’ve been an amputee for seven years now, and this is season six of the podcast. That first year after my amputation, I set goals and attacked them with everything I had. I was done letting life pass me by. I learned quickly that growth doesn’t happen by sitting back—it happens by stepping forward, even when it’s uncomfortable.
This week, we dive into three essential pillars: courage, authenticity, and decisive action. Because dreams without plans stay dreams. Saying “I want to walk better” or “I want to feel stronger” means nothing if we don’t define what that looks like. Decisive action requires clarity. It requires writing things down. Being specific. Holding ourselves accountable.
Finding the determination and taking action despite how you feel is courageous!
For me, that clarity began before my amputation. I created a vision board months before surgery—photos of my family, Bible verses, meaningful quotes, and images of the life I wanted to return to. Skiing. Movement. Strength. That board sat next to my bed for four months, reminding me daily that I am more than my body. That I am more than what was being taken from me. And that belief carried me forward.
My Vision Board
But belief alone isn’t enough. Action matters. And action, as an amputee, is complicated. Learning to walk again isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, mental, and exhausting. Trusting a prosthetic leg takes time. Wearing it can feel heavy, claustrophobic, painful. Some days, seven years later, I still struggle. And I share that because authenticity matters. This journey isn’t linear, and pretending otherwise helps no one.
One of the tools that helped me most was creating “carrots”—clear motivators that pulled me forward. For me, that came in the form of virtual races. Not because I needed to run, but because I needed a reason to move. Walking, rowing, swimming, chair yoga—movement in any form counts. Since my amputation, I’ve completed over twenty virtual challenges, some as long as 175 miles. Not to compete with anyone else—but to be better than I was yesterday.
SOME of my virtual races- all completed AFTER amputation! My motivation!
That’s the heart of this episode. You are not competing with anyone but yourself. Comparison steals joy. Progress—no matter how small—builds momentum. Some days, progress looks like wearing your leg for two hours instead of none. Some days, it looks like standing instead of sitting. Some days, it looks like crying and still choosing not to quit.
Courage doesn’t mean fear disappears. I’m scared sometimes—scared to fall, scared to trust my body, scared to push too far. But courage is choosing to move anyway. Authenticity is honoring the hard days without surrendering to them. And decisive action is committing to your life, even when it’s uncomfortable.
I close this episode with a call to action that’s simple—but powerful. Find a quiet place this week. No distractions. No to-do lists. Breathe. And picture your life twelve months from now. How does your body feel? How do you move? What are you proud of? Then write it down—and work backward to create small steps toward your goals. That’s how transformation happens.
The Year of the Fire Horse is not a year to sit back. It’s a year to lead, to grow, to fall and rise again. And you don’t have to do it alone. No matter where you are in your journey—new amputee, seasoned warrior, or someone simply struggling with life—I’m here. Let’s walk this together.
If you are interested in joining me, virtually, on this Year of the Fire Horse challenge you can sign up here
Use the discount code JOLLY and receive 30% off your registration!
Women, I have a private group to motivate each other on Facebook. Find me and inquire on how to join!
I look forward to supporting one another this year!
Have a beautiful week ahead,
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
You are braver than you know!
Using the Energy of the Fire Horse-Part 3What if the thing holding you back isn’t your circumstances… but your waiting?
That’s the question I’m asking myself—and you—in this episode of Be a Warrior. As I move into my seventh year as an above-knee amputee and step into 2026, I feel a shift happening. A deep, unmistakable pull to stop waiting for life to feel easier, cleaner, or more predictable—and instead start leading, exactly where I am.
This episode is part three of my five-part series inspired by the Year of the Fire Horse, and if you’ve missed the first two, I highly recommend going back and listening. This series is building intentionally, because growth doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in layers. In the first episode, I talked about movement, momentum, and fearless expansion. Not fearless in the absence of fear, but fearless in the willingness to move through it. As amputees—and honestly, as humans—we live with a lot of fear. Fear of pain. Fear of falling. Fear of how our bodies will feel tomorrow. Fear of what people see when they look at us. Expansion doesn’t mean fear disappears. It means we don’t let it decide our future.
Last week, we explored the bold, passionate energy of the Fire Horse and how powerful energy can work for us—or against us. Energy doesn’t discriminate. If you’re prepared, it can propel you forward faster than you imagined. If you’re unprepared, it can feel overwhelming and destabilizing. This year is not subtle. It’s loud. It’s demanding. And it’s asking us to participate instead of sit on the sidelines.
Which brings me to this week’s focus: leading instead of waiting.
If you’re not an amputee, let me pull back the curtain for a moment. Amputee life—especially in the early years—is dominated by waiting. Waiting for wounds to heal. Waiting for insurance approvals. Waiting for appointments. Waiting for test sockets. Waiting for remakes. Waiting for your limb to shrink, change, adjust, stabilize. Waiting for your body to feel like it belongs to you again. There can be more time spent waiting than actually living, and that kind of waiting is exhausting.
I’ve watched so many people—myself included—get stuck in that space. Not because we’re weak, but because the system trains us to wait. And at some point, that waiting becomes a habit. We tell ourselves, Once this socket fits better… once I heal… once this next thing happens… then I’ll start living.
This year is calling us out on that.
The Year of the Fire Horse is designed for people who are ready to lead instead of wait. And leadership doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means choosing not to put your life on hold. You can lead from a wheelchair. You can lead while healing. You can lead while waiting on insurance or surgery or the next prosthetic adjustment. Leading means asking yourself: What can I do today, with what I have, where I am?
Because sitting and waiting doesn’t just pause your life—it quietly erodes your confidence, your joy, and your sense of purpose. I know that when I wait too long, I stop meeting people. I stop moving my body. I stop feeling good about myself. I start complaining. And that’s not the life I want—and I don’t believe it’s the life you want either.
The Fire Horse only comes around once every 60 years. When the energy of fire and horse combine, it’s powerful, fast, and transformative. But everything I’ve read says the positive outcomes come from preparation. From intention. From deciding ahead of time that when the energy hits, you’re ready to ride instead of getting knocked over.
For me, that preparation has meant getting quiet, introspective, and honest about what I want my next 12 months to look like. How I want to lead myself. How I want to show up for my family. How I want to live—not someday, but now.
And that’s why I’m inviting you into action.
On February 17th, the Fire Horse energy officially begins, and I’m hosting a Year of the Fire Horse Virtual Challenge for women. It’s a 5K, 10K, half marathon, or marathon—done virtually, at your pace, in your way. This isn’t about speed or perfection. It’s about momentum. Accountability. Community. About proving to yourself that you can start before everything feels perfect.
To Join the Virtual Challenge click HERE
Get 30% of when you use the discount code: JOLLY
Waiting doesn’t have to be your full-time job.
This episode is a call to stop postponing your life. To stop telling yourself you’ll start when conditions improve. To recognize that leadership begins the moment you decide to move—even if that movement is small, messy, and imperfect.
You don’t need permission to live fully. You don’t need your circumstances to cooperate. You just need to decide that waiting no longer gets to run the show.
This is your year to lead.
Not tomorrow. Not when it’s easier.
Today.
I’ll be right here, walking it with you.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much Love,
Using Your Momentum to Accomplish Great Things (part 2)Today I invite you into a deeper conversation about movement, momentum, and what I believe is a powerful energetic shift ahead of us: the Year of the Fire Horse. As an above-knee amputee, a lifelong horse girl, and someone who has learned to rebuild life step by step, this theme resonates with me on every level. The Fire Horse represents bold energy, passion, speed, and expansion—but only if we’re willing to meet it with intention and preparation.
Last week, I challenged you to focus on movement. Not perfection. Not comparison. Just movement—forward motion, wherever you are in your journey. Because movement creates momentum, and momentum opens the door to growth. That growth is what I call fearless expansion. And let me be very clear: fearless expansion doesn’t mean the absence of fear. Fear is always present, especially as an amputee. Every literal step forward requires trust—trust in my prosthesis, trust in my body, and trust in myself. Early on, I couldn’t even imagine carrying laundry with my vision blocked, let alone trusting my leg to land where it needed to. That confidence didn’t come overnight. It came from doing the thing scared, over and over again, until fear loosened its grip.
This ⇑ leads to this ⇓ And that’s why setting goals and staying focused on them matters.
I want to remind you that this journey is never linear. Prosthetic life is full of pauses, setbacks, socket changes, surgeries, and seasons of limbo. There are times when pushing harder simply isn’t possible—and that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re human. I’ve taken years off from pushing my pace, not because I was lazy, but because my body wasn’t ready. And that’s okay. We are not competing with anyone else—especially not the curated versions of people we see online. The only comparison that matters is who you were yesterday.
This brings me to the next layer of the Fire Horse energy: boldness, speed, and passion. This is the kind of energy that’s impossible to ignore. It can fuel incredible growth—or become overwhelming if we aren’t grounded. That’s why preparation matters. Before my amputation, I did something that changed everything: I set goals before surgery. Month by month. Not because I knew how things would turn out, but because I didn’t want fear to be my focus. I wanted my eyes on the horizon.
These virtual races kept me focused and helped me get stronger. These medals tell my story, one I am proud of.
Those goals didn’t start big. My first win was simply getting out of the house alone. That one decision led me to adaptive sports, sled hockey, skiing, virtual races, surfing, and eventually completing a 10K with a running blade. None of it happened by accident. Every step required intention, planning, and a willingness to try—even when I wasn’t sure I’d succeed.
Virtual races, in particular, saved me. They gave me accountability and something to work toward when motivation was low. I wouldn’t even open the medals until I earned them. On good socket days, I pushed myself. On bad days, I rested. But I kept showing up. And every time I finished something I once thought was impossible, I felt alive again. Capable. Limitless.
That’s the power of momentum. It builds confidence. And confidence changes everything.
As we approach the Year of the Fire Horse, I want you to pause and ask yourself: What do I truly want to accomplish in the next twelve months? Not what feels “realistic.” Not what others expect of you. What lives in your heart? What lights you up? This energy can either propel you forward or spiral into negativity if you’re unprepared. The difference is mindset and planning.
This week’s call to action builds on last week’s. Keep moving—but now, zoom out. Create a one-year vision. Look at your calendar. Are there trips coming up? Experiences you’ve avoided because of fear, injury, or amputation? Hiking, traveling, trying a new sport, or simply walking confidently in your neighborhood—none of these happen overnight. They require preparation, strength building, and patience. And that preparation starts now.
I’ve never jumped blindly into anything. When I returned to skiing, I sought adaptive instruction. I practiced balance, core strength, and walking long before I hit the slopes. Every year, I have to rebuild again. That’s life. The work never truly ends—but neither does the growth.
Amputation is not the end of life. It’s a beginning. A reinvention. And the truth is, anything goes. If you try something and it doesn’t work, so what? You tried. You learn. You pivot. You try again. I never surfed before my amputation—and now it’s something I love. You don’t know what’s waiting for you on the other side of fear.
This year carries powerful energy. If you open yourself up to it with intention, incredible things can happen. Dream big. Make a plan. Start today—not Monday, not when it feels right. It will never feel perfect. But action creates clarity, and clarity creates momentum.
The warrior within you is ready. This is the year to let them out. Use the fire. Harness the momentum. And gallop forward into the life you want—one brave step at a time.
Have a beautifully, blessed week and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
The Year of The Fire Horse Part 1As I sat down to share this episode, we are in that weird blur between the holidays and the start of the new year—January 21st to be exact. Somehow we’re saying goodbye to January already and I’m still not sure how time is moving this fast. To be honest, I am a little under the weather today. A trip back home to Chicago gifted me more than nostalgia—sniffles and congestion that love to linger. But if there’s anything amputee life has taught me, it’s how to show up anyway. Healing isn’t always linear, progress isn’t always pretty, and sometimes the real strength is simply being here.
If you’ve been with me for a while, you already know how excited I am about 2026. This is the Year of the Horse, and I have unapologetically embraced it. Horses are my heart—right alongside my pups—and spending time with them is healing in motion. I was out loving on them earlier that morning, enjoying Arizona sunshine that feels a little too warm for January. (I’m still waiting for winter to show up so I can actually appreciate the desert heat again.) But weather aside, the symbolism of the horse couldn’t align more powerfully with the season I’m in—and the season many of you are in.
What makes this year even more rare is that it isn’t just the Year of the Horse. It is the Year of the Fire Horse, a cycle that doesn’t come around often in the Chinese calendar. Fire brings imagery of energy, power, movement, and drive—big, explosive energy that demands expansion. When I learned that, I immediately knew I wanted to infuse that symbolism into our lives this year, especially within the amputee community.
Now, if you’re not an amputee, don’t tune out. The beauty of this journey is that the lessons apply to anyone navigating hardship—whether your challenges are physical, medical, emotional, relational, or even professional. Struggle doesn’t discriminate. But neither does growth.
I’ve never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions. January feels messy—physically, mentally, and emotionally. We’re recovering from holidays, reorganizing homes, resetting routines, trying to remember what vegetables look like, and wrestling with motivation that hasn’t thawed out yet. I spent those early weeks decluttering my body from holiday eating and drinking, refreshing my home, and re-establishing rhythms that support who I want to be—not just who I’ve been. For me, that looks like eating cleaner, scheduling movement, and taking care of my mind, my leg, my family, and my horses. I’m not a rigid scheduler by nature, but with so many things I love doing, I can’t always choose—and then nothing gets done. So sometimes structure serves us.
While reading about the Year of the Fire Horse, five symbolic themes showed up. I decided I’m going to break them down over several episodes and explore how they can shape our growth. Unless something major happens in my own life (because I always speak from personal experience first), we’re riding that theme for a bit.
The first Fire Horse theme? Movement, Momentum, and Fearless Expansion.
Three words. Three mountains. Three invitations.
Let’s start with movement.
If you’re an amputee and you’re unhappy with where you’re at—maybe you’re watching others do things you wish you could do—the number one thing I’ll tell you is this: do not compare yourself to anyone else. Amputee life is not one size fits all. Body types, limb levels, insurance coverage, prosthetic technology, pain tolerance, terrain, weather, confidence—all of it changes the picture. Someone in snowy Minnesota isn’t out hiking in January. Someone in Arizona isn’t out walking at 115°F. Our seasons look different literally and figuratively. And that’s okay.
But movement matters. In fact, movement is everything.
Movement is how we reclaim our bodies.
Movement is how we rebuild trust.
Movement is how we protect our mental health.
Movement is how we remind ourselves we’re alive.
Prosthetics don’t move us—we move us. Insurance coverage doesn’t give us grit—we give us grit. And movement isn’t pain-free, effortless, or pretty in the beginning. It’s awkward. It’s exhausting. It’s uncomfortable. And some days it just feels unfair. But movement is life, and life demands movement. Even if you’re not on a prosthetic yet, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers—pushing yourself counts. Motion burns energy, heals the mind, and keeps you connected to your body and your environment.
And with movement comes momentum.
Momentum isn’t about speed—it’s about direction. It’s about choosing to walk to the end of the driveway today, past the neighbor’s house tomorrow, and maybe around the block next week. Those baby steps are not insignificant. They are data. They are discipline. They are the quiet stacking of strength.
I still remember thinking I could walk a mile as soon as I got cleared for my prosthetic. I didn’t make it past three houses. I was disappointed at first, but then I realized something important: I had found my baseline. You cannot grow if you don’t know where you’re starting from. Momentum begins with honesty.
Momentum is also how you build trust with your prosthesis—trust up a curb, down a hill, over uneven terrain, and through the hundred tiny adjustments your body makes to learn this new dance. Prosthesis + confidence is earned, not given. And it starts one step at a time.
Then comes the third theme: fearless expansion.
Let me be very clear—fearless does not mean the absence of fear. It means facing fear. Every amputee I’ve ever met battles fear. Fear of falling. Fear of looking foolish. Fear of pain. Fear of malfunction. Fear of being judged. Fear of being stared at. Fear of being misunderstood. Fear of being trapped in this new reality forever.
Fearless expansion is courage in motion. It’s putting on your leg even when you don’t feel like it. It’s going out in public before your gait feels steady. It’s learning how to trust a piece of machinery that now represents a part of your body. It’s standing back up every time you fall—literally or metaphorically.
And here’s the truth: what you do now determines what your future looks like. I’m not worried about being 80 yet—but I know how I move my body today will directly affect that version of me.
I’m wired for action. Consuming content without integration doesn’t create change. So here’s your call to action:
If you’re not moving, start.
Not a marathon. Not a hike. Not a PR. Just movement.
Ask yourself:
What do I want my future to look like?
Where do I want expansion?
What scares me—and am I willing to face it?
Maybe your goal is more steps.
Maybe it’s longer prosthetic wear time.
Maybe it’s a grocery run.
Maybe it’s cooking a meal standing up.
Maybe it’s just putting the leg on today.
Compete only with yesterday’s version of you. If you get stronger, braver, and more resilient by even 1%—you’re winning.
And if you need accountability, reach out. DM me. Join me. I’m launching a virtual challenge soon—Year of the Horse themed, of course—and I want you on my team. Because momentum is easier when you’re not doing it alone.
So get moving. Build momentum. Expand fearlessly. Face the fire horse energy and ride it into the life you deserve.
Get moving, Warriors!
And as always—
be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much Love,
Friendships Versus HardshipsThe hard truths of handling your friendships (and relationships, for that matter), and going through amputation is definitely a hot topic in our community. And quite frankly, if you are going through ANY hardship you might feel a sense of pull back or even a good friend vanish into thin air as if they were just a figment of your imagination.
Becoming an amputee is a lonely gig. You deal with a lot of emotions, phantom pains and unnatural feelings that cannot be explained to someone who hasn’t gone through the lose of a limb, the fitting and feels of a socket and metal leg, not to mention the night time when pains take over and the dark and quietness of the night are suffocating, etc, etc, etc.
Now, add to this the frustrations you feel when the surgery is all done, you’ve healed and life goes on….. for everyone else around you! Yet here you are still stuck with the pains, sensations, feeling vulnerable, questioning your future and your independence, doubting yourself, hating the way you look and feel, being angry and sad all in the same breathe, but your closest friends just can’t listen to it all anymore, they’ve moved on, but you haven’t.
Well, it’s time to check yourself. Are you consumed with all the things you’re feeling or spending hours upon hours in a negative place, struggling to get out? Have you tried to see yourself as more than an amputee or the victim of this scenario?
I don’t blame you, we all have those days but you cannot live there! It’s unhealthy and that negative energy that will ruin you and your relationships. It’s time to find your space and that means seeing the positive, finding the beauty where you are at. Finding your purpose and allowing that to fuel you won’t only do you good it’ll draw others to you, like a beacon on a darkened hilltop.
This does not mean that you shouldn’t validate your pain or your feelings, but it does mean find a balance. I don’t talk about the pain I go through because talking about it gives it power and I won’t have that. It doesn’t serve me or make me feel better so I push it aside. However somedays it is all I can do not to spend a day in tears because I cannot escape my pain, and those days I let me family and close friends know what I’m going through so they aren’t smacked with my emotions and possible anger.
There are two sides to this fine line we walk, and our relationships, if important and valuable to us, must be a constant give and take. We cannot expect those who love us to sit and listen to all of our negativity while we change nothing or try to help ourselves. And remember, everyone has hardships. Are you caring about those who you love like you expect them to care about you?
We must be willing to reciprocate that compassion. Even as amputees, when we are having a great day that’s a perfect time for us to support someone who isn’t. We must learn to fill each other up, not just take and deplete our relationships to they are dried out and a dark void.
Relationships die, and people leave when they no longer feel seen, heard, or cared about.
On the flip side, friends come into our lives for seasons, reasons, or lifetimes. There are some people that just are not cut out to deal with someone else’s plight, or have low tolerance for negative chatter, they may need more attention than you can give while dealing with your amputation or they are threatened by you situation. Whatever it is, it may not be on you.
The two sides:
Side 1: As an amputee who feels like everyone is leaving you.
Are you speaking more negatives than positives?
Are you monopolizing every conversation with talk about your “predicament”?
Is the only thing on your mind your ampuatation and nothing else seems to matter?
Then you need to flip the switch and start speaking positivity into your life and into your family and friends’ lives. Your amputation does NOT define you, it does NOT limit you, only you can do that.
Are your relationships important? Then find a balance. I’m not saying you should never talk about your problem or your struggles but remember that there is more to you and life than your amputation.
Find the positive of being an amputee even if you need to force a bad joke. I always tell my family when my handicap sign saves us from awful walk to an event, “Thank Goodness, my lack of a leg saved us again! You’re welcome!” We laugh and truly enjoy the perks, and I’m happy it hs afforded us some great seats at sporting events. *Perk!
Side 2: The friend or family member of an amputee
What they are going through is hard and we are told that we may grieve the lose of our limb like we grieve when someone dies.
Remember that healing from an amputation is only the beginning of our journey and everyday is so very different. The first 2 years is screwy, hard, emotional, and leaves us feeling lone in a crowded room. Allow your friend or family member talk about it and grieve and cry and scream. BUTTTTTT, don’t let them live there. Remind them of what they have and that there is more to life.
Be honest with them too. If you care about them and love them let them know when they are plunging into a dark place before it’s too late. Tell them you need to be heard, loved, and seen.
There are two sides to this new journey and no one should go it alone, just make sure you are finding a balance, for your sake and your loved ones.
You are truly amazing.
You’ve come this far, it’s time to fight the good fight and find your purpose and start living your best life!
Rise up, Dear Warriors, Rise UP!!!!!
You are more than your body, you are a soul, a light for a dark world, you are love!
Have a beautiful week and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
The Year of the Fire Horse and the Power of BecomingWelcome to Season Six of the Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior (BA Warrior) Podcast—a milestone that still takes my breath away. If you had told me years ago that I would be hosting a podcast, let alone entering its sixth season, I would have laughed. It was never a dream I set out to chase. And yet, here we are. Proof that life doesn’t always unfold according to our plans—but often according to something far greater.
If you’re new here, I want to personally welcome you. And if you’ve been walking this road with me for years, please know how deeply grateful I am. Your messages, your comments, your shared stories, and your willingness to show up week after week are the reason this podcast exists. Be a Warrior is not something I do alone—it’s something we build together.
This podcast is rooted in amputee life. I am an above-knee amputee and have been for seven years. Everything I share comes from lived experience—the victories, the mistakes, the frustrations, the growth, and the moments that test every ounce of resilience. My hope has always been that by sharing my journey honestly, someone else might feel less alone in theirs.
A New Season, A New EnergySeason Six begins with a theme that feels deeply personal to me: the Year of the Horse—specifically, the Fire Horse. This year carries amplified energy, movement, instinct, and transformation. It also aligns beautifully with where I am in life right now.
I recently completed my equine therapy certification, which allows me to bring the healing power of horses to others in a deeper, more intentional way. Horses have long been part of my life, but this year marks a turning point—where passion, purpose, and service come together. My goal for 2026 is to help expand access to equine therapy for overall well-being, especially for people navigating trauma, change, or physical loss.
But before we talk about where we’re going, let me tell you how this year actually started—because it wasn’t graceful.
A Rough Start and an Important LessonMy husband and I took a short getaway to Sedona, Arizona—a place that feels like a deep breath for the soul. We live in the desert, but a quick drive north brings cooler air, pine trees, red rocks, and a sense of escape. It was meant to be a simple, restorative weekend.
In typical fashion, I packed last minute. I grabbed my makeup, hair products, clothes—and we were out the door.
What I didn’t grab?
Two things no above-knee amputee should ever forget:
- My prosthetic charging cord
- The bag I use to pull my leg into my socket
My bag to put my socket on….that I forgot.
I realized the charging cord was missing first. Panic set in—until I checked my prosthetic’s battery level. Eighty-two percent. I could manage one day.
Then came the second realization.
No bag.
For those unfamiliar, I am a skin-fit amputee, meaning I don’t use liners or traditional suction. My leg requires a specific bag to pull the skin properly into the socket. Without it, my prosthesis does not go on. No shortcuts. No substitutes—at least, not easily.
I didn’t sleep that night. I ran through every possible outcome: crutching around town, canceling plans, going home early. I was frustrated—not just because I forgot something critical, but because I knew better.
Ironically, the reason I forgot was also a sign of progress. I had become so comfortable in my body, so confident in my mobility, that I wasn’t thinking about “what ifs” anymore. My prosthesis had become as normal to me as legs are to two-legged people.
Comfort is a gift—but complacency can be costly.
Adaptation Is a Warrior SkillThe next morning, I went into full problem-solving mode. I asked myself: What do I have? What can I use?
Garbage bags wouldn’t work—they’d tear. A standard pillowcase was too thick. Then I spotted a silk pillowcase. Thin. Slippery. Flexible.
It wasn’t perfect—but it worked.
I was able to walk around town that day. I didn’t hike, knowing my limits. When I got home later, I had blisters and raw skin—but I was mobile. I adapted.
And that’s what amputee life often requires: creativity, patience, resilience, and the willingness to meet challenges head-on.
The Unpredictability of Phantom PainJust days later, I was reminded again how unpredictable this journey can be.
Despite having minimal phantom pain since my nerve revision surgery, I was suddenly hit with intense, stabbing sensations in a foot that no longer exists. The pain came in waves—sharp, jolting, and relentless. It lasted for hours and woke me from sleep.
There was no obvious trigger. No overexertion. No trauma.
Through experience, I’ve learned that phantom pain doesn’t need permission. It arrives when it wants—and leaves when it’s ready.
What got me through wasn’t panic. It was instinct.
I ran through my mental checklist:
- Socket fit? Fine.
- Injury? No.
- Stress? Manageable.
- Weather? Stable.
- Hydration? Questionable.
I drank water—lots of it. And the pain faded.
Whether coincidence or correlation, I logged it as wisdom for the future.
Always adapting!
The Fire Horse MentalityThe horse symbolizes freedom, movement, instinct, truth, nervous system wisdom, and connection over control—all things that resonate deeply with amputee life.
Freedom didn’t come to me through saving my leg. It came when I let it go.
Movement returned not through endless surgeries, but through acceptance, adaptation, and the right prosthetic support.
Instinct tells me when to rest, when to push, and when to trust that pain will pass.
Truth asks me to acknowledge that this life is hard—but still meaningful.
Horses understand nervous system regulation instinctively. As amputees, learning to regulate our own nervous systems is critical—not just for physical comfort, but emotional health.
And perhaps most importantly: connection over control.
Trying to control everything—our bodies, our recovery, our outcomes—often creates more suffering. Connection, whether to our prosthetist, our body, our community, or our faith, is what carries us forward.
Stop Comparing. Start Living.One of the most destructive habits amputees fall into is comparison.
Just because someone else is doing something you aren’t doesn’t mean you’re failing. Different bodies. Different trauma. Different prosthetics. Different lives.
You are not behind.
You are not weak.
You are not less than.
Compare yourself only to who you were yesterday.
A Call to RiseSeason Six is about listening, connecting, trusting, and becoming.
It’s about letting go of the reins just enough to allow life—and faith—to lead.
You are a warrior.
Not because of what you’ve lost—but because of how you keep showing up.
This year is a fresh page. A new chapter.
Write it with courage. Live it with intention.
And remember—you don’t have to do it alone.
Welcome to Season Six.
Let’s ride forward together.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Rise up, Warriors!!!
Be A Warrior: Closing Season Five, Trusting What Comes NextAs I sit down to record this episode, it honestly feels surreal. This is the final episode of 2025 and the close of Season Five of Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior. Five years. 210 episodes in all! When I say that out loud, it stops me in my tracks a little. What started as a quiet nudge on my heart has grown into something that now feels woven into my life, my healing, and my purpose.
My 2025 year in review
If you’ve been with me on this journey for a while, thank you. Truly. You are part of this family. And if you’re new here, welcome. I hope you’ll stick around—because Season Six starts next week, and I can hardly believe I get to say that.
When I launched this podcast, I didn’t have a master plan. I wasn’t chasing perfection, production polish, or algorithms. I was chasing meaning. My prayer from the very beginning was simple: If this reaches one person—if it brings hope, peace, or strength to someone in the middle of chaos—then it’s worth it.
This podcast exists because of my faith, my lived experience, and the road that brought me here—one that forever changed on December 19th, 2018. That was the day I chose an elective above-knee amputation after five years of failed surgeries following a taekwondo accident. Five years of fighting my own body. Five years of pain, loss, and unanswered questions.
My TaeKwonDo time, pre-amputation
If you’ve never heard my full amputation story, I shared it back in Season One. And honestly, as I step into Season Six, I may revisit it again—because time gives perspective, and perspective gives depth.
My first full year as an amputee was 2019, and I set goals like my life depended on it. And in many ways, it did. I hit every single one. I skied again. I surfed. I water skied. I hiked. I rode horses. I proved to myself, my doctors, my family—and maybe the world—that I wasn’t disabled. I was differently abled.
But once I checked every box, something unexpected happened. I felt empty.
That emptiness wasn’t failure—it was calling. I realized I wasn’t meant to keep all of that hard-earned wisdom to myself. I wasn’t meant to just do life again. I was meant to share it. That’s where this podcast was born.
I’ll be honest—I don’t love listening to myself talk. I don’t script these episodes. I don’t cut out the pauses or clean up the edges. There’s an intro, there’s an outro, and everything in between is real. I show up as a mom, a wife, an amputee, a human still figuring it out. This podcast is raw on purpose—because life is raw.
As this year closes, we’re also shifting seasons symbolically. If you follow the Chinese calendar, we’re leaving the Year of the Snake and entering the Year of the Horse. And if you know me at all, you know how much that resonates. Horses have become central to my healing and my heart.
As a little girl growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, I dreamed of horses, but access and finances made it unrealistic. Life had other plans. It wasn’t until after I lost my leg that horses came back into my life in a powerful way. I reached out to a friend who worked with rescue horses, and something clicked—deeply and instantly.
That connection led me to become certified in horse training, advanced training, and most recently equine therapy. Horses taught me regulation, presence, trust, and stillness in ways nothing else ever had—especially after trauma. Now, I work with people who are searching for grounding, healing, and reconnection to their bodies, especially after limb loss.
The Year of the Horse represents freedom, movement, soul searching, and wellness. And honestly, I can’t think of a better theme for what’s ahead. I don’t know exactly what this year will bring—but I know I’m ready to meet it.
If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. I think the phrase itself sets us up to fail. Words carry power. When we label something as temporary or flimsy, our minds treat it that way. By February, resolutions fade, gyms empty out, and people convince themselves they’ll “start again later.”
So instead, I believe in fresh starts. Turning a page. New perspective.
And one of my favorite end-of-year rituals is choosing a word—or a short phrase—to guide the year ahead. Not a checklist. A compass.
Last year, my words were ‘Be Present’. And those words carried me through one of the most challenging years of my life. In May, I traveled to Boston to see if I qualified for an experimental procedure and revision surgery. In June, I had surgery. July through September were filled with healing, setbacks, crutches, fittings, and learning my body all over again.
Through it all, I stayed present. I documented the journey. I let myself feel it. And when the holidays arrived—busy, beautiful, chaotic—I stayed present there too. I soaked up baking, gift-making, family moments, and even the exhaustion. I welcomed January’s slower rhythm with gratitude instead of guilt.
This year, my word found me quietly—in church, listening to our pastor speak.
My word for the coming year is ‘Trust”.
That word is heavy in the best way.
Trusting the process. Trusting the people around me. Trusting my body as it continues to change. Trusting God’s timing—even when it doesn’t match my own.
I like control. I like schedules. I like certainty. And trust requires letting go. It’s a trust fall—stepping back and believing you’ll be caught.
My prosthetic journey is still unfolding. My leg continues to change. A new socket is likely coming soon. Nothing feels finished or neat right now—and that’s okay. This year, I’m choosing to stop forcing outcomes and start allowing space.
If something is meant to be, it will unfold. And if it isn’t, that doesn’t mean it was a failure. Sometimes closed doors are protection. Sometimes the blessing only makes sense in hindsight.
So here’s my invitation to you.
As we sit in this quiet space between years, I want you to choose a word or phrase of your own. Something that speaks to where you are—not where you think you should be.
Be honest. Reflect. Meditate on it. Ask yourself where you struggled this year and where you want to grow—not from shame, but from curiosity.
Write your word down. Put it somewhere visible. Make it your screensaver. Stick it on your mirror. Tell someone you trust. Accountability matters. Growth requires reflection—and sometimes reminders.
And remember this: you are not meant to be at the same place as everyone else. We rise and fall at different times so we can lift each other when it’s needed. Start with yourself. Speak kindly to yourself. Life is too short for your own inner voice to be your harshest critic.
You are already enough. Growth is not about fixing yourself—it’s about expanding into who you already are.
As I close this chapter, I want to thank you for being here. For listening. For trusting me with your time and your heart. If this podcast gave you even one moment of hope or clarity this year, then it has done its job.
Season Six is coming. New challenges are coming. A virtual race is on the horizon. And the Year of the Horse is inviting us forward—with strength, freedom, and trust.
Until next year—keep showing up, keep listening to your heart, and trust the process.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Knowing Your Limits: When to Hold and When to Push OnwardI’m recording this episode from a place that looks very different than my usual setup. We’re away on a family getaway that was supposed to be a snowy ski vacation, but when I look outside, all I see are brown mountains and sunshine. Not exactly the winter wonderland we imagined. Still, we’re here, together, enjoying the time, and as the year winds down and the holidays rush in, I felt like this was the perfect moment to pause and share something that’s been sitting heavy—and meaningful—on my heart.
As you know, I tend to share lessons I’m actively learning myself, and this week’s lesson came straight from the ski slopes. I ski as an amputee. I ski on one leg, using outriggers, and while it looks empowering and inspiring in photos and videos, the truth is that it is anything but easy. Every single time I clip in, no matter how long I’ve been doing this, I still get butterflies. I still hope my body will hold up. I still pray for the best outcome and for enough strength to get me down the mountain safely.
I’ve always been someone who pushes hard. When I lost my leg in December of 2018, I got my first prosthetic in late March and barely had time to adjust before we were headed on a family ski trip in April. I had planned to sit on the sidelines, but I told my husband early on that I wanted to try skiing as an amputee. That trip was my first time learning to ski as a three-tracker—one ski on my sound leg and two outriggers with tiny skis on the ends. It was intense. It demanded everything from my good leg, my core, my upper body, and my mental focus.
Fast forward to now, and while I have more experience, I also have more wisdom. Yesterday, I went out for my first run of this trip, and it was a long one. I chose a blue run instead of the easier option, and I pushed myself hard. I made it down without falling, and I was proud of that—but my body was absolutely fried. My quad, calf, foot arch, hands, and shoulders were screaming. My grip on the outriggers was barely there, and I knew that if I went again, fatigue could turn into injury.
The old version of me—five or six years ago—would have pushed through anyway. I would have ignored the warning signs and kept going. But yesterday, something different happened. I looked at my husband and said, “I’m done. I want to end on a high note.” And that was enough. Self-preservation won, and for the first time in a long time, I listened to my body without guilt.
That decision mattered more than I realized in the moment. Because what I’m learning—and what I want you to hear—is that your best in this moment doesn’t have to be your best ever. Your best is enough when it honors where you are right now. Strength isn’t always pushing harder. Sometimes strength is knowing when to stop.
As amputees, our bodies are constantly negotiating limits. When you rely on one good leg, you have to be mindful of how far you push before fatigue compromises safety. Yesterday, my head wanted more, but my body was very clear: this was enough. And instead of feeling defeated, I chose to feel proud.
What you don’t see in highlight videos is the pain, the fear, the intense focus it takes to stay upright and in control. You don’t see the internal battle between wanting to prove yourself and needing to protect yourself. And that’s something I think so many of us struggle with—especially when we compare ourselves to others or even to past versions of ourselves.
This year, I’m not the same person I was last spring when I was in great shape, hitting the gym, and doing one-legged squats. I had revision surgery this summer. I’ve been learning a new socket, adapting to a new prosthetic, and giving my body time to heal. That meant less time training and more time resting. And while rest came at the cost of muscle mass and endurance, it also gave me other gifts—healing, reflection, time at home, time with my animals, and space to process everything my body has been through.
We are not static beings. Even with the same injury, we are different depending on the season of life we’re in. And during the holidays especially, it’s easy to beat yourself up for not doing “enough.” But the truth is, everyone’s circumstances are different. Some of you can’t get to the gym. Some of you are waiting on a fitting, a surgery, or relief from pain. Some days, just breathing is the win—and that is okay.
I know amputees who avoid connecting with others because they feel like they’re falling short. My message to you is this: do what you can with what you have, where you are. Comparison steals joy and progress. The valley you’re in right now does not dictate the rest of your life.
If you’re disappointed in yourself because you know you can do more and you’re choosing not to, then have that honest conversation with yourself and start shifting your mindset. Change the internal dialogue. Set goals. Dream again. But if you’re in a season of healing, pain, or waiting, give yourself grace. This moment is not permanent.
Yesterday, I skied one run—and that one run was enough. I walked away proud, safe, and encouraged instead of broken down and discouraged. Tomorrow, I’ll go out again with confidence and clarity. And when spring comes, I know exactly what I need to do to be stronger.
Being an amputee is hard. Some days are brutal. But you are not failing because you rest, and you are not weak because you pause. Be proud of where you are. Be proud of your scars. Know that you are doing the best you can with the situation you’ve been given—and that is enough.
This season will pass. Keep moving forward. Keep honoring your body. And remember, the warrior within you doesn’t disappear when you slow down—it grows wiser.
I hope you have a beautiful holiday season. And I’ll be back again soon before this year comes to a close.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Finding Purpose and Joy In This SeasonWe’re deep into December, and the Christmas spirit is everywhere—homes decorated with lights, the smell of cookies, gatherings, endless lists of to-dos. This time of year is magical, but it’s also overwhelming. We often rush from task to task, trying to make everything perfect, and before we know it, Christmas comes and goes in a blur. Every year, I remind myself: Be present. Really be in the moment. And yet, like so many of us, I still catch myself speeding through the season, missing the beauty right in front of me.
Last week, I shared about Limbs for Humanity, an incredible organization heading to Rocky Point Medical Clinic with 53 prosthetics—most of them above-knee—for 49 people, including a few bilateral amputees. They work tirelessly and always need help, whether through donations, volunteering, or supplying prosthetic parts. I encourage anyone listening to learn more, especially during this season of giving, because providing someone the gift of mobility is life-changing—not just for them, but for everyone around them.
Some recepients of the generosity of Limbs For Humanity
But today’s episode shifts from giving in a material way to giving with your presence. And this message hit me hard after hosting my annual Christmas cookie exchange. Every year I throw two big gatherings—one for Halloween, which I love, and one for the holidays with my cookie exchange. This year my home was filled with gorgeous faces, familiar laughter, new friends I hadn’t seen in years, women who traveled across town because they wanted to be part of something meaningful and joyful. I spent days creating handmade crafts—because I love creating in bulk and making unique gifts for people—but what filled my soul wasn’t the crafts, or the cookies, or the decorations. It was the simple act of seeing people show up.
Friends and the Power of Connections
Making gifts brings me joy and keeps me active and positive on harder days
There’s something incredibly powerful about people choosing to be present, especially during one of the busiest months of the year. And that’s when it clicked for me: as much as we talk about being present during the holidays, it’s the very thing we often lose our grip on the fastest.
Being present doesn’t erase the pain, struggles, or discomfort—especially for amputees. As amputees, we know there’s rarely a day when something in our body isn’t weird, uncomfortable, painful, or frustrating. Phantom pain hits out of nowhere. The socket might feel too tight, too loose, too heavy, too something. Sometimes sitting on the couch at night feels uncomfortable. Sometimes the good leg takes a beating and we’re reminded of how much pressure it carries. Pain is real, and it can take center stage quickly.
But being present doesn’t mean focusing on the pain of the moment—it means choosing what part of the moment gets your attention.
Yes, we can distract ourselves. I do it all the time: I hit the gym, work on crafts, visit my horses, pour myself into hobbies, or push through discomfort because I refuse to let it control me. But there’s a difference between distraction and presence. Distraction removes us from the moment; presence anchors us in it.
Presence says: Yes, I hurt—but I’m still here. Yes, this is hard—but there is beauty in this moment too.
And this is where so many amputees get stuck. We become hyper-aware of how we feel… constantly. How does this feel now? What about now? Is this getting worse? Is this going to ruin the day? We begin measuring moments by levels of pain rather than levels of joy. And that traps us in waiting mode—waiting for a better moment instead of living the one we’re in.
But the present is a gift—that’s why it’s called the present. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. We are not even guaranteed the next hour. What we do have is right now. And as long as we have breath in our lungs, we have purpose.
Standing in my son’s house reminded me of that purpose. I could have been home completing my own tasks or sticking to my routine. Instead, I was called to be here, helping my son and daughter-in-law get their home set up, making their day easier, giving them peace of mind. That, in itself, was a gift—to them, and honestly, to me. Being present for the people we love is one of the simplest and most profound ways to live with meaning.
And presence doesn’t only apply to amputee life—it applies to every human being. Some of us are grieving this holiday season. Some of us have lost loved ones. Some are struggling emotionally, financially, physically, or spiritually. Pain doesn’t discriminate. But presence invites us to look up from our pain, anxiety, and fear and notice the good that still surrounds us.
Because even if your situation feels grim, you cannot tell me there is nothing good in your life worth living for. There is always something: someone who loves you, someone you can help, something you can create, something you can smile about, someone who needs your presence.
This weekend showed me how deeply blessed I am. The hugging, the laughter, the conversations over food and wine—it reminded me that becoming an amputee wasn’t a curse. In many ways, it awakened the warrior within me. It gave me new eyes, a wider heart, and a deeper understanding of what truly matters.
And that’s what I want for anyone struggling today. You might feel broken. You might feel alone. You might feel overwhelmed. Maybe this is the first Christmas without someone you love. Maybe the pain feels louder than the joy. Maybe your spirit feels tired.
But listen closely:
You woke up today.
You have breath in your lungs.
You have purpose.
You have power.
You have the ability to make someone’s day better.
And that means you have the ability to change your own.
Your call to action this week is simple and profound:
Do something positive for someone else.
Hold a door.
Smile at a stranger.
Bake cookies for a neighbor.
Call a friend.
Visit someone who’s struggling.
Offer kindness wherever you go.
Because when you do something for others, you fill your own bucket. You lift yourself by lifting others. You step out of your own pain and into purpose. And you never know whose life you might touch—or how deeply they might need exactly what only you can offer.
So as we enter this holiday season—and as we prepare to step into a new year—remember this:
The present is a gift.
You are a gift.
Your life is a gift.
And the world needs what only you can bring.
Be present.
Be joyful.
Be intentional.
Be a warrior.
And above all—live for the moment!
Have a beautifully “present” week this week and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Helping Those in NeedDecember is finally here, and with it comes the beautiful chaos of the holiday season. In my house, it’s full-blown hysteria—parties, travel, gifts, deadlines, and the constant juggling act that December always brings. But this particular week holds special meaning because it’s Giving Tuesday, and today’s episode carries a message that sits deeply in my heart: the power, privilege, and pricelessness of mobility.
If you’re listening for the first time, I’m an above-knee amputee. My amputation took place in December of 2018 after a five-year stretch of pain, surgeries, limited mobility, and a profound loss of the life I once lived. Back in 2013, a taekwondo injury started a domino effect of setbacks—ten surgeries with ten different surgeons, countless appointments, and a knee that eventually functioned at only a twenty-degree range of motion. I couldn’t bend my leg normally, and I couldn’t straighten it either. Each step felt like walking on different-length legs, which wrecked my back, my neck, and my spirit.
Me, pre-amputation in TaeKwonDo
For five and a half years, I listened to doctors tell me to slow down, ice, elevate, rest, repeat—and none of it worked. Some doctors refused to even see me because my case was too complicated. Some barely looked at me during appointments. One told me that if I amputated, I’d never walk again. I was stuck, physically and emotionally, and I spent so many days crying in the shower, wondering how my entire life had been derailed. I missed out on years of skiing with my young boys. I gained sixty pounds. I feared I might never live actively again.
Getting back to skiing with my family was life changing!
Choosing amputation was my turning point. It was choosing life over fear. And once I connected with my prosthetist team and physical therapists, that hope grew into freedom. They guided me before and after surgery, walked me through what to expect, taught me patience, and helped me understand that amputees go through years of limb changes. In fact, it took me over three years and sixteen sockets before I finally had one that fit consistently. But each step, each adjustment, each hard moment, was worth every ounce of effort.
Day 1 Post-amputation###### My 1st check socket!
The first time I stood and walked on my prosthetic, everything changed for me. Mobility wasn’t just movement—it was identity, joy, independence, and belonging. My life wasn’t over. It was just beginning in a different form.
And that brings me to why this episode matters so much.
I’m on the board of Limbs for Humanity, a nonprofit founded by my two prosthetists who felt called to bring mobility to underserved communities—places with no prosthetic care and people who cannot afford the basic devices required to walk. They partner with the medical clinic in Rocky Point, Mexico, a place without any prosthetic specialists, and every time they go, 40–60 amputees show up—many who have crutched miles just to be seen.
This December, they’re returning to Rocky Point with 53 prosthetic legs, ready to restore mobility to 49 individuals, including bilateral amputees and several children. Most of these legs require expensive components: knees, ankles, feet—parts that often cost tens of thousands of dollars. My own prosthetic runs between $60,000 and $75,000. But these men give their time, skills, and hearts to fabricate sockets, assemble devices, fit patients, and teach them to walk again.
A special individual getting fitted for their new sockets- Bi-lateral amputee
The many parts Limbs For Humanity use and are in need of to service all of their patients
That’s a lot of socket casts! These are brought home to create the sockets for each individual
Each socket takes 4–5 hours to create, and every leg is custom. And these individuals aren’t seeking mobility for recreation or convenience—they want to walk so they can work, provide for their families, and reclaim their dignity.
This is the priceless gift of mobility.
And this year, Limbs for Humanity is facing a $50,000 deficit as they prepare for their December trip. They need financial donations, corporate matches, monthly donors, and sponsors willing to give the gift that can change a life forever. But financial support isn’t the only need. They also accept:
- Donated prosthetic parts (knees, feet, ankles, liners)
- Volunteer time
- Physical therapists willing to join trips
- Students in biomedical or engineering fields
- Anyone who wants to serve hands-on
For children especially, the need is ongoing. Kids who lose limbs not only experience limb changes from surgery—they continue to grow. That means new sockets again and again, sometimes every few months. Mobility for these kids is more than convenience—it’s childhood itself. Running, playing, participating, belonging.
This Giving Tuesday, I’m asking from the bottom of my heart: please help. Whether it’s financial, material, or volunteering, every bit matters. You can visit limbsforhumanity.org, donate, offer your skills, or simply reach out and ask how you can serve. The waitlist grows constantly. The need never stops.
If you’ve been blessed this year, consider blessing someone else in the most profound, tangible way possible. Someone out there is praying for the chance to walk, to work, to feel whole again. You can be part of answering that prayer.
And if you’re listening today while navigating your own holiday emotions—if you’re missing someone, grieving something, or carrying heaviness—please know that I see you. The holidays are beautiful, but they’re not easy for everyone. My prayers are with you, and I hope you feel surrounded by light, comfort, and peace in whatever way you celebrate.
As we close out this episode, I invite you to join me in making dreams come true for 49 individuals waiting for mobility this December. Let’s do something big, something meaningful, something life-changing.
Because mobility isn’t just movement—it’s freedom, dignity, purpose, and hope.
Until next time—and as always—
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
A Thanksgiving Message For Anyone StrugglingThanksgiving week always makes me pause, breathe, and step back into gratitude, but this year, that feeling hit me in a much deeper way. Maybe it was the timing, maybe it was the experience itself, or maybe it was because of everything that led me here—but this past week in Vegas reminded me exactly why I chose this life, and why I continue to push myself to live amplified, even when it hurts.
Our family goes to the Formula One races every year—this was our third—and while we love the energy, the cars, and the whole spectacle of it, it is absolutely not an easy environment for someone with mobility challenges. As an above-knee amputee, I’ve learned that accessibility can be a coin toss on a good day. Vegas during F1 weekend takes that to a whole different level. Elevators that don’t work. Escalators that suddenly shut down. Crowds compressed shoulder to shoulder. Long detours around track barriers. Rain. Stairs. More stairs.
But this year came with a twist. Not only did we pack in a full day of walking, navigating the Strip, dodging people, climbing stairs, and exploring all the fanfare, but that night, after all of that, I finally checked off something that had been sitting on my bucket list for years: going to a Vegas nightclub.
And I didn’t just go. I went all in—heels, dancing, crowds, the whole thing.
What made the night more meaningful was the backdrop of everything my body was going through. My newest socket, trimmed higher because I’d lost some femur during surgery, still hasn’t fully broken in. The rubbing along my groin becomes a four-inch strip of fire by the end of the day, the kind of raw, stinging pain that makes even a shower burn. Think blister-on-your-heel level pain, except in a place you can never bandage. Add rain, cold weather, slick sidewalks, and 36,000 steps—the most I’ve ever walked in a single day even when I had two legs—and you can imagine how I felt by the time we walked into the club.
But then the music hit. And the energy shifted. Surrounded by my husband and my kids—my favorite people—and swallowed up in the beat and the lights, I felt alive. Not amputee alive. Not “making the best of it” alive. Just fully, completely alive.
In that moment, I didn’t care that no one around me knew I was an amputee. I didn’t care that all my weight was sinking into my good foot, making my toes tingle with pressure. I didn’t care that I had a raw mark on my inner thigh or that I was balancing on heels after a marathon day of movement. I was simply living the moment I had dreamed of for years.
And when I finally got home, when I finally took my leg off and felt that flood of relief wash over my whole body, I laid in bed and thought, “This… this is why I chose amputation.” I didn’t take my leg off to watch life happen from the sidelines. I didn’t choose this path to let pain, friction, or inconvenience dictate my happiness. I chose it to reclaim my life. And nights like that one remind me why I fought so hard to get here.
But here’s the part I don’t ever want people to misunderstand: none of this is easy. I’ve had people say I make it look effortless, or that they shouldn’t complain about their injuries because I “went through so much worse.” But I don’t see it that way. I don’t compare. I don’t downplay anyone’s struggle. And I definitely don’t wake up immune to the hard parts of this life. What I do wake up with is a mindset that says:
I chose this path, so I’m going to show up for it.
That mindset is the difference between living fully and shrinking back from life. It doesn’t mean there aren’t setbacks. There absolutely are. I have blisters. I have raw skin. I have days where I struggle to put my leg on. I have moments where the socket fit isn’t perfect. I have times where the thought of stairs makes my stomach drop. But the alternative—the idea of sitting in a hotel room, letting my family go off and make memories without me—is far more painful than any physical friction I deal with.
That’s why I said no when my husband offered to get me a wheelchair. Not because I’m stubborn, but because while I can, I will. There may be a day when I truly need one. But that day is not today. Today, I push. Today, I build stamina, strength, grit, and resilience. Today, I invest in the future version of myself who might not have the option anymore.
That’s the heart of this whole experience—and the message I want to share this Thanksgiving.
Life will never hand us perfect circumstances. Pain, obstacles, loss, grief, inconvenience—these things don’t discriminate. But neither does opportunity. If you want something badly enough, whether it’s dancing in a nightclub, traveling, adventuring, walking that extra mile, or simply showing up to life with your whole heart, then you owe it to yourself to try. You owe it to yourself to dream. And you owe it to yourself to change the mindset that tells you “I can’t.”
Because “I can’t” is almost always a lie.
“I can’t right now” is more accurate—and far more temporary.
So this week, I invite you to sit with two things:
First, gratitude.
Not just the obvious stuff—family, home, health—but the deeper gratitude for the strength you didn’t know you had and the moments you didn’t think you’d get to experience.
Second, possibility.
What do you dream of doing? What do you secretly hope you’re brave enough to try? What have you convinced yourself is off-limits?
Write it down.
Name it.
Claim it.
Then take one step—just one—toward it.
Because if a tired, rain-soaked, blistered amputee can take 36,000 steps in a day, climb broken escalators, dance in heels until almost 2 a.m., and fall asleep smiling…
Then you can take one step toward the life you want, too.
Here’s to you and a beautiful Thanksgiving with loved ones.
May you find joy in the moment and gratitude in the little things!
Until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Momentum Begins with One StepAs the holidays creep up—and let’s be honest, sprint toward us—I always feel that yearly tug in a million different directions. I tell myself, This is the year I’ll slow down. This is the year I’ll savor the moments. And every year, without fail, I’m suddenly overscheduled, overtired, and fully submerged in the holiday hustle. Maybe you feel that too: the pull to do everything, be everything, and somehow stay balanced through it all.
So today, I want to dig into something that feels especially timely: getting started. Not after the holidays, not when life slows down—because we both know it won’t—not when it feels convenient or perfect, but now. Because “someday” is the biggest dream-killer we let linger in our lives.
If you’ve followed me through the last five and a half years of this podcast, you already know I’m not a New Year’s resolutions girl. I don’t believe in them. The moment we attach the idea of January 1st to our goals, we create an escape hatch where quitting feels expected. And most people do quit. Not because their goals weren’t worthy, but because the whole concept of a resolution is built around hype, not habit.
So let’s shift the mindset. Let’s reclaim the idea that today is always the right day to begin.
It took a lot of practice in safe areas before I could navigate rugged, mountain terrain.
There’s a quote I love by Zig Ziglar: “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” And it hits me hard every time because I’ve lived that truth. I think of my husband explaining his work to our boys. Half the time I’m listening like he’s speaking another language. I’m not dumb—I’m just not educated in his world. And he’d be just as lost if I handed him a halter and asked him to read a horse’s body language.
Greatness, skill, confidence—they aren’t innate. They’re built through countless clumsy, uncertain beginnings.
And yet, I’ll be honest with you: I’ve held myself back from starting things I deeply want to do, simply because I wanted to be great before daring to begin. I didn’t want to stumble. I didn’t want to look foolish. I didn’t want to muddle through the awkward first steps.
Sound familiar?
But the truth is this: we must begin before we’re ready. We must risk the messy beginnings. We must accept that expertise is the reward of showing up, not the prerequisite.
And nowhere has this been more true for me than in my life as an amputee.
Arthur Ashe said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” If that doesn’t describe the amputee journey, I don’t know what does.
Where you are right now might be a hospital bed. It might be a physical therapy room. It might be your living room floor trying to figure out how to put on your first liner. You might be in the trust stage with your prosthesis—or the frustration stage. Maybe both.
But wherever you are, you have something you can begin with.
Even in the hospital bed I was journaling, goal setting and reading about ways to attack my goals and letting go of the “Hurry”.
When I was recovering from surgery this summer, stuck in a hospital bed, I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t train. I couldn’t be in my prosthesis. But I could start lining up appointments. I could coordinate with insurance. I could talk to my prosthetist and prepare for the moment my surgeon cleared me. I wasn’t waiting for life to happen to me—I was setting the stage.
And when that first prosthesis went on, and it felt like a ten-pound concrete block strapped to my body, all that preparation mattered. My muscles were weak. My endurance was gone. And I had absolutely NO idea how exhausting simply walking to the end of my block would be. But that’s where starting came in.
I didn’t begin by walking miles. I began by walking houses.
I didn’t build strength through ease. I built it through effort.
One of the best things I ever did was join a 175-mile virtual challenge. At the time, I thought, Two miles a day? Easy. Wrong. My first day wasn’t even a quarter mile before I had to stop. But every day, I pushed a little farther—one house, two houses, one street, one block. Eventually, those tiny victories strung together into big victories. And then into medals. And then into confidence.
Today, I’ve completed around twenty-five virtual races. And I didn’t start able to do any of it. I started barely able to walk in my own house.
That’s what starting does. It reshapes your identity from the inside out.
So here’s my challenge to you: begin today. Not a week from now. Not when you “feel ready.” Not when you believe you’re strong enough or smart enough or capable enough. Begin now, with exactly what you have in this moment.
Pick one goal—not fifteen. One thing you’ve been afraid to start or have kept putting off. One thing that makes your heartbeat pick up when you imagine accomplishing it.
Then write down the steps. What can you do today? What’s the smallest action that moves you forward?
You don’t need perfect conditions. You need commitment.
And as you start, give yourself grace. Some days will be setbacks, especially if you’re healing. Some days your body won’t cooperate. Some moments will feel defeating. But don’t let a bad day turn into a bad week, and don’t let a bad week become a lost year.
Warriors rise. Warriors begin. Warriors keep going.
I’m starting my own new goal today. I promise that. And I want to hear yours. Message me on Instagram at @BAWarrior360. Let’s do this together. Let me be your accountability partner if you need one.
Because the secret to getting ahead is simple: get started.
Have a blessed week ahead, and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Traveling The Yellow Brick Road of Amputee LifeIn this episode, I want to talk about one of the biggest learning curves after limb loss — getting fitted for a prosthesis. Nobody really tells you how challenging this part can be. You think, “Okay, I’ll get my prosthetic leg or arm, strap it on, and get back to life.” But if only it were that simple, right? The truth is, it’s a process — one that takes time, patience, and a whole lot of communication with your prosthetist.
When I first started, I honestly thought it was going to be pretty straightforward. They’d take some measurements, make the socket, I’d try it on, and off I’d go. But wow, did I learn quickly that’s not how it works. Every limb is unique. Every body changes — sometimes from morning to night. So that “perfect fit” we all hope for doesn’t just happen once and stay that way. It’s something that evolves.
And that means working with your prosthetist becomes this back-and-forth relationship. There’s a lot of give and take involved. They’re the experts in design and fit, but you are the expert in how it feels — and that matters just as much.
Now, I’ll admit — in the beginning, I had my fair share of frustration. When the socket rubbed wrong or my limb was sore, I’d get upset and think, “Why isn’t this working?” It was easy to blame the prosthesis or think the prosthetist did something wrong. But with time, I started realizing there was a little user error in there too. Sometimes I wasn’t putting it on right. Sometimes I didn’t pay attention to small aches that turned into bigger problems. And sometimes… I just didn’t know what I didn’t know.
That’s a big part of this journey — learning to take accountability where it’s due. Not in a shameful way, but in an empowering way. Once we start owning our part in the process, things really start improving. We ask more questions. We write down what we are feeling. We pay attention to pressure spots and skin changes. And most importantly, we communicate all of that clearly with our prosthetist.
Change happens!
Teamwork and communication are key!
Because here’s the thing — they can’t feel what you feel. They can’t fix what they don’t know about. So, if something doesn’t feel right, say it. Speak up. Be honest, even if it feels awkward. That’s how you get the best outcome.
If you’re new to being an amputee, remember this: it’s okay to not have it all figured out. You’re learning. This whole process — from fitting to comfort to walking confidently again — it’s a marathon, not a sprint. You’ll get there. Just keep showing up, keep asking questions, and keep working with your prosthetist as a team.
Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about a prosthesis fitting right — it’s about you finding your rhythm again, your confidence, your life.
You are a warrior! It’s time to unleash that warrior and gain back your independence.
Have a beautiful week ahead, and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Enjoying Your Life RIGHT NOW“Want to go for a drive?”
This simple phrase sends my pups into a frenzy! Their excitement is overflowing and their joy is tangible!
This energy is what we should be living for each day, but when we are struggling we find ourselves consumed and can only see the problems, to the positives.
I remember coming back home after losing my mom. I had spent a full month back in Illinois helping my family navigate our loss and returning to my life here in Arizona seemed surreal. My mom and I were best friends, I called her everyday, mostly just for small talk but she was a great listener in times of need. I vividly remember one day, not long after the funeral, driving in my car and thinking, “I need to call monad tell her about….” when my heart dropped and I realized for the first time that she wasn’t ever going to be there again for my call. At that moment I felt the whole world must see the tears streaming down my face and hear my heart ripping in two. At the red light I looked to my left and to my right at the cars on either side of me. I knew they had to be seeing my pain, wondering what could be making me this sad, but instead I saw people in their own world, signing along to music, talking on their phone, laughing with their friends. No one saw my pain! They were living their life, and my life was at a stand still.
That was the moment that I realized that no matter what I was going thro9ugh, the world kept going, the hours kept passing, the days kept moving forward.
I have never felt so alone in my sorrow as I did in that split second at a red light.
What I learned was that no matter what was happening in my life, the world kept turning and I was there and I had purpose.
I firmly believe that each morning I wake and have breath in my lungs that I am to serve a purpose. That is the day when my thinking changed and for the better. Yes, I need to deal with my pain, but I cannot let it run my life and destroy my and my goals.
Even when things had hit rock bottom for me, with my mom’s passing, I had a family, healthy sons, a loving husband, my father. I may have had a bum leg, but I also had creativity, energy, drive, and passion.
My dogs, here, just living in the present. No looking back and no worrying about tomorrow.
My point: No matter what struggles we face in life, we have even more things to be grateful for. We have people in our lives worth fighting for, and we have PURPOSE!
So often we forget to find joy in the simple things, especially when we feel frustrated, in pain, or fearful, but they are still their, it’s just that our focus has shifted away from good and positive to negativity and al that is falling apart.
This week, I want you to find your joy again. I want you to see past your pain and struggles and find the purpose joy my dogs find in an open window on a drive. Find the beauty in the little things and count your blessings!
This week our battlecry is simple: Seek the positive and blessings in your life.
Find joy in the small things, don’t allow negativity, pain, and fear to derail you so much that you forget to see all the good around you.
This is a choice, and one we must profess everyday, lest we forget.
Be strong, dear warriors, and find your purpose and passion.
This valley will end, as all cycles do in life, just don’t sit their waiting for the struggle to end to find happiness, you must seek it now, and when you do you will find that your situation won’t feel as bleak and hope will rise up in you.
So get after it and seek the positive.
Don’t wait to enjoy the drive.
Get out there, roll down those windows and let the wind hit your face. I bet you’ll feel more alive than ever and find inspiration in your life once again.
I pray you find joy in the little things this week and until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Live courageously! Live in the present!
Navigating Life When It Falls Off The RailsSometimes life takes a turn you never saw coming. One moment everything feels steady, predictable, maybe even comfortable — and then suddenly, the tracks shift, and you’re left wondering how to move forward. As an amputee, I’ve had my share of moments where life completely fell off the rails. Moments that tested not just my strength, but my heart.
Let’s talk about what it really feels like when life doesn’t go the way you hoped, and how I’ve learned to keep a positive heart posture even in the middle of the mess. I’ll share the honest truth — that staying positive isn’t about pretending everything’s fine. It’s about choosing, every single day, to look for the light even when the darkness feels closer. It’s about deciding to see possibility instead of limitation, hope instead of defeat.
I talk about what helped me shift my mindset from frustration to faith, from “why me?” to “what now?” Because life isn’t about avoiding the derailments — it’s about how we respond when they happen. I’ve discovered that when we meet life with an open heart, even the hardest seasons can become our greatest teachers.
Having a positive heart posture doesn’t mean you won’t have bad days. It means you show up anyway. You breathe through the pain, you give yourself grace, and you keep moving forward — even if it’s just one step at a time. Through tears, laughter, and maybe a few tough lessons, I’ve learned that our strength isn’t built when everything’s going right; it’s built in the moments when everything feels like it’s falling apart.
My hope is that this episode reminds you that no matter where you are in your journey, you can start again. You can choose to rebuild, to believe, and to live with a heart that stays open to joy, even when life doesn’t go as planned. Because sometimes, when life falls off the rails, it’s just leading us to a new and unexpected destination — one that’s even more beautiful than before.
This week I want you to end your day writing down 3 things you are grateful for. Do this every day and see if it doesn’t help you shift your perspective and get you into a more positive mindset and heart posture. Who knows, this may become your new norm and a habit you carry through life!
Sometimes you’ll find it hard, in the midst of struggle, to see the positive but if you really search I know you can find 3 things that are positives in your life. Dig deep and search your heart.
I pray you have a blessed week ahead, and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Defining Success As An AmputeeWhat is success?
Can any one person define success for the world?
Of course not!
As an amputee we need to remember that. Success id what you make of your life and where you’ll find contentment and happiness behind what you do and accomplish.
For some of us it’s walking for the first time without assistance.
For others it’s wearing their prosthesis all day long.
And yet for others, it’s getting back to work, or the gym.
Facing fears has become our new norm. I remember, when I first got my leg, that every time I went walking inside or outside of my house I had fear well up inside of me and I had to battle it so it didn’t paralyze me and leave me stuck, immobile.
It takes time. It takes courage, but remember your journey is yours.
I know people see amputees walking around in the world like it’s a piece of cake but the reality is we all start over and learn to walk again. Some people charge forward determined to walk again while others are fearful and apprehensive to don their new leg and trust it.
It takes time. It takes practice.
This was my very first test socket, using parallel bars for support, and yes, I was scared!
So what’s the difference on those who walk and those who struggle?
First is mindset, the voice inside your head that is stubborn and tells you, “Yes, you can!” That’s a great voice to have, a positive one. Listen to that voice.
Second, those who find success not only have that positive mindset they also set goals with timelines/deadlines. They are determined to accomplish, despite fears (and yes, we have fears when trying new things, failing, picking ourselves up and trying again-that’s how we learn and improve).
Third, they don’t compare themselves to others. They find joy in their own accomplishments as they improve each day, whatever their goals may be.
What you CAN do are endless possibilities. Like the caterpillar, you need time to become that butterfly.
You can do whatever you put your mind too. However, make sure you are realistic with your goals and timelines. After amputation you may feel stuck or defeated because you had no idea how long healing would take, or how a socket would feel on your own flesh, or even how heavy it would be to manipulate because you got weak while you waited to heal. Just because you were an amazing walker with 2 legs doesn’t mean post amputation is going to be like riding a bike (by the way, post amputation biking riding is also a new challenge, like everything else). You must relearn how to walk because it IS different than before.
Cut yourself some slack. Understand that fears are common and the only way to your goal will be through some of those fears.
But I can promise you, facing fears to reach your goals, no matter how big or small they are, will be one of the most rewarding things you’ll feel.
Just don’t give up. Dig deep and know you are capable. You may be needing to take baby steps to push through, but take them.
You will fail and you will fall, but that is how you learn. Pick yourself back up and go at it again, and again, and again.
Hiking is my favorite activity but is exhausting. The terrain is uncertain but I worked hard to be able to get to this point.
Let’s do this!
Change your mindset to positive mode!
Decide what you most want to achieve.
WRITE IT DOWN!
Set that goal and a plan on how to achieve it. If you want to wear your leg all day but aren’t wearing it at all now then start by saying: Day 1 I will wear it 2 hours around the house (use assistive devices if you are concerned) but wear it! Sit in it, stand in it, mosey around your house with it on. Day 2 wear it for more time, don’t take it off, even if you only wear it 10 minutes longer than yesterday you still improved! Continue on that path. Always adding more time, staying in it longer and walking where you are safe.
After a few days of doing this then you can set a realistic goal deadline to wearing it all day. Set that date!
This is how you achieve your goals, and this is how you will find YOUR success!
Also, success is NOT a straight line without setbacks. If you are having a bad day or the fit hurts, then you use that time to adjust, take a break, and then start again the next day. One setback does NOT mean you’ve failed, it means you are learning!
Keep going, Warrior!!!
You can do this, I know you can.
Remember, you are stronger than you know! Dig deep and find your inner warrior!!!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Let’s Get RealYou’ve been through a lot. You had an amputation, you’ve healed, you’ve gotten fitted for your first socket.
Today you go in to put it all together and walk out the door and on with your life, right? Easy Peasy!
Yes! It’s the most exciting, most freeing day in an amputee’s life, for most people, however it doesn’t end there, and it doesn’t just magically take you back to “normal”.
Managing expectations and understanding how the journey is different for everyone will be helpful for your mental game.
First off, you need to understand that sockets make or break your experience with using a prosthesis. Just because you have the best foot or microprocessor knee (MPK) doesn’t mean you’ll be successful or walk better. Many aspects will factor in to how you handle your prosthesis.
Your prosthetist and his/her skills at listening to you, observing you and creating a socket that is best suited for you is so very important. Also important is your volume change, healing, and pain level.
Even if you have the best, most attentive prosthetist (like my guys, Randy and David at The Limb Center) who have created the most intimate socket for you, taking into account your contours and sensitivity, doesn’t mean that when you get your final socket you’ll be off and running. There are many aspects of those first 1-2 weeks of wearing the new socket that you will have to work through.
First, putting it on for the first time will take practice and more practice. Putting it on and off multiple times each morning wouldn’t be uncommon. It is not Lego pieces that snap together perfectly, your limb will conform and fill your new socket better over time and your inner socket will mold to your limb over time and make it easier to put it on correctly the first time each morning.
Next, you will find that anything manmade isn’t perfect, even a remake of your test socket into a final socket, even though the same mold is used. This means that even if your test socket is feeling like the right fit, you’ll find that your final socket is a little different. It feels different, fits different, and can cause new rubs and rashes. It’s crazy, but by the end of my very first day in my brand new socket it was falling off….even though I was wearing my test sockets everyday, all day, for several weeks. My volume changed!
Finally, the best thing you can do is to continue to wear your socket to see what it’s doing, how it’s fitting, where it rubs or creates issues on your skin. My prosthetist always says 72 hours is a good gauge of how it REALLY is going to fit you. In 72 hours you can really test it and find how it functions in different situations and at different times of the day. Let’s face it, our bodies change throughout the day, and from day to day. To truly be able to communicate clearly what changes need to be made to your socket you have to put it to the test and make notes of what and where you are feeling things.
It would be so nice to receive your brand new leg and be off to the races but that is not reality for amputees. So many things can change and alter our fit, from one socket to the next, and from day to day and hour to hour. All you can do is learn patience and communicate clearly to your prosthetist so they know what you are feeling and what you need.
I went back to my guys two times, already, after wearing my brand new leg for 5 days.
This is a process. When you know this you can avoid some of the frustrations associated with socket fitting, and avoid feeling all alone in this journey. We all have some sort of adjustment to make once we get our “final”socket. And the fact is, when you are in your first 2-3 years post-amputation as soon as you get a socket you’ll have outgrown it so quickly that you’ll feel like you never even had a chance to really break it in and get use to it before it’s time for a new one.
This is a part of the journey of the 1000 legs, (at least that’s what it feels like).
My photo at the top is my actual sockets minus 6 ( a total of 18 in 6 years- most of those, probably about 15 where made in the first 3 years!)
Embrace the journey, be prepared for the time it takes and the process it takes to hone in to getting the best fit. Trust me, it’ll be worth it. When you get a great fit ti will make a world of difference.
Simple:
This week, if you are in a socket that you just received, wear it. Really give it a good try, even if it’s uncomfortable. Gather as much data and intel about the fit and the sore areas so you can ask your prosthetist. to make adjustment, with confidence. The better you communicate the sooner you’ll be in a socket that fits well and allows you to get back to life.
If you are about to get a new socket, or your first socket, I hope this helps you manage expectations so you come through this process in a positive state of mind.
Be excited, for sure. Getting a first socket or a new socket brings hope to you and your family. It’s exciting to design it, and to have your independence back, just understand that it is a process that you will have to navigate.
You will do just fine. You are not alone. I hope that brings comfort to you and a hope of a bright future as an amputee.
I hope you have a blessed week until we meet again.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Taking Action During “Construction”We are all a work in progress. That’s life, right? We all have those moments where you feel you are working on something in your life. Your health, a career, or relationships, you name it.
But what do you do in these moments? How do you continue to grow and better yourself during the construction?
It all starts within you. We begin by working on ourselves.
Right now, while I would rather be working out, being with my horses, and hiking, I can barely walk around my house due to having to use a test socket that is uncomfortable and rubbing me raw. And during this time, I am feeling miserable! I was trying to kick start my health since surgery but have hit moments where I need to work on patience, and heal. Now I feel so far removed from being in shape and that takes a toll on my mental game. Now that I’m in this situation I cannot get to my horses because it’s too hard to walk on normal surfaces, imagine walking across uneven ground of rock, sand and dirt.
This is my time to focus on my thoughts and heart. This is a time I am put into a slow down phase and being led to work on what I can.
How do we go about working on ourselves? We start with seeing the good in the world, seeing the good in our situation and finding joy in the moment despite your circumstances. Next we can assume the best, meaning when we assume the best in a person we can control our emotions much better which leads us to less anger and frustration and more joy. Finally, we must act!
This week we must ACT! Not when we feel it or when joyfulness is in us, but rather right now! Maybe you are struggling or hurting right now. This is the time to look outside of yourself and your situation and reach out to another human, your neighbor, to spread joy and positivity.
Maybe you check in on a neighbor, share a conversation and a smile.
Take care of your support system around you: your spouse, family member, a friend. Let them know you care and are grateful for all they have done for you.
Maybe you see someone struggling in a parking lot, getting groceries in their car. Spend time spreading love and helpfulness by giving them a hand.
It doesn’t take money or a lot of time, it just takes your attention and to show someone, “Hey, I see you. Thank you for all you do. Let me help you”.
Whatever you do, do in love, with patience, kindness, and selflessly.
When we give of ourselves, we share love, we show our humanity, and we spread goodness into the world. The world could use that right about now.
Imagine if everyone looked inward and made changes on themselves. Imagine the kind of world we would live in with that kind of kindness being spread!
Wouldn’t that be something!
So, Dear Warriors, what are you going to do while you are under construction this week?
How can you make a difference in spite of your circumstances?
When you focus on others you take the focus off of yourself and it allows you to get out of your own head and release what has been holding you back in your “construction time” and place it elsewhere. What you will see is that your life will be enriched and fuller. Your joy will overflow when you bring joy to others.
Try it and get back to me! Let me know how it’s going.
I’m rooting for you, Warriors! You are strong. You are special. You are loved!
Have a blessed week ahead, and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
A Journey of a Thousand Miles Must Begin With a Single Step-Lao Tzu.
Traveling is exciting but can also be stressful. Packing the right clothing for the weather, the events, and what makes you feel amazing. You try to pack neatly and concisely so you can pack everything you want and need.
As an amputee, things become a little more confusing and worrisome. What will you need? What MUST come with? What if this happens or that happens? All of a sudden, packing and traveling becomes almost impossible. How will you ever pack for every situation with the space you have?
There are so many rules with TSA and airports. There are so many unknowns in hotels. Knowing how to navigate these specifics with travel comes with experience. You learn more, for your unique situation, as you go but we can also help each other as we gain our own understanding and experiences.
Today I share my tips and tricks and my own experiences from the years of traveling, especially by plane, to help you on your own journey in hopes that you can enjoy your time more and worry less.
As you travel more you will become less worried about the process and be able to focus on the trip, and enjoy making memories.
You will find ways to make each trip a little more efficient and packing a little more streamlined.
If you are traveling soon, by plane, give yourself plenty of time the first few trips so you don’t feel rushed or miss your flight.
Don’t be too proud to use a wheelchair as you go through airports, and make sure you bring your basic amputee necessities. I kept a list that I accumulated as I went (things I realized I needed but never thought of or forgot in the beginning), this way I could check off the items I needed each time I packed for a trip. It eventually became unnecessary after traveling many times over the years.
Traveling should be a way to unwind and enjoy life after all you’ve been through. When you’re ready to begin travels, don’t be held back by fears, just charge forward and live!
It’s time to experience life and move forward from your amputation. Go enjoy the world and make memories!
“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” -John A. Shedd
You were built for more than sitting around and wishing for more. You were meant to experience it! Go out and enjoy these moments now and chase down those dreams!
Go out, Warriors, and explore the world. You deserve it!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Setting Goals & Thinking Positively to Live The Life of Your DreamsSuccessful people know how to succeed and what it takes to succeed.
So what is it? What do they know that you don’t?
Everyone knows that hard work pays off and that practice makes permanence.
But what separates you from someone who is doing the very thing you want to do, too?
Now, of course there is DNA involved in some of that, talent can be passed down from generation to generation, however, I’m talking about post amputation, and how one person adjusts to this new life better than others. What separates THOSE people?
I would agree that mindset and visualization is a huge factor.
I know we all come to amputation differently, and our circumstances are all totally different. Even our support system looks different from one person to the next, but those aren’t what make it or break it for us.
You have seen stories of people overcoming the worst odds and overcoming horrendous circumstances to find success.
What is their secret sauce to breaking free?
It is their grit and their determination for their situation NOT to define them, and not to inhibit them and their desires.
That comes from having an intense desire to achieve, to prove people wrong, to dream despite where they are right now.
They don’t allow their circumstance to define their future and their life. they rise above those circumstances, DESPITE them!
HOW?
They have a desire and a yearning to prove the world wrong.
They want to live.
They want to reach their goals.
They want to LIVE the life they still want.
It truly comes down to the fight within and then making a plan and then executing that plan.
Mindset matters!
When things start to get hard what do you do?
Do you buckle down and press in harder or do you cave in to the pressure?
Do you write down your goals and no matter what, keep forging forward despite how today feels or do you cry “Uncle” and say it just isn’t meant to be?
That is the difference.
Each of us will have great days, those are the days we can easily see us reaching our goals and the days that feed us happy thoughts and optimism.
But, the really champions are made on the hard days!
The hard days are when sickness knocks you down, or when your leg hurts too much to want to put on your socket. It’s the days when a setback happens like an infection or a revision surgery and dreams get deferred. Where are you on THOSE days? Did you give up or adjust your timeline? Did you see this moment as the roadblock to giving up, or just the next challenge you are ready to hit head on?
Everyone has those days, but those that want to succeed find a way to get through them.
Mindset matters! Self talk matters.
I believe we all have the fight within us, but our priorities are different.
We all have a desire to succeed, but only some want it bad enough to keep getting up when they get knocked down.
When we have our bad days, or days of struggles, that is when we choose the path. Do we want our goals and dreams bad enough to fight through the hard days, or does that just exhaust us and we raise the white flag in surrender?
Same goes with how we see ourselves. When we feel great about how we look, how clothes fit, and feel good about who looks back at us in the mirror, we feel on top of the world, but the moment we have an uncomfortable feeling or a change in perspective we become harsh with ourselves and show zero grace. That’s when I find negativity can destroy all we have been working towards.
In the end, we all have ebbs and flows in our views of ourselves, our looks, our accomplishments at the moment. One moment we feel amazing about what we’ve accomplished, like walking a mile in our prosthesis, to all of a sudden feeling inferior because we allowed comparison and negativity into our minds.
This is self destructive behavior, and we can all fall into it.
What will you do to set yourself up for success in the midst of the hard days?
It’s time to set a plan into action.
It’s so easy to see your end goal and how easy it’ll be to get there…. on GREAT days, even good days, but it’s what we do and how we handle the bad days or the hard days, when life takes a turn and tries to take you down.
Set goals!
Add in baby steps to achieving those goals. Have a game plan not just a final achievement that you want to fulfill.
Ask yourself, what will it take to achieve that.
How long will this goal take? What will each week look like, and even break down the goal into daily activities to help you get there.
When we break goals down into baby steps or daily achievements we do two things:
*we make the BIG goal attainable
*we have a plan in place for every day to keep us accountable and showing us attainable small goals that will also lift our spirits and keep us mentally strong on the road to the BIG goal. This will help you keep a more positive mindset throughout.
I would also use post-it notes around your home of positive comments for you to see so you remember, even on the tough days, what your mind was thinking about you and your goals on the good days. Does that make sense?
We can all find success, but success looks different for each of us. Stop comparing yourself to others, there is no one like YOU!
Set the goals you dream of and stay focused. You deserve that! You can do this!
Remember we all have a warrior spirit within us, we just need to unleash it and use it to do great things!
Don’t give up, Dear Warriors, keep pushing forward to the dreams you want and for the life you want to live!
You are strong enough and capable enough! Don’t ever forget that!
And as always, until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Healing Physically, Adapting Mentally and EmotionallyAmputation isn’t just the act of amputating a limb.
It isn’t just surgery, heal, and walk.
This is a process. It takes time, money, patience, and a whole lot of grit!
Unfortunately, most patients that knowingly go into amputation surgery can’t comprehend the struggles to come. For those who didn’t choose or prep for amputation, they have no idea of the life that’s ahead of them. For them, their emotional and mental state need to heal first, while they wait for their physical healing. They had their life torn apart by disease or war or an accident.
Whichever category you fall into know that you will get through this but it takes time, and commitment. You will need to work on, what I feel are, the four major components of successfully navigating amputee life: Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Financial.
Physical:
Obviously, you will take time to heal. You will need to learn to rebalance with less weight on one side of your body and also how to get around with crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair. You need to heal your incision but also the bone, muscle, and tissue. It was told to me that true healing takes up to 12 months. Within that time you will also experience new sensations and possibly phantom pains, all of which you will learn to adapt and work through. The whole wearing of a shrinker and then being cleared for a socket is a whole other side of the physical aspect you will need to come to grips with.
Mental:
As an elected amputee I had four months to prepare my mind for what was to come. I could ask questions, meet people, find peace with my decision, and set my future goals and dreams. Setting goals and daring to dream of a brighter future post-amputation is invaluable and can set you up for success. Manifesting your own destiny with a powerful and positive mindset is key! Get your mental game lined up as soon as you can.
Emotional:
Being ready to face your new life and new look is extremely important. Understanding how to deal with some of the struggles and hurdles you will face is hard to prepare for ahead of time, just know that when you do face a hardship that you need to take a step back, take a deep breathe and understand that these moments will end and good times will happen again. This journey is filled with ups and downs, highs and lows, pains and peace.
If you have dealt with an amputation due to someone else’s negligence, like an accident you were involved in, then you may have some extra baggage to address with your emotions, anger and hate. These emotions are poison to your healing. They can create some major problems for you and ultimately stifle your level of success as an amputee. Letting go of negativity will allow for healing and growth.
Insurance/Money:
My general practitioner gave me great advice ahead of my surgery, to contact my insurance company so I knew and understood my coverage and the rules of external prosthesis, but even then I got the short end of the stick (listen in to hear what happened!).
Remember that prosthetics are your new ‘forever’, being able to afford them or having coverage for them is highly important. Be prepared for what’s to come so you don’t feel like you’ve been duped. The reality is that you may be looking to get a new one every 3 years (most prosthetics have a 3 year warranty-at least that’s what I deal with as an above knee amputee with MPKs).
I wished more people had some of these basic facts before their surgery, but you learn as you go, that’s how my journey happened, and is still happening. Everyone’s experience is different, and you need to do what you need to do to embrace your new life as an amputee. The best teacher is time and experience.
This week is simple in detail but tough to execute.
Look yourself in the mirror and address what weakness you have and where you struggle the most in your life.
Are you weaker inner mental game or physical (being strong and healthy is important pre-surgery)?
Is your emotional state a struggle?
Be honest with yourself and really try to address your weaknesses.
Next, list your goals and dreams. Dare to go big! Manifest your future with positivity and standards you want to achieve and live up to. These will save you in times of struggle and give you incentive to keep fighting.
Being prepared doesn’t mean you won’t fall and falter, but it will give you a head start of your new life as an amputee.
Give yourself a fighting chance and reap the benefits of your preparedness and positive mindset.
You are stronger than you think and more resilient than you’ll ever know.
Rise up, Warriors, and prepare for battle!
Cheers to a blessed week ahead,
And until next week,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Knowing Who and What To Ask About AmputationBecoming an amputee is so surreal. Electing to have it done is a choice I never thought I would have to make.
It brings about fears, anxieties, questions, and so much uncertainty.
How do you know life will be better?
What if I can’t wear a prosthesis?
Will I walk again or will I be in a wheelchair the rest of my life?
How long does it take to heal from an amputation
Do I get a leg right away?
Is walking like riding a bike, easy once you do it again?
How do I find a prosthetist?
Do I need to go to PT while I’m healing or after I get a leg?
So many questions, yet so many more that you may not even be thinking of.
How do you know what to ask your doctor? What type of doctor is best for this surgery?
Who is the most important person in your life right now, or how about in 5-10 years?
Most of these questions I, myself, didn’t even know that I had because I didn’t know I needed to ask them.
But I got lucky, or maybe it was fate.
My surgeon was amazing.
He sent me to the best prosthetist in town at The Limb Center.
The Limb Center sent me to an amazing, caring physical therapist at Touchstone Rehabilitation.
They were my team, and besides my family, they were my biggest supporters and fighters for my life, dreams, and goals.
Listen in today, and please share this episode with someone you know is going through, or about to go through, amputation. It may give them a better than fighting chance of knowing more about what is to come and allow them to find greater success as an amputee.
We all have a warrior spirit within us just waiting to be called out.
You need to educate yourself, and learn to fight for the life you want.
Now is the time to be that warrior, so rise up, dear Warrior, and pave the path to your successes.
I hope you find something that helps you, motivates you, and supports you in this episode. Don’t forget to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.
Have a blessed week ahead.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
This has been a weekend!
Everything was set up perfectly. A family getaway for a long weekend, before our youngest goes back to college, and bringing the dogs to see the ocean for the first time. I couldn’t be happier!
We got to Carlsbad, California Friday late afternoon and took our pups for a walk. Dinner came and we fed them as normal but around 9:00 pm my year and half old pup started acting really weird, almost drunk. She tanked quickly after that, just as my boys were arriving. I called the All night pet ER and asked a few questions and was told by the doctor on call that she could’ve gotten into illicit drugs around the beach! Are you kidding me?!?!?
We took off for the clinic and when we arrived her heart rate was 160!
They gave her a sedative and took a urine sample to test.
We held her and waited. They continued to monitor her heart rate, which thankfully came back down to 70-80 bpm.
This is how our family vacation started! Needless to say I was completely stressed out and afraid for our pup. we brought her home where I monitored her all night long with no sleep….
Now let’s get to the pain part of this story.
Don’t get wrapped up in the moment of pain. Look out and see the beauty around you and a future that will get better.
This was the first full day in my newest socket since my surgery, add in the stress from the night and Saturday was painful! Phantom pains grew and I started to get a raw mark on my thigh from the top of the socket, plus for added fun, a stomach ache. I was a hot mess!
I did everything in my power to stay positive, deep breathing often and enjoying our beautiful view, but damage was done.
I didn’t get in the steps I had hoped I would get this weekend but I will take a small win- I wore my prosthesis everyday all day, even when I just wanted to take it off.
I let my husband know the pain I was in on Sunday as our kids were packing up to leave for home. I wanted him to know why I was a bit quieter than normal but that was it. I didn’t speak of it any other time, why? I won’t allow pain to gain power on my life. Even on those hard days. If it’s so bad that I can’t walk then I focus on what I can do to have a “win” in my corner-wearing it all day.
Our mind is so very powerful and when we allow pain to take over, consuming us, talking about it often and at every turn, that’s not healing that’s sabotaging yourself.
It’s ok to get quiet in those moments and allow yourself to muscle through hard times, just know that they will pass but talking about them can set you back and hold you down, downing you in the pain. It can be almost impossible to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
What do you do to help yourself in the midst of pain?
Do you give yourself grace knowing it’s a part of life or do you get consumed by pain?
What are steps you take to get your mind right when it seems impossible?
Do you have a good support system to help you navigate life during these trials?
Don’t give up, Warrior, this too shall pass.
Reach out and tell me how you are managing your setbacks.
And remember, you are stronger than you think.
Have a blessed week and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
That is the QuestionAmputation is a difficult road, one that can change direction quickly, even after you heal.
For many amputees the surgical side of their life isn’t over. Many of us end up needing a TMR surgery or even a revision, while others will have to amputate even higher! Going from a below knee to an above knee amputation is life changing because one amputation is completely different from the next. What is required of you to be able to walk again, heal again, and trust again takes its toll.
So why do revisions happening? Why are they required for so many?
For some people their bone density is compromised. For others, bones spurs grow causing pain, And still others, myself included, find foreign objects left in their limb that no longer serve a purpose and only cause distress for the nerves. There are so many reasons that revision is brought up in doctor offices around the world and so many amputees who find it hard to wrap their head around being opened up again.
This past summer, just 8 weeks ago, I had this very choice. I was a possible candidate for an experimental surgery that I wasn’t sure the rewards were worth the risks, until we did a CT scan finding a foreign object coming out of my femur, causing the pains I have been dealing with for 6 years!
But what if your story isn’t so clear cut? How do you decide that revision is right for you?
Make a list of pros and cons about your revision.
Compare them and talk about them with your family and the people who support you.
Be open minded, not all revisions are necessary and timelines change.
Allow the chips fall where they may and be attentive to what’s going on around you: how have you been feeling, how’s the pain, is there something specific that you really must have done (maybe you have an underlying infection-you don’t want to wait on that one), maybe you’ve been promised a “nicer” looking residual limb.
Whatever it is, weigh that in your mind and on your list, and ask, is it necessary, and if the surgery doesn’t go as planned are you ready for that outcome?
And finally, something I’ve always believed in, Mindset and Manifestation.
Make your decision then, if you’re going for it, leave the “what if’s” behind and start setting your goals and VISUALIZING your successes post-revision. Your brain is powerful and where you led it, it will follow!
You are stronger than you know, dear Warrior!!!
It’s time to rise up!
Have a blessed day,
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Amputation is a tough road. If you make the decision to amputate or if your limb is taken from you by accident or disease it’s a bumpy ride, right from the get go.
Most people assume that once you get through the surgical part and physically heal that you are back to life as usual. that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
As an amputee with 6 1/2 years of experience I can tell you that once I healed and was able to get fitted with a prothesis my journey of ups and downs was just beginning.
The one aspect that I am extremely grateful to my GP for pointing out to me was insurance. Even though I had my head wrapped around the idea of taking my leg, and I knew I had the grit and determination to tolerate all the limb changes that were coming, I needed to be sure that A) I knew what type of prosthesis I needed to live an active life and B) that my insurance covered it.
What I fought for:
This was the beginning of the most emotional and draining 4 weeks of my life. This was a fight I wasn’t prepared for, even though I thought I was.
This week I take you through what I did to cover myself, (or at least thought that I was covered), what happened that spun me out of control for 4 weeks, and how I bounced back to fight for the leg I needed to live a good and healthy life.
You may have to deal with this for yourself or someone you love, it’s good information, and from someone who now has to fight every 3 years to get the leg she needs to be mobile and I hope that my story helps you in your fight.
“No”should never be the answer when someone wants to be as mobile and healthy as they can be. We must learn how to prepare to face the insurance giants and how they work so we can be ready to stand up for ourselves and the lives we want to lead.
It’s no easy task but it is one worth our time and energy.
Remember the old saying, “The squeaky wheel gets the oil?” That became my motto that entire month I fought for my prosthesis.
Are you facing this blockade in your future, or even right now?
Check out how I went to battle and what you can do to prepare yourself.
Let’s get prepared!
First, understand your insurance plan. Look for what is covered under external prosthesis devices and what is needed to be approved, usually notation from doctor of it being “medically necessary”.
Second, get with your prosthetist and find out exactly what type of prosthesis you’ll be getting according to what your lifestyle was, what you dream of doing, and what you will be capable of (Usually you’ll take a K level test to determine your ability-my PT did this with me).
Third, get the code(s) that can be tricky and denied by most insurances and start making the call to your insurance company and ask if it’s covered by your insurance.
I even went to the extreme of calling my insurance company multiple times over the 4 months before my surgery to hear different employees tell me that “Yes, that code is covered.” Now they had it on recorded phone calls (Important to know that all calls are recorded, however, if you ask for the recordings they will tell you that your lawyer will have to file for them!!! Yes, I asked because I thought I was going to have to sue them for undo stress!).
This should be a great start to getting your approval, but even though I did all of these things, I actually got a big ‘ole “NO!” after my amputation… and while I had done my due diligence I hadn’t planned on my insurance company changing the wording on my plan after the first of the year to NOT include the code that was previously approved.
These are the unknowns you can’t prepare for but must find it in yourself to fight beyond that. You need to connect with people that can help, your doctor, your prosthetist, the prosthetic company even has their own insurance coordinator, and MAKE IT PERSONAL!
I made sure the calls I made to supervisors every day that month that I told them who I was, about my family, and my hopes and dreams I had for my future. You are NOT a claim number you are a person with a life. Make them see that and feel that.
These are just some starting points but I hope they help you navigate the crazy world of insurance claims.
Now get up and fight for your life of your dreams!
Don’t take No for an answer, dear Warriors!
Rise up and fight!!
Have a beautiful day and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Letting Go and Leaning InI have been an amputee for 6 1/2 years, but before that I had a taekwondo injury that took me through 5 years, 10 surgeons and 10 surgeries, plus a blood clot to decide it was time to start living again and make the biggest decision of my life.
Alone in the decision, I was not. I had an amazing support system with my husband, two boys and my family back home. I had friends rallying around me and a church I belonged to. However, I was exhausted.
I had put so much energy into saving my leg that I had depleted all of my positivity and resolve. How was I ever going to come terms with cutting off my leg?
Today I want to share with you all my story of Faith. I feel it is time to be true to myself and honor my beliefs.
I could NOT have done this without my “Secret Sauce”.
I get asked a lot how I handled making this big decision and how I keep going despite the pains and trials of being one leg down. I did NOT do it alone, but it takes something more than cheerleaders in my life. No, my “secret sauce” is greater than anything else, greater than my own drive or perfectionism. I needed to find peace and purpose in my decision.
If you are struggling my hope is that this brings some answers and help for you. Maybe you are curious as to where my positivity comes from or my resolve. Today I share my profound experience with my Faith that changed EVERYTHING in a moment…and I have never looked back.
I hope my experience helps you and opens a door you never knocked on. Let me know. Reach out to me with your own profound experience with faith over fear, or just let me know how you struggle. I would love to help you through my own challenges. There is no need to go it alone or to feel abandoned. You have a great cheer;eager in your corner that wants you to live a great life. Trust and look up, Warriors!
I hope you all have a blessed day and as always,
‘Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be You!!
Much love,
We Need Each OtherWe are creatures built to live in community.
This gives us a safe place to celebrate in great times, gain support in the bad ones, and everything in between.
Talking with people, sharing our journeys and stories, our ups and downs with others, plus listening to our friends and community during their moments is a beautiful symphony of give and take that allows us to feel valued and to give value to others.
I feel that when I hear people struggling that the one thing they are missing is connections with others and the outside world. I notice that about me too.
This past week after sutures were removed I decided I was in need of MY community, the gym.
First day back at the gym since surgery on June 20
Despite the nerves I was feeling about walking thru the doors, missing my leg and clomping around on crutches, I felt at home and ready to push myself again.
People who knew me “showed up” for me with thumbs up, smiles, and positive comments that made me feel valued and supported. I was on cloud nine and pumped to be back again!
Those endorphines were ROCKIN’!
How about you?
Are you feeling alone and stuck?
Check below for some tips:
You were meant to deal with life in a community.
It doesn’t have to be huge, just people who love you, support you, are real with you, and hear you.
It is also. place where you can reciprocate those values through being a great listener.
Remember; Give and Take.
So this week, FIND YOUR COMMUNITY!
Women amputees, join my virtual meet ups through Facebook Events on Zoom, every Wednesday at either 4:00 pm or 8:00 pm EDT.
Pick up the phone and connect with a friend.
Get back to what you love, even if you’re on crutches or in a wheelchair. Time to ditch the vanity, and embrace the moment you are in right now, it won’t be forever. And if it is, even more reason to embrace it NOW! This is you, time to move forward.
If you like the gym, find a way to get there.
If you love book clubs, join one and create a new community for yourself.
Maybe you have a neighbor who would love some company, wouldn’t you?
It’s time!
Community also means you have people from whom you can ask help. I know for many of us, asking for help looks like we are conceding and are weak, but I am learning that asking for help is a sign of growth and knowing that in this moment, I can’t do everything I want to be able to do. You aren’t giving up or quitting, just accepting limits right now.
So get out there, connect, make new friends, reach out to old ones and live your life where you are at right now! Don’t wait for things to be perfect, that time will never come.
Make your life what you want, start now.
Rise up, dear Warriors, you are worthy!
Have a blessed week.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
The AMI Procedure and Magneto MicrometryThis week I was honored to have back on my podcast, Dr Hugh Herr.
Hugh is a bilateral below knee amputee and a professor of Media Arts and Sciences at MIT.
He directs the MIT Biomechatronics Group and Co-directs the K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics.
Time Magazine coined Hugh the ‘Leader of the Bionic Age’.
He has also authored and co-authored over 350 peer-reviewed manuscripts and patents, chronicling the science and technology behind his many innovations.
Dr. Hugh Herr is, in short, making huge contributions in the amputee community, giving amputees a hopeful future in living active and healthy lives.
Today, we discuss the AMI procedure (agonist-antagonist myoneural interface) which is the surgery I just had done in Boston with Dr Matthew Carty (co-creator of this surgery with Hugh) on June 20.
I was back in the MIT Media Lab over a year and a half ago, when I first met Hugh while I was a control group to test their bionic knee based on my traditional amputation.
Little did I know that less than two years later I would undergo groundbreaking surgery to improve my limb and prepare my body to use the myoneural knee that is soon to be made commercial.
This is exciting and unbelievable technology that brings hope and excitement to me, as an amputee, because we are going to see a huge change in our mobility based on this type of procedure plus the bionics, 3D printed sockets, and the Magneto Micrometry that is coming out of MIT!
Hugh working with a PhD student on the “bionic” knee. Photo credit. Jimmy Day/MIT Media Lab
Amputees, get excited for what is coming!
Our future looks so bright and we are going to have technology on our side so we can reach our goals and dream big dreams!
Listen in as Hugh takes us through everything coming down the MIT Media Lab pipeline and how it’ll work together to make us stronger, healthier, and more capable than ever before!
Warriors, this is incredible and inspiring!
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, Hugh, for taking time out of your very busy schedule to speak with me and bring more visibility to our future as amputees and for all the innovations and dedication to making us more complete and more than capable than we ever thought possible.
We appreciate you and all of your students and colleagues at MIT and MassGeneral.
For more information on the AMI procedure check out my June 9, 2025 episode with Dr. Matthew Carty HERE
And for a more in depth conversation with Dr. Hugh Herr about his journey, you can listen HERE
If you have any questions or thoughts on these technological advancements, please reach out to me and let’s have a conversation!
Hope you all have a beautiful week ahead.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Life after Revision Surgery for an AmputeeI must have been crazy, right? To CHOOSE to revise my amputation! To go from being uber active to starting over?!?!
Golfing on Kauai
Having fun catching waves
At the beginning of this interview process, to be eligible for the AMI procedure, I was very interested in the idea of being a part of something so “cutting edge” (pun intended) and chose to continue through the several interview steps to see if I was even eligible.
When it came down to having to go out to Boston for a face to face interview I knew that it was getting very real and that the decision to have it done was going to be all mine. That’s when I started to second guess myself and the reason why I would want to go through that again.
Decisions need to be made, but with a good, clear reason and with no doubts. I couldn’t do something like that again, and have my family be put out because of it… and what if? What if I was as good as I could get? What if I feel more phantom pains? What if, this time I get an infection and start down a harder road than ever before?
I will tell you that I never put those questions in my head or spoke of them before the surgery, but the reality is, those are the concerns that hide in the dark, when you are anxious, vulnerable, weak. These are the doubts that create fear, and then stop us from charging forward and achieving greatness.
Needless to say, my CT scan showed something that had to be dealt with that had nothing to do with the AMI and everything to do with the pains I had been dealing with for 6 years! THAT was what made my decision one I was at peace with. Now here I am 3 weeks post-op.
Starting PT the day after surgery and having those flooding pains upon walking
My biggest support and the guy who has always had my back! <3
Back at the hotel and trying to rest
Fear is such a disabling emotion. It stops us from trying new things, meeting new people, and reaching our goals.
I don’t know about you but I don’t want to live a life where I’m not reaching out and living a full and amazing life because fear holds me back.
What fears are stopping you? What goals are you not hitting because you worry about the “What ifs”?
This week and each day in it I want you to face a fear!
It doesn’t have to be huge, like jumping from a plane, but what’s holding you back from living a full and happy life?
What scares you?
What goals have you been sitting on because something keeps you from achieving them, that YOU control?
Let’s face those fears together and start living!
You are a warrior, you need to believe it and know you have that within you!
You are strong, powerful, and capable!
Now get out there and SLAY YOUR FEARS!!!!
F-ace
E-verything
A-nd
R-ise
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Starting Over Isn’t EasyWho would choose to take a harder road, isn’t life hard enough?
And who would decide to start over after working hard to be high functioning?
What would possess someone to put that sort of challenge in front of them?
Last October I was approached by Dr. Carty’s office, in Boston, if I was interested in doing a study with them. I decided to learn more and had an hour long phone interview with his assistant. This interview led to a second interview with Dr. Carty himself, which inevitably led to a final face-to-face appointment with Dr. Carty, and a decision had to be made.
Dr. Matthew Carty
Ironically, before having the initial interview I was doing just fine where I was. Yes, I had pains, but I thought they were pretty normal and unavoidable for an amputee. However, from October to January I started having more pains and some really strong break through pains, finally ending with a huge blister on the end of my residual limb. That’s what led to my prosthetist making me a new socket.
My thoughts were leaning more towards doing this study, which entailed reopening my original amputation and having some reconstruction done. I knew something wasn’t totally right in my limb so I asked to be checked for a possible neuroma when I went in for my face-to-face appointment. If something showed up then I was ready to have the surgery, and sure enough we found something….
There was a foreign object hanging out of my femur with a bursa surrounding it!!! I was stunned and decided right there that I was going through with this surgery.
Post surgery walk with PT
It seems pretty obvious to have a surgery, but the fact is, it was a big decision.
This not only affects me but also my family.
It also sets me back several months and begins the process again as if I am a new amputee. That is quite the undertaking, for a second time, and I’m not getting any younger.
So why?
Released from the hospital-the smile says it all!
My belief is that we can learn so much about ourselves when we face adversity. We also grow so much more when we are up against hard times. Since becoming an amputee back in 2018 I have met some amazing people, found a deeper and more meaningful purpose in helping people, started this podcast and created a women’s chat group. My life became richer and changed me, and I saw what I was meant to do in this life. With this mindset I couldn’t help but see God’s hand in this setup this time around and I truly am sitting here ready to accept the challenge, grow stronger and spiritually deeper, and accept what is to come, knowing that there is a greater plan for me than I could ever imagine. I wait excitedly for who will come into my life and how this new path will mold and change me.
Life on one leg again… this will be at least an 8 week lifestyle.
I accept this challenge with the hopes of becoming a better person and gain more experiences to help others.
This is why I chose a harder path, the path that includes pain, setbacks, change and uncertainty.
I believe that growth happens when we step out of our comfort zone and take chances.
I believe God has a plan that is far greater than I could ever create or imagine.
I choose to believe that I am a warrior, ready for the fight and ready to rise up again, stronger and even better than before.
How about you? Are you ready to accept the challenge that is in front of you?
Are you in a place that you have a setback? Are you struggling to find the motivation to rise up and unleash the warrior within you?
This week I want you to focus on 2 things:
Your nighttime and morning rituals.
If you are like me you probably check your phone before bed and also when you get up in the morning. I am going to challenge both you and I to adjust this.
At night before you fall asleep look at your calendar for tomorrow. See what’s on your schedule and then what you want to accomplish, whether it is running errands or reading a book. Visualizing completing your goals for tomorrow. Now get some good rest.
As you wake in the morning, don’t reach for that phone until you’ve done two things: taken several long, deep breathes and then run through your goals and visualizing how you’ll get them done.
Make this a daily practice and begin chasing your mindset to accomplishing everything you want to accomplish.
I hope this Call to Action helps you begin a new and productive practice that allows you to grow and feel accomplished.
Remember, you were born to do great things and you have a warrior spirit in you, you just need to find that inner strength.
So Rise Up, Warrior, Rise Up!
Have a beautiful week,
Know that you are beautifully and wonderfully made,
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much Love,
AMI Procedure and The Future of AmputationsBrigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital“For 200 years there has been no real difference in amputation; it’s technique and how it’s done.”
Do you know anything in our world that hasn’t evolved in 200 years? No!
This was a statement that Dr. Carty stated today in our conversation and I was in disbelief. How could that be?
With so many engineering marvels happening at an exorbitant rate it is only natural to turn our eyes on the other side of this coin, the surgical procedure.
Prosthetics have evolved and become more advanced than ever before but our residual limbs are the same they have always been, not allowing amputees to truly reap the benefits of these technological advancements, but that is changing.
Dr. Carty with the help of Dr. Hugh Herr at MIT worked together to improve the human body to be a more synergistic with the devices of today and the future.
Dr. Matthew Carty-Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Hugh Herr-Bilateral below knee amputee, biophysicist, mechanical engineer, co-director of MIT Media Lab
The Agonist/Antagonist Myoneural Interface (AMI) procedure was born out of the ideas of two men who each had something they were searching for to improve functionality of a residual limb and to make it more compatible with the future of prosthetics.
I am excited to share that I will be heading to Boston this weekend to have Dr. Carty perform this procedure on me, as a study candidate, and in hopes to improve my overall functionality. I am truly very excited for this opportunity.
Join us in today’s Real Talk as Dr. Carty goes deep to explain the process of creating, changing, and implementing a new medical procedures, and what exactly the AMI is and what the hopeful outcomes are of a successful surgery.
I am truly honored and appreciated the time you spent with me to record this episode in the midst of your busy schedule, Dr. Carty, and I look forward to working with you soon. See you win Boston!
Enjoy this deep and impactful interview and be sure to subscribe to my Vlog channel on YouTube @OneLegis Enough-BAW to follow my journey through this amazing experience.
Have an amazing week ahead, Warriors!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Setbacks to ComebacksLife is full of ups and downs and as an amputee we must realize that we will face many more challenges, past the amputation itself, years later.
For one, our sound side becomes extremely important to us. Taking care of our good joints while still trying to live a full and healthy life yet protecting what we have left becomes a balancing act and can be very scaring when things go wrong.
We also struggle with pain in our residual limb when our socket doesn’t fit correctly or a neuroma decides to show up.
My current situation is a strained lower back because I work so hard with balance and bending over to pick things off the floor, all on my sound leg which puts undo pressure and tension on my lower back on the opposite side. That is my current setback, and it is not only painful, it’s frustrating!
I have 2 weeks until I take off for Boston to go through extensive reconstructive surgery on my residual limb, plus a unique procedure created by MIT and my doctor. My goal 2 weeks ago was to eat well, cut our alcohol and get back to the gym daily to get in the best shape for this surgery. Literally the first week into that plan I tweaked my back! Now I am trying to be patient and waiting for the slow healing process my back is going through.
1 year after my amputation I found a neuroma in my hamstring and had to go thru another surgery!
Stayed positive but at times it was hard, starting over with healing is hard!
Not being able to wear the prosthesis while healing can break you but setting goals and looking to the future helps. Stay positive!
What I have learned through all the setbacks since becoming an amputee:
-This too shall pass
-Stay positive
-Set goals
-Use this time to do what you CAN do at this moment.
-Setbacks tend to be moments that are setting you up for a comeback. Be ready!
Look to the future. Dream! Stay focused on your goals and objectives!
If you are going through a setback now, don’t get discouraged just keep focused on the positive and the future.
It is not the end, it’s just a moment for your mind and body to be prepared for something more.
This week I challenge you to be still and focus your attention to what you CAN do and positive thoughts during a setback or a rough patch.
Try these steps out:
-Realize that this moment won’t last forever.
-Use this time to stop and listen to your body and realize what it needs to heal, usually it is telling you to give it a break and let it heal.
-Set goals for yourself to do once your setback fades away.
-Visualize yourself being successful and accomplishing your goals. Visualize positivity!
-Remember your “Why”. What are you doing this all for? Yourself? Your mental health? Your family? Your job? What is it that drives you forward? Your “Why’s” should be clear because they are what will help you in hard times and when you feel like you are all alone. The Why’s are your motivation to keep moving forward.
Of all the setbacks I have endured since becoming an amputee, one thing has been certain, the hard times end and the comebacks win!
You are a warrior! Believe it! See yourself as the strong individual I know you are.
Have an amazing week ahead.
Get after this Call to Action and reach out to me if you have questions or want to give me an update on how you’re doing.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Dealing With Stress to Alleviate Phantom PainAhhh, stress!
It wouldn’t be a day or a week without something triggering stress. A bid decision, a deadline, a fight with a friend, or even traffic!
As amputees we also face the uphill battles of healing, socket fittings, sores and painful steps, and phantom pains. Sometimes it feels like we never get a break. It feels like the weight of the world is placed on our shoulders and we can’t come up for air.
What we all need to learn is that every time we feel stressed out we have, in our own power, the ability to change the outcome. We control the narrative and we control how we come out on the other side.
“Mind over Matter” isn’t just a cliche it is truth.
When we hold in stressors we destroy our immune system, disrupt our nervous system, and create more problems than we need to.
We need to find ways to release negativity and stressors in our life. They will always be there, so instead of letting them take control and reeking havoc on your health you need to find ways to work through them and find a peace in your life.
When we learn to breathe, slow down, relax, and let go of the things we cannot control, then start feeding our mind with positive and affirming words we can begin to heal ourselves and give our bodies a chance to heal.
This week I challenge you.
Find time to slow down and breathe slowly and deeply through troubles and stressors you are feeling. Realize what you can control and what you cannot. If you can’t control something it’s time to let it go.
Use animals to help you find quiet time and centering. Horses especially are extremely intuitive and can read you from a mile away. If you bring in negative energy or a lot of “baggage” they won’t want to be close to you, and I don’t know about you, but I go see my horses for the kisses and love they pour into me. If I come preoccupied and upset, holding onto something negative, they sense it and walk away from me. I must clear my mind and center/ground myself if I want meaningful interaction with them.
Our closeness happens when I let my fears, anxiety, and stressors melt away and I focus on being present with my girl.
Words of affirmation and positivity. Speak them and repeat them as often as you need to about yourself until you have created a positive mindset. If you consistently beat yourself up over little things or become negative about your healing then this is where you need the most work. Our brain is a very powerful tool that believes what we speak into it. Speak only good and positive and watch your circumstances change for the better!
Finally, have grace upon grace for yourself. You won’t be perfect and you will stumble as you go through life, we all do, the challenge is to pick yourself back up, dust yourself off, and try again.
You’ve got this and I know you can do it. As you begin to make the changes needed to reduce stressors in your life you will start to notice phantom pains not being your focal point which then makes their grip on you much less.
Don’t give your pain power! Deny them and don’t continue to talk about them. The less time you pay attention to the pains you feel the less likely you are to be consumed and debilitated by them. You deserve better!
You can do this!
Be positive, breathe and focus on the positives! Watch your stress melt away and your phantom pains calm down.
Wishing you a week filled with health and happy thoughts.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
The Latest Research Behind Phantom PainYou may have heard the saying, “Mind over Matter” a few times in your life. I know I have, but did you know that it is more than just a saying? Did you know that our brains are capable of helping us cope when we struggle, especially when we deal with pain?
Today I learned how the brain can actually help us changing the way we think and perceive the pain we feel.
We have the ability to redirect and reconnect our brain waves to cope with phantom pain, or any pain, that we experience.
Today, I was honored to have on Dr Felipe Fregni, professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Epidemiology at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, as well as the Director of the laboratory of Neuromodulation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. He has been researching how the brain perceives pain and what is happening during bouts of pain to our brain.
Dr Felipe Fregni, Harvard Professor
The hope is that if we learn how our brain works and how it changes during moments of pain or discomfort then we can start to use that information to better equip the individual to work through pain and eliminate it without medication!
Wouldn’t that be something!
Studying the brain to find connections
Dr Fregni splits his time teaching at Harvard and working the lab at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Dr Fregni and his staff and students have been researching this topic for a while now and getting the data they need from participants, like myself, and they could use you too!
Their goal is to create a device that you can wear to assist in pain elimination through brain waves. They started this study with bringing people into their lab to trial what they had created. Now they are onto phase 2 and getting new participants to work from home with their device.
As an amputee I am excited to see research into phantom pain and how we deal with it and finding ways to cope without medication. Dr Fregni also mentioned that their research also branches into helping stroke victims and paralysis as well!
When we figure out how pain is communicated within our body we can then begin to find ways to lessen or even eliminate it.
One interesting thing we did touch on, which I stated at the very beginning was the mind over matter mentality. You may have heard me say that when I start hurting I tend to become active, I get moving and I find something to distract myself from thinking about the phantom pain. What Dr Fregni told me was that when we become active we start using our brain, we get neurons to fire and this makes for a healthy brain. So every time I’m struggling, my coping mechanism was to not think about the pain but to dive into something else. This is exactly what we should all be doing because we are creating connections in our brain, fire it up, and building it stronger. So mindset matters. Speaking to ourselves in positive ways matters. Even thinking about an activity we love to do creates connections in our brain for healing. What a powerful organ it is, indeed!
I want to thank Dr Fregni for coming on and guiding us through how our brain is capable of helping us heal and for building this community of researchers to help those of us who are struggling with pain and need a better way to handle it. I look forward to seeing how your research builds a stronger and healthier tomorrow for us! Thank you!
If you would like to take part in the clinical research happening right now, from the comfort of your own home you can reach out to Dr Fregni’s department with the link below.
I hope you all have a very blessed week.
And as always until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
To see if you qualify to participate in their study please click HERE
Loss/Limb Difference Awareness Month 2025######
Garrison Hayes and Eric Gutierrez-Camacho
Colorado State University
John McCollough: MIT
Ophelie Herve: UCLA
Mira Mutnick, Jake Kanetis, and Marty Kilbane
Colorado State University
Dan Levine: MIT
As April comes to a close we say a huge thank you to all of the university students ts who came on to share what they have been working on, in the fields of mechanical and biomedical engineering, robotics, and media arts and sciences. All of these amazing students have a passion for assisting and improving the lives of people in the amputee community with their genius and creative enhancements to prosthetics, sockets, surgical procedures and research.
I cannot thank them all enough for caring so deeply for our community and for working so hard to improve it.
As this month closes out I want to entice you all to subscribe to my channel as next week we begin to explore phantom pain.
I have a professor from Harvard coming on to talk about his study into how the mind works, and how it can be used as a tool to combat phantom pain. Very intriguing conversation and maybe a few cues for us amputees to use to begin taking charge of our bodies without the use of drugs.
Please make sure you stay tuned for future episodes!
hHave a very blessed and wonderful week,
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
much love,
MITDan LevineAs we wrap up this Limb Loss/Limb Difference Awareness month I am also interviewing my final university student who has been working towards his PhD at MIT. Dan started his journey at Cornell with a degree in Mechanical engineering and Computer Science and is about to graduate from MIT with his doctorate in Media Arts and Sciences.
Dan had a fascinating beginning as he was able to spend some younger years in Thailand as his parents were working in the medical field. His excitement about nature and anything is possible to create if we just look, observe and study what is around us shows us that the brain is such an amazing muscle that can come up with the seemingly impossible, like making prosthetics more advanced and allow the amputee live a life as if nothing has changed for them. That is what the studies at the MIT Media Lab aim to accomplish.
He has had his hands on several projects in Assistive Technologies and as of late been working on advancing bionics in the ankle prothesis.
One very unique experiment he did was to create a video game based on movement technology for his non-sighted friend. Below is the board they actually used to accomplish this task.
This board was used to “translate” Mario Bros for his non-sighted friend
As I have stated each week this month, the field of mechanical, biomedical engineering and robotics is so very competitive around the nation and some discussions of these students’ projects cannot be divulged until they finish their dissertations and get published, so we discuss what we can during these interviews. My hope, though, is to whet your appetite as to what is coming in the world of prosthetics/bionics and the study of the human body in order to aid the amputee community.
Dan’s team of undergraduates enjoy team building time.
Another aspect of being at this level of his degree is bringing on undergraduates to add insight and diverse thinking to projects. As Dan worked with these students as a team they are able to all bring their specific talent to the projects and as Dan stated their level in school does not determine their level of expertise. Each team member is valued for what they bring to the table.
Dan has had the opportunity to explore, create and design a more robust and technologically advanced foot model to help be a more natural replacement of our natural foot, using the idea of biomechatronics, energy return, and studying our natural gait to help with his design.
Dan in the Media Lab working on specific parts of his design.
A very hands on project after the detailed research of measurements and calculations.
“Measure twice, cut once” is more his philosophy.
I am totally amazed and completely impressed by Dan’s imagination, thoughts, and unique view of the world. It takes very special people to be in this space, creating the next great technological advancement in the engineering world and because of people, like Dan, our amputee community will be seeing some incredible advancements to our devices and thus our ability to live the best, most full life, as if we were not missing anything.
This is truly something to be celebrated!
Thank you, Dan, for spending your time with me diving into the world you have been in these past 6+ years. The devotion, the exhaustion, the hard work and at times, I’m sure, the frustration of getting things completed the way you envisioned them and the successes you have accomplished I thank you! Our community thanks you, for bringing us one step closer to higher potential (pun intended!).
And for all of the university students out there trying to make our world a better place, we see you and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
I look forward to what the future holds for myself and other amputees. A world where nothing inhibits us from achieving all of our hopes, dreams, and goals.
I hope you have all enjoyed hearing about the technology and advancements these young adults have been working on. Please help me spread their names and accomplishments by Liking, Sharing, and Subscribing to my podcast. My hope is to check back in with them in the near future to see the strides they have made and I wouldn’t want you to miss that!
Thank you and have a very blessed week!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
University of MichiganMira Mutnik, Jake Kanetis, and Marty KilbaneAmazing conversation with not 1, not 2, but 3 PhD students at the University of Michigan this week!
A true, authentic conversation about the innovation and design of future prosthesis and the growth and research of creating a surgical procedures to aid in using these newly designed prosthesis all with the purpose of replicating the natural human movement.
We packed so much conversation into this episode with so much more we could have talked about.
Once again, we discussed what we could, but some details must be left out due to the highly competitive field these young adults are working in.
What I love about these three students is that even though they are all in a different sector, so to speak, of research: Mira-above limb amputees, Jake-below limb amputees, and Marty-prosthetics, they are all working towards the same goal; creating the best way to unify the surgical procedure and prosthesis to give the amputee the best, most natural movement possible.
Jake all hooked up to monitor human movement to collect data for his research
Marty working with a study participant on their design of a prosthesis they are working on in the lab.
Mira collecting data on her upper limb project and how to get the best hand movement and dexterity of a prosthesis.
We had a great discussion of what it could look like for the future of amputees and the length of time these studies take. There are a lot of hoops to jump through, safety regulations, data collecting, and trials. The FDA must approve procedures and products that they hope to take to market some day, but these students have become three of the many students going through the program at University of Michigan, working tirelessly to bring this technology closer to us being able to access it.
I find it so unique to see the shift from making the newest, coolest, most advanced products for us to wear, as amputees, to surgical procedures to make our bodies work in harmony with a prosthesis. The one thing we did dive deep into was the procedure of getting candidates who fit the bill to doing the trial procedures, and finding willing participants as well. This can be so tricky as we struggle with the idea of going back in and revision the original amputation in hopes that the outcome will be the same if not better, but the concern that it could be worse.
I hope you will join us today, listen to the entire podcast and see what dedication these students have for helping our amputee community, what motivates them to continue into this higher level of study, and what their plans are for their future after graduation.
Thank you Jake, Mira, and Marty for sharing your passion. Your dedication to helping our community find a better way to live is inspiring and deserves our gratitude!
Continue doing what you’re doing, and know we all thank you for the time, ideas, and ingenuity to take amputees to the next level!
Please make sure you all Like, Share, and Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode as we continue with our 5th Student interview next week as we visit MIT again from a different angle.
Wishing you all the best, and a blessed week ahead.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Limb Loss Awareness MonthUCLA: Ophelie Herve
As we come into our third week of April Limb Loss/Limb Difference Awareness month I am so excited to have a female voice in the engineering program from UCLA on our podcast today.
Ophelie was born in France and came with her family here to the United States at an early age. In high school she reflects on watching the news when the Boston Marathon was bombed and she saw peak athletes, within 24 hours, become wheelchair bound. As an athlete, herself, this event created a desire to help and gave her the direction she needed to jump into engineering and working in prosthetics for her undergraduate and Masters program at SMU.
Ophelie using an exoskeleton that is a power device used to help paralyzed individuals walk.
From there she turned her attention to injury prevention, and found interesting research on the female body and the how and when training can sabotage us by putting us at high risk for injury and when we will have a peak performance in the gym.
Using a robotic arm to replicate the knee joint in her studies on injury prevention.
This week I wanted to delve into the topic of how the female body is different and how as amputees we need to protect our sound limb for the long haul. We have always been so amazed by the newest prosthetics and bionics to come out into the world, and it is a very competitive field, but without research we don’t have the information to make technology better for the human body
Her research is fascinating and goes deep. We joked about the rabbit holes she went down as she began this research, but it was her unique perspective as a female athlete (and one who has injured herself playing soccer), coupled with her research on our female bodies and cycles that we really dove into some extraordinary conversations about injury prevention, especially for women who are down to one sound limb. As a female amputee, I can tell you that I have thought about this often, and what would life look like if I injured my “good leg”. That has also been a topic many times in my ladies’ chat group.
Working out at the right times of the month help protect our sound limb.
How we workout, eat, and rest all help play a part in stabilizing our sound limb, and when different cycle changes throughout our lives make a difference in each of those aspects.
This was great to learn about as the world of sports and nutrition tend to clump us in the same workout and nutrition regiment as our male counterparts, without regards to our different hormones and biological differences.
I hope you enjoy hearing about Ophelie’s cutting edge research and Master’s project as she explains in greater detail some findings and how that will affect us as female amputees and athletes.
Please make sure you give her some love and Like, Share and Subscribe!
We have 2 more weeks of Limb Loss/ Limb Difference Awareness month, which means I have 2 more students who have dedicated their college journey to the betterment of the amputee community. You don’t want to miss this!
Have a beautifully blessed week ahead,
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Hiking with my pups keeps my sound leg strong and health for the long haul.
Keep moving!
Limb Loss Awareness Month1. MIT: John McCollough
John is a student at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts working towards his Masters and PhD in Medical Engineering.
I met him a year and half ago when he reached out to see if I was interested in coming to MIT for a Gait Study that he was assisting a student working toward his PhD. Of course I said Yes!
This is what it looks like when you agree to a gait study!
Now as time has flown by I have gone back to check on John’s progress in the field of Biomechatronics, stayed connected with those in the lab and couldn’t wait to have him on the podcast.
Once in the media Lab building you can see prototypes, unique sculptures, and their purpose and mission.
However, a quick disclaimer, some of the work being done in the MIT Media Lab, like other universities, is private and not up for discussion as they are still in the works of their projects in a very competitive field, but the topics we discuss today are amazing, eye-opening and incredibly groundbreaking and I can not wait for you all to hear what’s on the cusp of becoming products and procedures available to the amputee community!
John working on the project I took part in last year.
Let’s jump right into our conversation on the work being done with 3D printing, Oesteointegration, AMI procedure, and how students and university create, trademark, and market their designs and how long this process can take.
Once again, I am blown away at the desires of these young men and women to create a better world for our amputee community.
The future is looking so good and positive for us and I truly want these students to be seen for their hardwork and dedication to a community they are feeling led to assist. We are extremely blessed with what the future holds and I believe that the next 5, 10, 20 years we will see the struggles of amputees today become minimal if not obsolete, making our lives stronger, healthier, and physically complete.
Join me this week as John and I discuss all things on the drawing board and please don’t forget to Like, Share, and Subscribe so you don’t miss any of these university students’ conversations about the future of prosthetics.
John McCollough MIT Masters student Mechanical Engineering
John, thank you for spending time we me on the podcast and sharing so eloquently the field of study you are in, breaking down the process so we could understand the stages of a study, and for sharing the work that could be shared. I look forward to having you on again as you complete your Masters and PhD.
Thanks for joining us and I hope you have a beautiful week ahead!
And as always, until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Limb Loss Awareness Month 2025Colorado State University: MediFlex Prosthetics LLC###### CSU MediFlex Prosthetics team
Here we are again for the month of April and bringing awareness to the Limb Loss/Limb Difference community.
Every year, in the month of April, I shift gears on my podcast and create a theme centered on the amputee community and interview people versus talking from my personal experience.
Each year I have met some amazing people from doctors, to athletes, to innovators and entrepreneurs. This year I am excited to announce the future of our community, students!
Each of the 5 weeks of April I have students, of varying levels of their education, from all across our nation, talking about what they are studying, inventing, building, and perfecting in the prosthetic world. We have undergraduates to PhD students, all of whom are spending their college careers, and life after, making our community a better place by creating the next generation of products meant to allow us to live fuller lives as amputees.
Today, I am excited to introduce Garrison Hayes and Eric Gutierrez-Camacho, two of the five student team from Colorado State University, they are the founders of MediFlex Prosthetics LLC and their creation is part of their senior project at CSU.
The work they do focuses primarily around 3D printed feet modules for amputees, both above knee and below knee. Their idea, which I will allow them to explain, is a tough, indestructible foot that allows for more energy return to the user.
This could be life changing, not to mention energy saving!
So many of us already struggle with moving around for long periods of time due to fit or phantom pains, but we also deal with exhaustion due to a loss of energy as our foot hits the ground, giving nothing back.
Internal carbon fiber skeleton of foot
3D printed foot shell that is built in sections for ease of replacing portion that might wear down over time
Garrison, a lead in the creation of this foot, is also an amputee. He has been able to trial each prototype and give instant feedback from an amputee’s true perspective. A vital component when making a new prosthesis before marketing it.
This team of students has created an LLC to continue building, bettering, and supplying this type of equipment to our amputee community well after their college careers end. Their goal is to make their product quick to get and affordable for everyone.
As they formulated their ideas and worked around getting large 3D printers to create such strong feet with high quality materials they have also been competing in this field with their product and I am excited to say that this past weekend they received an overall 1st place finish at the Murals competition at CSU for their product The Goldilocks Foot.
Way to go,Team!!
These students are just one example of the intensely competitive world of biomedical and medical engineering that can be found in our universities around the nation. Each team, each level, building off of other projects, creating all new ideas, and researching the field of prosthesis and a deeper level, all in all, working towards making the life of an amputee as comfortable, balanced, and natural as they once were with the part they are missing.
This month, I want you to make sure to like, share and subscribe to my podcast as we go deeper into the world of engineering for the amputee community and what these inspiring students are bringing to the table.
If you would like to watch the whole interview it can be found on my YouTube channel
The future is NOW!
To find out more about Garrison and Eric’s prosthesis and the work their team is doing by visiting their Video HERE
You can also ask for more information or ask questions that you may have for their team at: mediflex.co/outlook.com
They are also seeking testers that live near them or can travel, so if you would like to be on the cutting edge of this technology please scan the QR code below and fill out their form to join their testing program.
Thank you again, Garrison and Eric for reaching out and allowing me an hour of your day. As an amputee, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for caring, creating, and dreaming about a better future for all of us. You are all so inspiring! Keep doing what you’re doing and let’s chat again as you continue to grow and enhance your product.
I hope you all enjoyed hearing, first hand, what our college students are inspiring to do for the greater good of the amputee community.
Continue to listen in this week as I bring on students from east coast to west coast and undergraduates to PhD students. Their stories are inspiring and their drive to do good in our world needs to be shared. These students are our future, and the future is looking bright!
Have a beautifully blessed week!
And as always and until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
The Reality of the Numbers and What We Can Do About ItThe stats on amputees is staggering.
In the US 1 in 200 people have undergone amputation!
Over 2.1 million people live with an amputated limb.
Worldwide, 1 million ampuatations happen annually, that’s 1 amputation every 30 seconds!!!
1 EVERY 30 SECONDS!
Amputee Coalition’s diagram of statistics taken from Promedeast.com 2023
Even more alarming is the projection of the 2.1 million in the US doubling by the year 2050!
(🚨Please excuse my error around the 3 minute mark. I meant to say over 4 million, not 400 million)
On a different note and other statistics:
The #1 cause of amputation, currently, is vascular disease, such as diabetes and peripheral arterial disease at 54% of major amputations.
A close second at 45% is trauma with cancer being less than 2% of amputations.
From this we see the emotional impact an amputation has on us. Amputees deal with depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Work is also impacted, making it harder to earn a living, keep a job, and even getting a new job, adding more stress to a person’s life and complicating relationships, new and old.
Why am I talking to you about all of these numbers (especially since I am NOT a numbers girl)? These stats and the aftermath of amputation have a huge impact on how people function in society and how well they live their life.
Next week begins the month of April which is Limb Loss/Limb Difference Awareness Month.
Every year I use this month to interview people in our community to shed light on and inspire the world.
This year I am excited to announce that this month I will be talking with students from across our country who are working in the fields of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Engineering. This field has seen a boom across the country and the competition is intense! Each of these interviews are with students in the midst of creating, testing, or improving on products that will enhance the lives of amputees all over the world. Most are not even amputees (however, there is at least one who is), they are just looking to make a difference in a growing population.
These students are our future. They are striving to find a better way for those of us who have lost a limb.
I wanted to spotlight them and the hundreds of others who are studying biomedical engineering, in hopes to make a difference.
Please make sure you like, share and subscribe to my podcast here, on my You Tube channel, or on most streaming platforms so you don’t miss these April interviews and all the good these students are doing.
Apple Podcast
Spotify
iHeart
With such a growing interest and determination to improve the lives of amputees I am filled with such hope for our future and what we will be able to accomplish DESPITE our limb difference.
Join me this April as we see the heart and minds behind our bright future!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Knowing Your Identity and Accepting ItWe, as a society, place a lot of value on how we look. A first impression, sort of thing. A “judge a book by the cover” value.
But we all know that the physical makeup of a person doesn’t give us the whole picture.
As women, we are bombarded by makeup ads, weightless products, fashion trends for petite sizes and magazine covers showing ‘beautiful” flawless women with perfect features.
Our sense of value, for decades, has been wrapped up in our appearance, as if that’s all we have to offer.
As amputees, we can get lost in feeling worthless or “not enough” based on the world’s vantage point, but it isn’t accurate. I have been noticing a subtle change, perhaps you are too, happening in the world on what makes a person “beautiful” or “handsome”.
However, if you struggle with a sense of worth or are battling who you are now that you are an amputee, you’re not alone. So many people deal with this, to the point of being afraid of being out in public, or having a significant other leave them after amputation.
STOP! Stop putting yourself through that. Change your thinking and see the positive in this moment. I mean, really, what other choice do you have? It’s not like you are going to grow that limb back. It’s time to adapt and change, leave the old you in the past and find your worth.
This is your moment, you can use this change to reinvent yourself, to challenge yourself, and grow into newness.
This is a chance to try new hobbies, to build your character, and to challenge yourself.
I want you to believe that you are going through this for something greater. You probably can’t see that now, but trust me. When I was in the midst of multiple surgeries and then choosing amputation, I would never have thought I would be making podcasts or creating help groups for women amputees, yet here I am. I open my mind up to the possibilities that could be and tried new things. I was open to whatever was coming my way. Somethings were meant to be, others, not so much, but at least I stayed open-minded.
You are Be-YOU-tiful, just the way you are! So be YOU!!
What we all go through in life, builds us for something else, a greater purpose, a moment that may help someone else in need. And I have found that in helping others I have helped myself. Yep, that’s right. By finding a way to use my experiences to help others I have found healing for myself, and a purpose that I never would have thought I had to offer.
Without my experiences I could never talk to you about mindset or getting through phantom pains. I add validity because of my experiences. These experiences have given me purpose again, but in a way I had never expected in my life.
Embrace this change. Find a way to enjoy this journey.
So, who are you?
What version of yourself do you dream of, it’s all a matter of your desire and mindset. Set your sights and keep an open mind.
It’s your time to shine.
This week, I want you to repeat positivity into yourself.
“I am beautiful/handsome”
“I am worthy”
“I add value to those around me and my life”
“I am more than my body”
“I love who I am”
Write these down someplace you’ll see.
Say them over and over again, each day, all week.
Say them and BELIEVE them!
You are more than a physical body. You have survived a great storm and are still here. You have purpose and value.
Believe these things.
Hold your head up high.
Smile, even if you have to fake it at times.
And don’t forget to cry when needed, it can be very healing, just don’t linger there too long.
Yes, life is a struggle, but you were made to be a warrior.
Your story is being written everyday, and isn’t finished until you take your last breath.
So take a deep breath and get out there. You MATTER!!
I hope you charge forward today like the warriors I know you are.
Have a beautifully blessed day, and until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!!
Much love,
Faith and ConnectionsJust the other day I met a lovely woman in a wheelchair. My first instinct was to smile but then I looked down, only to see that this kindly older lady was missing part of her limb. She was a below knee amputee.
She was being pushed around the store by a younger man, a caretaker, in her wheelchair when she noticed me and my prosthesis. She asked him to back up and push her towards me to talk about being an amputee.
Her smile showed she was a fighter. She also informed me it has been 2 years since her amputation, and now she was dealing with cancer. But still she smiled!
I knew that she was someone I wanted to know.
We talked for a bit, I told her we’d love to have her on our women’s chat groups and I made sure she had my name written down before we parted ways. She was struggling with the phantom pains, something I know all too much about. We had that in common and our connection was amazing and immediate.
Before I chose amputation I had been fighting through ten surgeries in 5 years, plus a blood clot, before deciding on amputation.
I had 4 months to wait from the time I scheduled my amputation til the surgery, and in those 4 months I went thru every emotion know to humans. I was a wreck trying to navigate something so surreal and on my own.
That is, until I leaned into my Christian faith. I had met a nice pastor during my time in PT, as he was getting his shoulder injury worked on by my PT on many of the days I was there. We talked, I reflected, then on my birthday (which feel during my wait time) I decided to re-baptize myself at this pastor’s church, which I started going to on Saturday evenings, just a month before. I needed to find connections, I need to find God in all of this mess I called my life.
The love of a puppy
The love from my horse
The love of my family
What I found, while attending the Saturday evening services, was amazing people who understood and stood with me during this time.
I sat down, on campus, with this pastor and we talked about life in general. Afterwards, when I got back to my car I had a life-altering epiphany, this whole thing, this journey I was on, was God’s plan for me. I now, looking back, could see his fingerprints on it all!
I felt such a burden lifted from me at that point, and I can honestly say, I have never looked back.
I am embracing every high and low for what it’s worth, and I know it is for my own good and all these moments were meant to build me up for something else. My mindset got positive. My view of my future became positive and my fears were muted.
When I connected with this lady the other day, I saw God working again, reminding me why He chose me for this journey. I connected in a way that helped and brought joy to this new friend of mine, and I walked away feeling joyful and fulfilled once again.
Connections; we, as humans, were created for connecting with one another and with the world around us. This gives us hope and joy, it fills us with purpose and passion for our life we are living, despite the circumstances.
This week I want you to give it a try.
If you have been staying at home, or are stuck at home find a way to get out.
If you can’t get out then find another way to connect with people. Find a virtual chat room, like the one I have each Wednesday, or call a friend or family member. Reach outside of your own life and find out about someone else’s.
When we connect either physically or verbally with someone else we gain perspective and can step back from what is disabling us.
It’s never going to be a good outcome if you are at home only thinking about your own problems and issues. That is isolating and can destroy you, mentally and physically. You need to branch out and see that you are not alone in suffering or struggles, we all have them, day to day and even from hour to hour.
Staying secluded isn’t helpful and is hard to lift yourself out of, we aren’t meant to go it alone. Humans were built for connection.
This week make some real connections with others and watch your perspective change and watch your struggles lessen, even if only for those moments you are with someone.
Listen to someone and what they are going through. No need to give advice, sometimes we just need to feel heard.
And remember, everyone is going through something, and each moment is meant to build you up and strengthen you for what’s to come.
Are you preparing for your future successes?
Are you strengthening your resolve and character?
You were built with a warrior inside of you, we each were. It’s time to let that warrior out and fight for the life you want, the life you crave. Don’t allow yourself to be fooled that it won’t get better, your mindset matters, and you WILL find the strength needed to achieve your goals.
You are a Warrior! Believe it!
Have a blessed week ahead, and until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Goal Setting and Climbing Your “Mountain”Nothing in life that’s worth achieving is going to come easy. Working toward a goal, putting your best foot forward and sweating through it makes achieving it all the more sweet.
Why would becoming an amputee be anything different?
If you were active before your amputation, then you know what can be done with a lot of work, grit, and determination.
It won’t be easy. It’ll test your resolve MANY times, but, when you get to the goal you set for yourself, you will feel such a sense of excitement and joy like you’ve never felt!
Don’t worry about what others are doing or achieving. Remember that comparison is the thief of joy.
You focus on you! Do what you can do now, and each day try to be better than the last. The next thing you’ll realize is how far you’ve come since you started.
One step at a time has been my mantra since my amputation. I can’t look at the big picture or I’ll get nervous or doubt what I’m capable of. Instead I focus on putting one foot down at a time, at my pace, and what I can do in this moment. And each ,moment is different. Today I might be whipping around the neighborhood, feeling confident and without pain, and then tomorrow I could be struggling with just walking slowly around my home.
All you can do, is work hard with what you have been given each day, but if you can honestly say that you gave it your all then I promise that you will see strides at reaching your goals.
One step at a time is meant to be metaphorical, and also very literal, for us amputees. Don’t think about walking all day in your prosthesis when you get up, and don’t just tell yourself that you’ll put it on for a little bit or later today. Put it on with the mindset that you’ll wear it for all you can, however long that will be today, knowing that each day brings its own struggles and accomplishments, but you don’t know what kind of day it will be until you are in the midst of it.
Skiing on one leg is definitely a mind over matter exercise!
Mindset matters!
What you tell yourself first thing in the morning is how your day will go. When I wake up, I know I will put my leg on first then go through my day. Somedays I cannot get to the gym because it hurts too much so I do what I can at home, keeping it on, and building my tolerance up for wearing it. Other days, I put it on and get a burst of energy and hike 4 to 5 miles without even thinking about it.
Mindset matters and what you tell yourself will be the direction your mind takes, and what your body believes.
Always get moving with your best intentions and your heart and mind in the most positive place you can be and then see how your day unfolds. One step at a time.
This week, it is pretty straight forward.
This week I want you to remember to keep speaking positivity to yourself.
Write down “ONE STEP AT A TIME” on post it notes and place them in places you spend a lot of time in and around your house to remind yourself to take your goals and your actual steps at YOUR pace and ONE AT A TIME.
Hiking is my favorite activity. Every hike is different and challenges me to be focused and push myself.
Set a goal. Wherever you are right now physically, mentally, and based on your weather and location and decide what it will take each day to break it down and work towards it at your pace.
You can achieve anything you put your mind to if you set mini goals for yourself, or stepping stones to that goal. Make the steps small enough to find success, and big enough to challenge yourself.
First time hiking on snow!
And then watch yourself break the barriers that you thought were there because of your circumstance.
I believe in you! I believe we are all born to fight for what we want and desire. THAT is a Warrior mentality.
So, rise up warriors, and sieze this moment. You are not broken, or weak, or disabled. You are a warrior of epic proportions.
Get after your goals and dreams today, ONE STEP AT A TIME!!
Have a beautifully blessed week and as always, until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Building Strength For a Better FutureIf you are a new amputee or an amputee who hasn’t been wearing their prosthesis for one reason or another we need to talk.
What are you doing to prepare your body for movement?
Balance is so important in preventing falls, even when being silly!
After becoming an amputee you spend weeks healing only to find yourself getting use the weight deficit of not having a leg. This makes adding a cumbersome, heavy metal and carbon fiber limb to your body feel like double the weight.
You will wear it, but it won’t feel great, and it’ll be hard (not to mention exhausting) to move.
Within just a few weeks, your body has adjusted to weight change, the balance change, and your muscles will be decreasing since they have not as much flesh and bone to manipulate on each step.
You might think that your job after amputation is to heal, and some of you might even be struggling with phantom sensations and pains, which will be a learning curve as well, just don’t deny yourself some activity level to get yourself ready for movement!
Even if you are stuck at home you can still do some very basic exercises and stretches, that take no equipment, to help maintain or even build strength and balance.
At this point there are no excuses. If you really want to be mobile once you get a prosthesis you need to prep NOW!
The main things to work on are; stretches, balance, and core/back strength.
Stretching will allow your body to move freely in your prosthesis and avoid hip contractures.
Balance will be key to avoiding unnecessary and painful falls. Remember, your center will be off now that your weight distribution isn’t equal on both sides of your body.
When your core and back are strong you will be able to move with greater ease and avoid hurting your back as you learn to walk again.
The best benefit of simple exercise: endorphins! Happy chemicals released by your body when it exercises, and trust me, this is when you need it more than ever. Losing your limb can be like losing a best friend or close family member. You may grieve, be angry, scared, feel alone, uncertain, and many other emotions. You will want as many happy feelings as you can get to keep yourself in a positive frame of mind so that you CAN achieve success.
Where do you begin?
Keep it simple.
You can do these basic exercises throughout the day, in your own home.
Let’s get started.
Your challenge?
Start the exercises below today and continue to do them throughout the next several weeks. As you do them try to do more, or hold it longer each day. Work on building each exercise, and as you repeat them you will begin seeing a difference in your flexibility, strength and balance.
- Stretch hip flexor
A) I suggest just simply getting off the couch or out of the chair, and lay down on the floor on your stomach. Allow your legs to lay straight behind you and just hold that position as long as you can. Do this several times a day, especially if you are home bound and sitting a lot. When you are standing up you want your leg to hang straight down, with gravity, to ensure the best fit possible for your prosthesis.
B) Same stretch but use your couch or bed, and laying on your back this time, hang your residual limb off the side and let gravity or a friend gently hold your leg down. Feel the stretch on the front of your leg? Do these two exercises several tines a day, especially if you are sitting more often than not.
- Balance work
A) Don’t make this complicated. Find a safe place to stand on your one leg. Make sure you have a stable structure next to you that you can hold on to as you get your balance. Make a game of it. How long can you stay balanced before you grab a hold of the wall. See if you can grow your time without needing to grab something for stability. Sit, rest and repeat. Before you know it you’ll be a pro at keeping your balance. This takes time, especially if you have always had balance issues, but it can be learned. When you gain balance, you avoid falls. Falls are a part of the leaning process but if they can be avoided from happening often, you’ll be better off.
- Core strength
Modified Plank on elbows and knees
A) Everyone knows that sit-ups can build a strong core but so do planks. Planks can be modified to using your knees and on your elbows at first, remembering to keep your back and butt in a straight line like a plank of wood. Physical reminder: picture a string coming from your belly button, through your back, and up to the ceiling, pulling your stomach up and in. Hold that for as long as you can, work your way up to 30 seconds to a minute.
Up, like a push-up, and hold.
B) Plank challenge: straighten legs, toes on ground and up on your hands like you are going to do a push up. Keep you butt tucked, stomach tight and in, hands shoulder width apart directly under shoulders. hold.
C) Simple sit-ups. Bend knee(s) raise hands to ceiling and lift shoulder blades off the ground, then lower. No need to go all the way up to your knees, we do not need to hurt our backs.
- Back strength
A) Superman; while laying on your stomach stretching your hip flexors out, raise all of your limbs up and off the floor. You should look like Superman flying. feel the glutes tighten and your lower back muscles being engaged. Hold for up to 30 seconds then down, rest, repeat.
It doesn’t take fancy equipment, a gym membership, or even a lot of time to give yourself an edge to becoming mobile in your prosthesis, it just takes commitment.
Work on these stretches and exercises each day and when the time comes to fitting on your leg, you’ll be a step ahead.
Remember who you are.
You are a Warrior!
Believe it!
Have a blessed week and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Making Mobility Great Again, One Prosthesis at a TimeWhen I walked into The Limb Center office prior to amputation I met Randy West and David Banks for the first time.
They are a Phoenix based company
From that moment on, they were there for me, reassuring me that I could do this, that they would make sure I had the best fit and they asked about my hopes and dreams as I entered amputee life, allowing me the space to dream and hope as large as I could.
And they delivered, over and over again!
Getting a prosthesis is a process, and it takes time (and patience). It’s not a one and done, and these guys aren’t just fitting a leg and walking away.
They are there for future care and concerns!
About a year after my amputation they started talking to me about this idea they had for a non-profit, that they wanted to help more people that were struggling and in need of an advocate in their corner. I knew that this would take flight, it was just a matter of when. Their business was growing quickly since I got on the scene, they had families of their own, and we knew time was limited and precious.
A couple more years went by and now they are officially a non-profit, Limbs For Humanity, and I couldn’t be more excited and proud of them.
Rocky Point Medical Clinic
Today I want to introduce Randy and David to you, allow them to tell their story, and let you hear their hearts.
Join me in celebrating their dream that helps others realize their full potential.
These guys don’t just make prosthesis for people without the means of getting one, they allow people to dream, become mobile once again, and get them back to being productive members of society, many of which would be helpless to achieve that without the proper parts and a whole lot of money-prosthetics are NOT cheap. Not only are they bringing mobility back to individuals who are in need, they are also relieving stressors and depression that can take hold of someone, post-amputation. Mental health is at risk when we are left to feel that we cannot help our families, our communities, or our employers.
What Randy and David do is change lives, one appointment and one prosthesis at a time.
A young boy getting the help he needed in their Phoenix office
You can be a part of this monumental changing of lives. Here’s how:
1-SHARE, SHARE, SHARE! Share this podcast, share their story, share their links with everyone you know.
2-Donate money! Prosthesis are so expensive, and this is usually the roadblock for many amputees on why they can’t get one, or get one that is suited for their level of activity and lifestyle. If you have even a dollar to share, It will go to funding a new leg for someone in need. If you know of, or work for a company that is looking for a great way to donate each year, please consider sharing this with whoever is uncharge of donations. Limbs For Humanity takes a village to make a difference.
3-Donate parts! If you are an amputee or know of one who is not using an old leg, foot, liners, etc, please reach out to them or myself to see if we can use what you have laying around. You may have received a new leg or foot, and there is someone in the world in desperate need of it. Let’s put everything to good use. With your help, you could change someone’s life forever!
Limbs For Humanity, is truly what they are, we all should have the basic human right/need of mobility available to us. It changes lives, it brings hope and joy, it allows people to be productive and feel useful once again.
Check out their Instagram, Facebook pages, YouTube and TikTok pages: @limbsforhumanity
Also, go to their website: Limbs For Humanity to see stories of them changing lives, and ways you can help. There is also a DONATE button to click so you can be a part of the change that brings hope and happiness back to individuals who had none.
May you feel blessed by their stories and bring blessings upon others by helping Limbs For Humanity grow.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Morning Routines to Get MotivatedLife as an amputee is already hard enough just learning to live without a limb that, for most of us, we were born with. However, what you don’t know is the little things, the minutia of everyday tasks that can sometimes be enough to halt you in your tracks.
I got an interesting question the other day, one I haven’t been asked before: “How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?”
I realized, based on that question, that many people wonder about our “secret” lives behind closed doors. How do we sleep, bath, get ready, change clothes, etc is a mystery for most people.
First off, please realize that I choose to do the things I do, therefore I choose a more hectic and demanding path each day. That is my choice, but I chose amputation so I could live a full and healthy life.
Notice the difference in clothes and shoes for each of these activities that I absolutely love to do. A simple change of clothes is absolutely exhausting for me, and I must motivate myself even more to do them. I must WANT it, each day.
I work hard so I can handle getting older as an amputee
I hike for my sanity as well as building resilience in my socket
She brings me peace and helps me refocus energy
Today I want to share with you MY struggles every morning. Yes, struggles. It isn’t easy getting ready for the days I set up for myself which may include, gym time, horse time, hiking, grocery shopping, cleaning the house, going out with friends and date nights with my hubby. What you may not understand is that many of those tasks take different clothing and shoes, not to mention showering midday for a date so you don’t smell like a horse.
Join me today as I take you through the challenges of getting ready as an above knee amputee using a skin fit socket, how I streamline my morning routine, what I take with me to change clothes midday, and how I handle the energy it takes just to get ready.
I DO love my leg and am grateful for this second chance. I wouldn’t change a thing, and that is mindset-it determines our successes
I wished I could tell you that it’s easy everyday, but it’s not, and that’s my choice. I want to workout or hike, I want to get dirty working with horses, and with each of those daily activities I make myself work hard everyday to be able to enjoy them.
I think it needs to be said that if you want something bad enough then you are willing to go the extra mile, well, my extra mile means pushing myself physically each day, in just getting ready.
This week I would tell you that if you are struggling with getting motivated each morning when you wake, or you are dreading getting ready to take on the day then start the night before.
Create, even if only in your mind, a schedule of events that you WANT to accomplish the next day and see yourself doing them, visualize accomplishing the tasks and what you will need to complete them. I go to bed this way every night so in the morning I have direction. Without it the days fly by and nothing gets done.
Also, if you struggle with energy make sure you are fueling your body correctly and enough. We use more energy than the two loggers so we need to add in more nutrition to our daily intake. Don’t skimp. I did after the holidays and I was always lacking energy, which destroyed my motivation.
Setting yourself up for success is up to you. Start today with visualizing what you want to do and accomplish every night before bed and make sure you are fueling your body to work hard, because it is.
Have grace with yourself.
Know when to push and when your body needs a break.
You are a warrior and capable of doing great things!
Believe it!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
It’s Always “No” If You Don’t AskWhen it comes to the world around you, the old adage, “You catch more flies with honey, than vinegar”, still holds true.
As an amputee, I have seen this firsthand. When I smile at someone, they smile back. If I say Hello with a smile, I start a conversation and usually educate someone who is curious. And when I ask questions, that I may be afraid to ask (because I don’t want to look like I’m looking for handouts), I usually find someone who has a connection or an “in” to helping me. Rarely do I hear No, but I take the chance anyway, like 2 weeks ago.
I went with my son to pick up his new ski boots, that was all we were going to do, but I started looking around and dreaming of a new pair of skis and boots as mine are over 20 years old. The problem? I only need one ski and one boot, I ski without my prosthetic on and with outriggers. This causes a problem because no one sells singles, so I decided to ask a probing question to the guy helping my son. “Do you ever get a rouge ski come in?” His answer, we sometimes get skies that someone leaves behind after buying new ones, asking if we can get rid of them. And sure enough, Gil, at SkiPro here in Phoenix checked my height and ski level and went in back only to emerge with a beautiful pair of Solomons! He literally said, “Here, they’re yours, they were just going into the dump.” I couldn’t believe my luck… or maybe I just manifested it by smiling and creating a connection, a relationship. I decided to see if boot companies had singles they might have because of manufacturing defects and how could I get in touch, and Gil measured my foot and we had the same boot size. He told me he’d reach out to me later that week.
Tuesday rolled around and he called and said he had 2 pairs for me to try out. I drove straight down to his shop to give them a go. They were perfect!!
We talked while he fitted the liner to my leg and made an insole for my foot, we connected, and I shared my story with him and my joy of getting out there and doing life. He told me about his time he spent skiing and his life up in Washington, and how he’d worked with an adaptive ski program up north and I just thought, “Wow, this was a God wink” The chance that I talked to a guy who knew his stuff, worked with other adaptive skiers in the past AND was my boot size. incredible. But it was about connecting, opening up, accepting that “No” could be the answer, but I might as well ask.
I went in that day to be with my son, and I walked away that week with a “new” pair of skis and boots that I can’t wait to use this season.
Remember, if you never ask, the answer will always be “No”, but taking a chance on people, asking the questions, asking for assistance with a genuine heart, never hurts. Hey, you may even walk away with new skis!
Checking the liner out
My new friend, Gil. Thanks, man, I appreciate you!
Simple CTA this week.
What have you been wanting to try but don’t have the equipment or resources to get it?
Go out and find connections. Build relationships in that community.
Email people.
Ask the questions. You never know who you’ll meet and where it’ll take you!
Don’t be afraid to try and hear, “No”. Be afraid of never asking and always wondering, “What if”.
You are all warriors, so rise up and get out there.
Have a blessed week and let me know how it’s going!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Healing and Finding PurposeThis Illinois, born and raised, girl never knew she had a connection to the ocean.
It’s a beautiful thing to find in yourself so late in life. It was surprising, and breathtaking when it happened.
Many years ago my family moved to Florida for a job. I never thought I would leave Illinois, EVER! All of my family and my husband’s family live there. That was our support system.
We enjoyed Florida a lot while only there for 4 years but I was a mom of two young boys and going to the beach was more of a chore than anything. Keeping an eye on them, making sure they didn’t go in too deep, and then getting sand off of them (which, of course was on every square inch of their bodies when we were done!) before getting into the car.
But, fast forward 11 years and I decided to try my hand at surfing, for the first time ever, and as an amputee. My prosthetist, Randy West, helped me make my dream come true and made me a surf leg the week before our trip to Kauai. I arranged surf lessons and have to say I was a bit nervous at first… I don’t like to fail and I had no idea how this would go seeing as my surf instructor had never given lessons to an amputee before.
Needless to say, I found my joy in surfing from the moment I got on the water.
The ocean was soothing and yet so powerful. The Hawaiians call this power, Mana, and I understood why. While a wave looks so peaceful and ignorer as it moves its way across the ocean to the beach what was going on under the wave was strong, chaotic, and so powerful.
It seemed to me a metaphor for how my life felt now as an amputee.
To me, though, even being on the beach and close to the waves, I can still feel her power and her beauty as I watch and listen.
I find myself breathing to the waves as they come in and crash on the beach. I watch the sun shine through the water and watch the ultimate chaos of sand being churned up and plant life whipping around as the wave pushes forward.
This is my happy place. I find my peace here and long for that feeling often, always excited to go back to the ocean whenever a chance arises.
You may not live near a beach or have the means to get there right now but you can recreate this feeling by finding video footage of the ocean and/or the sounds of crashing waves that you can listen to, right now, in your own home. No, it’s not exactly the same but it can do the trick, if you are in need of finding some calm and center in your life.
The ocean has given me a place to finding healing because it calms me, declutters my head, and asks me to breathe with it.
These actions place me in a better place, mood, and mental space.
You guessed it! This week I want you to find your peace at the ocean.
This may be a literal ocean, if you live near one, or find video and audio of the ocean that you can immerse yourself into in your own home.
Don’t cheat yourself. don’t find a video and then work on laundry or do the dishes. You must find the time and space to stop everything you are doing to center yourself and focus on the present.
Find rhythm in your breath with the ocean. Close your eyes and listen to ALL of the sounds. Relax your body and your mind and just breathe.
If you can just find time everyday this week to give yourself this gift of quieting your life, stopping the momentum, even for just 5 minutes, you will find yourself in a better mood, and in a happy space. You might even find healing of what you are struggling with right now.
Surrender to the ocean, Warriors. You and your body deserve that much.
Have a beautifully blessed week,
And until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Do You Have These Two Ingredients?###### My people, My “Why”
Chicago Family: My roots and the people who believe in me
You need People and you need a positive mindset!
It’s that simple…
OK, maybe it’s not simple but the solution to getting the most out of life usually comes from these two things and you can make the changes for yourself, not having to rely on anyone or anything outside of yourself. Start NOW!
I have always stated that every journey is uniques in this life.
I also tell you that what works for one person doesn’t mean. it’ll work for you.
I also have stated MANY times that there is no “normal” in the amputee journey, just like life, we all experience it differently.
However, if you surround yourself with the right people AND you change your mindset then you have a much better chance of finding success as an amputee.
We sometimes get stuck hanging with the same people because we are inherently creatures of habit and loyal, but what if that person in your life is taking you down with their words, or lack of positivity? What if the person you call friend finds it hard to watch you succeed, therefore they tell you “You can’t do it.”, or “You’ll never walk again, don’t do it.”? Why is it that we stay in those relationships?
Don’t you deserve more? I think you do.
And your mindset and these types of people might actually go hand ion hand, meaning, if you are someone who sees there negative in situations, more often than not, you attract those kind of people. There are people who love to be the positive one in a relationship, doing great things and being better than you, looking better than you, having more success than you. They sense your weakness and to lift themselves up they befriend you.
YOU DON’T NEED THAT!
You deserve more.
You are an amazing person who deserve to be surrounded by genuine people who truly want to see you succeed, and know that when you’re hurting how to get you back up on the saddle. Sometimes with tough love, if you need that, and other times a shoulder to cry one.
Know your people and know you deserve the best.
When you support those around you like you’d like to be supported then you’ll find “your” people.
Mindset plays a HUGE part in this.
Your success, or failure, is determined by your thoughts.
You’ve heard the saying: “Whether you think you can, or can’t, you are right.” Henry Ford is said to have coined that phrase, which highlights the power of mindset and self-belief, that your attitude towards your task at hand determines your success at that task.
No truer words have been spoken!
Take heart if you re struggling right now because your support system and your mindset, your can change today, no need to wait, this is all about you.
This week you have 2 simple tasks:
One, take stock in who you are surrounding yourself with, and if you feel like your ideas and their ideas aren’t matching up to what you see yourself doing then you need to talk with them and get on the same page. State your goals, your dreams, your aspirations. If they care about you then they will help you get there. If you find your friends aren’t behind you, cheering you on, wanting to see you succeed, then it’s time to rethink who your true friends are.
Make note of who has been there for you through the good and the bad, draw them closer and make sure you reciprocate that support. They need it too.
Next, time to do some spring cleaning on your mind. Who do you talk to yourself and others about your circumstance, you life, your decision to amputate, your health, your abilities? If they aren’t positive and aspiring… GET RID OF THEM!
Start feeding your mind with good thoughts, goals, dreaming, positive imagery, etc.
And do this multiple times a day until it becomes who you are without even thinking about it.
You can do this and you WILL find success!
I believe in you, so you should believe in yourself.
You were made to be a warrior, now get out there and do warrior sh*t!
Have a blessed week,
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Getting Through the Tough TimesOh the nights are so tough!
Have you been there?
Have you laid in the utter darkness and the quiet is deafening, the pain is unbearable, and you feel like you will ever get through this moment of phantom pain?
Yep, the reality is, we all go through it at some point or another, to varying degrees.
The last two nights, for me, have started great, I feel asleep and wasn’t feeling anything in the way of phantom pain. However, as soon as I shift, the sensations would start and the I couldn’t shut them off!
It’s almost unbearable. To sit in the dark, feeling like your body is screaming out loud, and no one else knows. My husband, laying right next to me, has no idea what I am feeling or that I am even going through this…. and he won’t know until morning.
Have you experienced this?
How about when you are out and about in a crowded store or venue, and your limb is on fire, or a sore within your socket is rubbing raw and stinging? And no one knows the pain you are feeling as you stand in line at the grocery store?
Such is the life of an amputee.
It comes and goes.
Most of the time there is no warning, it just comes at you.
So how do you deal with this, seeing as this is your life now?
First off, we all deal with pain differently, what works for one person won’t work for another.
As you experience these “episodes” you will learn what works for you (oh, and for added fun, what worked last time for you might not work the next). You can only prepare yourself for the mental battles ahead.
Communicate. Let the people around you know how you are feeling and what you need. They can’t see what’s happening within you and not everyday, all day is bad. Make sure you speak up and not assume they understand.
Build mental toughness. Use positivity and positive self-talk to get through hard times. You can redirect how your brain process what you are going through by the way you address it, internally and out loud.
Try not to fall back on medications every time you feel “out of sorts”. This goes for people dealing with the average phantom sensations/pains. I do not know what you’ve been going through and what you have been prescribed, so you need to do what you need to do but I will tell you that I will only use Tylenol or Advil once in a blue moon, when all else fails and when I can’t take anymore. There is no right way to handle an episode, but if you can stay away from prescription medication, and start leaning on your own devices to handle the mental situation, then do it. You’ll be stronger in the long run and your body will thank you.
These moments are truly times to develop your mental toughness. Sometimes we just need to hit them head on to become a stronger version of ourselves so we are ready for the next battle.
Finding time for myself to breathe and let go, helps me thru hard timesDon’t forget you were made to fight, and survive. You are a Warrior, you just need to unleash its within you and believe that you are strong enough to handle it.
Rise up, Warrior, and face your battles with inner strength!
You can do it, and you are not alone!
I pray you have a wonderful week ahead,
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Remember: You are Beautiful, so just Be-YOU!
Time to Challenge YourselfAs 2024 fades away and 2025 takes control let’s take time to look back and reflect on the ups and downs of the past year.
We all have had those moments we achieved some sort of milestone, we have also had those moments we never want to relive.
I’m hopeful that you had some time at the end of last year and the first week of this year to relax, reflect, and refresh yourself. I hope you have gotten into a place where you are ready to rise up again, and accomplish your goals.
As much as I am NOT a fan of New Year’s resolutions, for the fact that the name in of itself let’s people know that it’ll be a bust by February, I AM a fan of creating a new plan, schedule, and goals to work on THROUGHOUT the year ahead. I like the feel of starting over, having a second chance, learning about myself and reaching goals. I love the promise of a new tomorrow, where anything is possible, but without a goal or plan of attack days can roll by into weeks and month, only to leave you feeling like you let yourself down once again.
This year, I want to challenge you to several new things.
First you need to stay positive. Easier said than done, I know, but if you know that hard times will come-that there will be some struggles in your journey, then you can plan for that. While you’re in a good place prepare for the “suck”. How will you handle phantom pains when they hit? How will you decide when you need to talk with your prosthetist about your fit? When do you change your doctor after everything else has failed and you feel in your gut that you need someone else’s help or opinion?
These are all things that can knock the wind out of you and set you back. For some of us it can derail us so badly that we loose our momentum and never get it back, we can get lost in a dark place.
Prepare!
Make a Plan!
Execute that plan TODAY!!!
I am not immuned to this “delay game”. I play it with myself when I’m too tired, too happy, too busy….”I’ll start tomorrow”. You know that game, right?
I’m preaching to myself when I say we need to stop that if we want to achieve, overcome, rise up and become the warriors we were born to be.
This is our year! We will do this together. Accountability is key when you are struggling.
This week I have 2 Call to Actions for you. Don’t ignore these, let’s get after it together. I can hold you accountable, and you can hold me accountable.
First, come up with your word or phase of the year. Something that will keep you focused on your ultimate goal. Keep it short and simple 1-2 words if you can. This becomes your war cry, your mantra, something you will write and speak to yourself everyday for this whole year.
What is your word or phrase?
It could be:
Control
Be Present
Rise Up
Be Epic
Breathe
Walk
Mine is: Charge Forward
Second, join me in a virtual race. The one I have just registered for is called “Reset” by Virtual Pace Series and you can register here
This is a choose your distance challenge. You can do a 5K, 10K, Half or Full Marathon. The beauty of this race is that you can do it on your time and in your location. You can choose your distance and how you complete it. Walk, Run, Hike, Bike, Swim, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are challenging yourself WHER YOU ARE AT. If you can’t do 5K in one event, then break it down into 2 or 3 days/events. If you have already completed a walking. 10K then maybe you need to try running a 5K or even a 10K.
The point is to have something holding you accountable and a goal set before you. You do you, where You Are At in your journey.
Earn that medal and when you open it, AFTER COMPLETION, you are going to fall in love with challenging yourself.
Join me in 2025, a year in which you achieve your goals and realize the warrior within you is Stronger than you could ever have imagined!
Yes you can!
You will!
You are Stronger enough, brave enough and more than capable.
You are a WARRIOR!!!
I hope you find 2025 to be everything you want and more.
Please join me next week right here as we support one another and build each other up!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Start Today!Start Now!
Today!
What are you waiting for?
I know, I know, it’s the holidays. You are busy and can’t find the time.
Me too! But, if you are serious about your goals, and know your ‘WHY’ then get to it.
I am not, nor have I ever been, a fan of “New Years Resolutions”. For a majority of people it is a procrastination technique to get thru the holidays, feel horrible about how you celebrated all holiday season, to join a gym or set goals that are extreme, only to drop them by February or March. Instead of being excited and uplifted by the challenges, you are left feeling defeated and miserable for failing. Who needs that?
Instead, start small now.
No matter what your goals are in life, starting when you are busy just requires taking baby steps to begin a new routine and make it a habit.
If you want to stand and make dinner while wearing your prosthesis then start by wearing it longer each day, or refusing to take it off. Then stand to wash a few dishes. Eventually you’ll be able to maneuver around your kitchen and create a meal and feel proud of your accomplishment….which will inevitably lead to another goal to achieve.
If you want to get or stay physically active and you are struggling to find time then carve out some smaller portions that you CAN commit to and do it. For example, take a short walk around the block after dinner every night, or do some sit ups, push ups and/or planks before bed.
You don’t have to have a gym membership and commit 2-3 hours 4-5 days a week to be active and stay fit, you just need a plan and stick to it (again, to build a positive habit that will carry on thru the holidays and all next year).
Starting today and carrying you through the new year here’s what you need to do to form good habits that will keep you moving forward.
Write down your dreams and goals on paper, don’t keep them secret up in your head.
Decide the most important ons and which ones need to come before others. There probably is a progression of them for example, learning to wear your prosthesis comes before walking a mile in it.
Set deadlines to help keep you on track.
Make smaller steps that you will need to do to hit your goal by your deadline.
Speak positively: I want to go to the gym. I want to go for a walk. Etc, etc.
Find someone you can share your goals with who will push you and hold you accountable (when times get hard and they will, it’s good to have an outside person keeping you on track), and maybe they can join you in setting goals and you can hold each other accountable.
Have fun and know your ‘Why”. Why are you setting this goal? Who are you doing this for?
Setting these things into place will give you a better chance of succeeding at what you want.
As always, you don’t need to go it alone. We all have weak moments and need some help.
I hope you have a blessed holiday season and a happy healthy new year!
This is my last episode of Season 4. I’ll see you next year!
Until then,
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Tis the SeasonAs we enter the holiday season:
Special gatherings and parties,
Gift giving and making,
Cooking and baking,
And traveling and to see friends and family create a very busy month or two.
As amputees it can have a toll on our bodies as we try to do it all.
If you are new to being an amputee, try to remember that it’s ok to ask and accept help, it’s ok to not have everything perfect and done like you’ve done every year before amputation, and above all else….
This too shall pass!Enjoy the moment.
Use your slower pace this year to breathe in the moments.
Watch your children be in awe of the magic of this season.
Entertain yourself with special movies together and listen to Christmas carols.
You’ll be back on your feet in now time and wishing you had sat back and enjoyed the down time.
Don’t allow guilt to over take you. Allow people to step up and be helpful.
Ask when you need assistance. Be careful not to overdue it and hurt yourself. You’ll be more disappointed with the set back than the rest in the moment.
And most of all…
Be present!!Hope you have a beautiful holiday season making memories and preparing your hearts for the blessings to come.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
PS Pictures of my socket that I promised.
My very 1st socket. I used a t-shirt to cover this one.
The size difference from 1st socket to about the 11th one in just 2 1/2 years!
Paint job up close. Stickers Made using my Cricut machine.
One of my 1st skin fit sockets and the use of auto paints and vinyl stickers I made with my Cricut.
Most recent leg
All of my prosthesis since the beginning. Minus 4 (one I’m wearing and the three yet to come as of this picture-including the new one being made right now).
Moving Into the Right Mindset This HolidayAs an amputee I have so much to be grateful for in my life.
I am blessed to be alive.
My horses make me be present
I am thankful for my husband, two healthy sons, and a family who loves me.
I am grateful to be able to walk again, just to name a few.
Do I ever look back on the day that I injured myself, which led me to amputation, and wish it never happened?
NO! Never, not even once!
I am so fortunate to have been chosen for this journey. Looking back, wishing for something different sets me up to fall into the trap, and vicious cycle, of never being satisfied or happy of where I am now.
I wouldn’t have met the people I’ve met.
I wouldn’t have overcome fears that I have had to face.
I wouldn’t have learned to trust in myself, the process, and my support system.
I wouldn’t have experienced the life I’m leading now with such gratitude because of what I have had to overcome and endure.
I am a stronger person, more passionate about my Faith, and better able to withstand immense pain and challenges than ever before.
This holiday season I challenge you to look past your fears, your disappointments, your pain, your obstacles, your past, and your anger at your situation and see the small but relevant miracles happening in your life EVERY SINGLE DAY!
CHANGE YOUR MINDSET! Live for your happiness and to a brighter future.
When you change how you see your life and your circumstances you change the outcome. You see the good more easily in everyday encounters and silent moments. You will find yourself smiling more and grumbling less, and you will start to attract the type of people who want to be around you because you empower them with your outlook. It’s contagious!
What are you grateful for today?
Today, choose to be grateful!
Don’t wait any longer to see the joy in your life.
Start jotting down your blessings or what you are grateful for tonight.
Keep a list where you write 1-5 things that you are grateful for each night before bed. Fall asleep to gratitude in your heart and watch how refreshed and joyful you will start to be in the morning, just looking for the next moment.
I wish you and your families a very special, magical, and blessed Thanksgiving.
Until next week, and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Bionic Skins: Working Towards the Perfect FitWe all want to feel our best, and live a life without pain, but at times it seems so out of reach for us amputees.
Donning a prosthesis that is suppose to emulate a real leg gets the job done but, trust me, it is far from comfortable and often it becomes such a painful devise that amputees choose not to wear it for too long, even taking days off from wearing it, leaving them feeling incomplete and frustrated.
Today I wanted to share with you an extraordinary company, created by Dr. Hugh Herr-bilateral below knee amputee, MIT professor and co-leader of the Yang Center for Bionics at MIT, Bionic Skins is changing the comfort game for the better.
Lauren and Eric head up the Bionic Skins headquarters in Bedford, Mass. and graciously came on my podcast to share what Bionic Skins is, how it works, and the hopes and aspirations Hugh and his team have for building a better and more comfortable prosthesis for the amputee community.
Eric is the “numbers guy”, checking stats, running the biometrics of the patients and making sure the measurements taken are accurate…
among other hats he wears for the company.
Lauren is the prosthetist; working with the patients, creating the sockets,
and making sure the fit is everything it should be for comfort and durability.
As we sit down and talk you can see how bright the future is for amputees. The technology is getting better and the understanding of what is needed for improving the quality of life for amputees is increasing. More research is being done, and talking with amputees helps bridge the gap of what we currently have, what we struggles with, and what is still needed to live actively and without restrictions.
Bionic Skins is doing just that. They are currently work with patients, and taking new patients, that are below knee amputees all the while continuing to research, build studies, and improve on the technology that they are producing in house and through MIT’s Media Lab.
Check out their website HERE
You can also follow them on social Media platforms like Instagram and Facebook @bionicskins to stay up to date on their research and studies in which you may qualify to take part.
Also, you can listen to my interview with Hugh Herr, himself, from this past April, on my podcast HERE
Hugh and I discuss Bionic Skins toward the end of my interview where he discusses his design and how it was created.
Thank you again, Lauren and Eric, for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us about the incredible work you’re doing to improve our lives. You are amazing people! Keep doing what you’re doing and I look forward to checking in with you again in the near future!
I hope you’ve enjoyed, and found promise for a brighter future, listening to today’s podcast. Please remember to like, share and SUBSCRIBE to my podcast and my YouTube channel so you don’t miss an episode!
Have an amazing week and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Dr Hugh Herr-Founder of Bionic Skins and “Yours Truly’ all set up for a gait study I did last year at MIT.
New Socket and What To ExpectHere we go again!
Last week I told you all about a huge blister that formed in my socket on the end of my residual limb, well, after talking to my prosthetist about that and a few other things that I was ignoring, he decided that it was time to make a new socket!
UGH!!
Where great sockets are made!!
Randy West and I getting ready to make a mess!
Cast is made!
I know what you’re thinking. “That’s great! You’ll have a better fit than what you have now”, and that is true, however, the idea of going through the casting and fitting process, then a week of walking around in a hard plastic shell test socket isn’t fun and then after it’s all created there is a “breaking in”period that can last up to another week. All the while you are hoping that the changes move you in the right direction.
My current socket being used to remake the original mold
All in all, it will be better (or at least that is the hope). My guys do an amazing job of getting me the best fit, they are incredible at what they do, and I am blessed to have them in my corner. It’s just that it is such a long and, at times, painful process that brings discomfort before it brings joy.
So I am going this week to be recast and will create a video of the process for you to see.
I bring this up for a couple of reasons.
- This is my life, and my podcast is about my personal journey, that I can speak to.
- It’s important to note that even though I’m through the harder years of fitting my prosthesis, there will still be changes that happen down the road, and being an amputee has ever-changing challenges and struggles.
I’m excited, for sure, to get a new fitting socket and the idea of recreating my external design has me giddy. I love remaking my look.
But I am a realist as well, and I know what I am about to embark on is a process that takes time, perseverance, and grit to get through. I know what’s coming and I know it can be unpleasant at times, but I also know it will help me get the most intimate fit ever and it’s important to my livelihood.
I will keep you posted on social media on how it’s going. Make sure you check out my IG and/or my Facebook page @BAWarrior360 for updates.
I would tell you to continue to communicate with your prosthetist as your limb matures and when you notice things “happening” with the fit, even minor changes, that you should let them know before you get a blister like mine, or worse!
I am fortunate that I don’t develop infections like some people do, but this one could’ve been bad for a person with a high infection rate.
Be vigilant with your life, your fit, and your comfort. If things don’t feel right, please make sure you reach out to your team.
It’s better to be safe than sorry and laid up for weeks because you “pushed” through something you shouldn’t have.
Also, remember that your limb and your body are constantly changing, no matter how long you’ve been an amputee. Don’t think that you are ___ years out and you won’t see any more changes. I’m almost 6 years out and I’m heading in for a new socket because of fit, not damage to my socket.
Our bodies are always changing and fluctuating, take note, and be vigilant when you notice something look or feel different.
I hope you have an amazing week and until next time,
And as always,
B e Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Choose to Shine!
Let’s discuss Anticipation and Expectations as an amputee.
Every journey is different, every path navigated in life is unique, so why would anyone think that becoming an amputee that we would share the exact same journey?
We will have a similar structure as to what steps come first, second, third, etc, but wWHEN they come, HOW quickly you move from one step to the next, AND when setbacks will happen are all unique to each individual.
Understanding this, and excepting it will help with your success and also your stress.
When we drop the idea that “I want to be doing what Sue is doing.”, or “I want to run like John.” we can embrace our own journey for all its worth, and except the path we are on, which will reduce stressors and help us achieve.
Goal setting and POSITIVE expectations are found to be key to reducing stress and helping us reach success.
Join me for how to go about doing this, and at the end of the podcast check out your Call to Action on what you can be doing right now whether you are awaiting amputation, had an unexpected amputation, or just want to get out of your own way in life so you can find success.
Enjoy this episode, share with those you know who need some motivation and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Keep looking up! Reach for the stars, dear Warri0rs!!
Dealing With Negative Emotions Post-AmputationAnger, Guilt, Shame, and Fear are all such destructive emotions. They hold us back from realizing our full potential and no one is immune to feeling them at one time or another.
As amputees, we face unique challenges, including fears about our new life, future uncertainty, failures, prosthetics, and adapting to physical limitations.
As a wife and homeschooling mom amputee I often struggled with guilt. I was always worried about making mistakes and inadequacy.
Now, as an amputee, (and I ELECTED this), I was even more fearful of what might be my shortcomings.
This is a lot of pressure to put on myself. How about you? Are you adding this stress into your life?
All in all, any of those above mentioned emotions, are taking away your happiness and also adding a negative aspect to your life, one that is stress-inducing and impeding success.
Stress can harm our health, impeding healing and progress. We must recognize and tame these self-destructive emotions if we are to truly love ourselves, love our life and live it fully.
Enjoy the good days. Remember those feelings. Harness them and utilize them when you are struggling.
We must realize what we are doing to ourselves and how to tame that monster that is self-destructive in nature.
So what can you do when these emotions begin to rear their ugly heads in your mind and life?
First thing;
Stop beating yourself up over situations you cannot control. You cannot control infections, poor fitting sockets, blister and rashes, or phantom pains.
Next, you need to communicate with your family and support system about how you are feeling. and when you’re feeling like you are getting everyone down. They need to know where you are at during the harder times as you navigate being an amputee because they probably don’t have any other experience with amputees than YOU. Help them understand how you see yourself, where you want to be and what’s currently holding you back from realizing your potential. More than likely they wouldn’t want you to be worrying about that, just about getting better and stronger.
Finally, use positive self-talk. Your brain is a powerful muscle and it will bend and move to what thoughts you are allowing it to feed off of. If you tell yourself you aren’t good enough, that you aren’t contributing, or you are letting down those around you, then that is what you will feel is true. BIG TIME STRESSOR!
Time to start forgiving yourself, forgiving those around you that have hurt you, breaking free from fears, and letting go of guilt. When you are sick and laid up, your first priority must be to get stronger and healthier so you CAN get back to your life and family.
You can do this, you are strong enough. This is a long journey, a marathon, not a sprint. You will find that when things are going well something will come along and take you back a step or two. Likewise, when you are struggling, I can promise you, it won’t last and soon everything will start working out for the positive.
Don’t distress, dear Warriors, this too shall pass.
Lift up your chin, put a smile on your face, and laugh despite your struggles.
The time is now to sharpen your mental sword and fight for what you want and how you want to live your life.
Don’t give up and don’t lose hope.
Make today a great day,
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Through The Eyes of a HorseHorse Therapy-the horse who started it all: CherokeeWhat can I say, I LOVE horses! I have always loved horses, just seeing them makes me smile. Yet as a girl growing up in the suburbs of Chicago I was never around any horses. The attraction is a mystery.
Never in my WILDEST dreams could I have imagined that at my age I would be surrounded by them every single day, training them, getting certified to train them, grooming them and now bringing a therapy to the public in which the horses becomes the teacher.
They are incredible creatures with so much to offer.
My journey began after my amputation and with the horse you see pictured above. Even though I was only around him for 30-45 minutes, the impact he made on my life was the most profound experience I have ever felt! Not only did my amputation change the trajectory of my life, now horses were a part of this ever changing path.
Now after 4 years of learning and teaching, observing and making mistakes, I am ready to bring this mental healing to others, and I AM EXCITED!!!
CONNECTION
BEING PRESENT
TRUST
The benefits of just being in proximity to horses is incredible! The healing they can bring to our lives is unmatched.
I hope that one day you, too, can feel the healing power of horses in your life, and I would love to be the one to take you there.
Join me on this new journey that I never, EVER saw coming a mere 5 years ago.
Let’s work together and heal ourselves through the eyes of a horse.
I pray you have a beautiful week and a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much Love,
My silly girl!
How Can You Know What You Don’t Know?Yep, like clockwork!
Like life itself, being an amputee throws you curveball after curveball, no matter how seasoned you are.
My time is now, I guess.
I am almost six years out from my amputation, life has been great! I have been traveling, active, enjoying mobility and no (knock on wood) phantom pains worthy of discussion. This is the good stuff! I’m living my best life!
Monday’s walk…pre-pain
Enjoying island life
Monday, however, with our weather being nice and cool in the mornings, I took my pups for a walk. About one mile in I noticed an aching in my femur. Never had that before. Very curious.
At 1 1/4 miles, however, I as limping and trying to keep pressure of my limb and socket. Once I got home and sat for a minute the pain was gone, but I could recreate it by moving my socket around.
Now, I know my limits and I know how to push myself so, of course, I went for a walk the next morning.
And you guessed it, I was in pain again, in the same place on my leg. This time I cut my walk a little shorter.
I have never had this before. So I did what I needed to do. I began going through a process of elimination for what I was feeling.
First off, I was checking my residual limb that night for bruising or soreness when I touched the area in question. It feels bruised.
I had no redness or swelling.
I had no rash or blisters.
I checked my weight, only down a few pounds, but that’s not uncommon.
I am noticing some tripping off my toes lately which could indicate that my prothesis might be dropping some when I pick up my leg when walking.
My best guess is that for some odd reason, six years in, I am having some volume change, or shape change, to my residual limb (which is weird since I haven’t changed anything in my routines nor have I been traveling the past couple of weeks). This would explain bruising as I may be banging around in my socket because of excess room.
My worst case scenario is a possible bone spur, which would cause pain on the bone and can happen at anytime after amputation. This would suck because I’d have to have surgery to remove them.
So, for now, I will NOT take to social media to find answers because my medical team and I know my situation best.
I will NOT worry, because that doesn’t help and is a waste of time.
The Limb Center: I have these guys in my corner.
I have called my prosthetist and let him know what I’m feeling, when I’m feeling it, and where the pain is coming from. I will be seeing him soon to check out my fit of my socket and making some educated guesses with the person who has seen me through to this point.
From there we will formulate a plan to reduce/eliminate the problem.
If you are like me, and are dealing with an unusual circumstance with your residual limb.
If you are feeling scared or worried about what might be causing your trouble, here is your Call to Action:
Please don’t ask the keyboard warriors on your social media feed!
Please process what you are seeing, feeling, and noticing that is different than before with your residual limb and/or socket.
Make notes.
Call your medical team: orthopedic surgeon, prosthetist, and/or physical therapist and get their help.
And please, whatever you do, don’t waste time worrying about what it could be. Just remember that you were strong enough to get to where you are now, and you will be stronger still as you navigate this (what may be your first of MANY issues as an amputee) hurdle.
Remember to breathe, step back from your situation, make logical observations and talk to your medical team.
You and I will get through this.
We are warriors, of course.
Attitude is EverythingHave a beautiful week and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Live in the Moment and Experience Your Best LifeTake a breathe. Now slowly let it out.
Breathing is an automatic response by our body, it knows that we can’t survive without oxygen, but have you ever noticed your breathe being shallow or worse yet, you held your breathe?
We tend to do this in times of stress, anxiety and fear, and yes, we all face some sort of and some level of these moments on a daily basis.
We are actually depriving ourselves of the one thing our body needs to stay alive!
Now, take that and add in the frustration, pain, and uncertainty of losing a limb and trying to “get back to your life”. Also add in, for some of you, the anger you feel if accident or sickness took your limb away and the choice of living a life as an amputee wasn’t up to you. That’s pretty harsh, right?
But, we are stronger than we know. Our bodies and our minds are more resilient than we understand.
We must really make the effort to push forward.
I named this podcast Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior because 1) I believe we all have a warrior spirit, 2) that we are beautiful just as we are (no matter how many limbs we have) and 3) we are adaptive beings, no matter what is thrown at us, we are capable of adaptation.
The time is now to live in the moment. Realize that you and your life, no matter what you’re going through, are a miracle and capable of great things.
Now is the time to enjoy your life and press onward and FORWARD! No use in looking back if it’s just going to cause you pain, stress, and frustration. What’s done is done.
Now we live.
Now we rise up.
Now we embrace our journey, set goals, crush goals and REPEAT!!
You are special and you are strong enough! So rise up, Warriors, and live your best life!
Now what?
Ask yourself, “AM I ready to live my life again?”
If the answer is “No”, what is holding you back? You need to address those issues first, just don’t let fear be the reason. We all live with certain fears, the difference: those that press through their fears find the reward of facing them by experiencing a full life.
If your answer is “Yes, I’m ready”, then your next step is to decide what it is that you want to do, where you want to go, what you want to see, and what you want to try.
Make a list.
Decide which ones are plausible now and start creating steps you need to reach that goal and then….
BEGIN TODAY!!
If you want to surf, then you need to build core strength, work on balance, get a surf leg, practice popups on your floor in your house, etc, etc, etc.
Every goals has steps to get to the goal. Break yours down into bite sized pieces and start getting after it.
Remember, you are a miracle, your life is a miracle.
Be present, and enjoy your life. You’ll be so glad you did!!
Write to me and tell me how it’s going, I’d love to hear from you!
And remember you are a Warrior!
Until next week,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Finding Peace and Comfort in This Hard SeasonHow does a warrior prepare for battle?
They need the right kind of armor to protect themself from harm.
They need weapons to defeat the enemy, too.
What is your armor?
What weapons do you wield as you go into this new season, this battle, for your health and livelihood?
Yes, you CAN prepare. There are things you can do to build yourself up to being stronger and able to handle the journey you are embarking on.
I am speaking from a perspective that I relate to, that is, elected amputation. Not everyone has this experience, and I cannot even begin to imagine what it must be like to have that taken from me with no choice, so I will not be speaking of that journey today.
I had four months to prepare, research, interview, seek help, and get a leg up (PUN intended!) on my forthcoming surgery.
I believe there are many things we need to address to feel even somewhat prepared for such a huge life-changing surgery, and even then, you are never going to be completely ready for that day and what is to come in the years to follow, but you might as well start from a positive, strong place.
I address 4 major areas to get yourself prepped for such a surgery: Mental, Emotional, Physical, and Insurance
Yep, Insurance! You are in control of those other areas of your life, but insurance can become the enemy very quickly if you are not researching and doing your due diligence with what your insurance covers…prosthetics are EXPENSIVE!!!
Like I said before, I had four months from the time I scheduled my surgery til the day of my amputation.
These four months were extremely challenging and emotional. I tried my best to stay positive and convinced that this was the right move, but some days were much harder to convince myself than others.
I began to go through the “What if’s….” A LOT! I had fears well up in the night as I lay in the dark and everyone else in my house was sleeping. I struggled with the idea of death, and I worried that I wouldn’t be a functioning amputee. So many questions, and I knew NO amputees at the time. So many fears and so many uncertainties. It was almost unbearable.
But I decided to not let negativity rule my months I had left as a ‘two-legger’, and I began to prepare my heart, mind and body for the battle ahead. And Insurance, unbeknownst to me, was going to be a very grueling battle!
Don’t get caught without a plan.
Don’t get caught without visualizing a better future.
Don’t get caught without setting goals.
These items are your armor and your weapons.
Be prepared, you are, after all, a WARRIOR!
We all have a warrior spirit, some of us just need to believe it to unleash it.
Believe in yourself. You can do this! I believe in YOU, Dear Warrior!
Start making a plan now, don’t wait!
Prepare yourself by addressing your mental and emotional capacity to handle what’s coming. How? Talk to people. When you talk about it you will find you relax the hold it has over you. I remember when I couldn’t even say “Amputation”, it made it too real if I said it, but that’s what I had to learn to do. The more I talked about it, the easier it became to say, eventually it got me then thinking about what was coming and how I might handle certain situations, like getting in and out of a car, going to the bathroom in the middle of the night, cooking dinner while on crutches, etc. I would not have those questions without open conversations with my family and friends.
Physically prepare by building your balance, core strength, and the limb that will be left behind to do all the work.
Finally, insurance. Please do your research. Ask questions about what is and is NOT covered by your insurance. Double check, and even triple check if time allows. The cost is profound, and the average household struggles to afford one.
You are strong enough to go through this, but you must prepare, just as a runner prepares for a marathoner and a warrior prepares for battle. Strengthen yourself and watch a new life unfold in front of you.
Your life is ending or diminished because of amputation, it has just turned onto a new path. And the adventures will be amazing!
So, Warriors, rise up to the challenge in front of you! You are strong enough. You are brave enough. You are ENOUGH!
Until next week and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Freedom and Joy in MovementWhat do you dream about doing or accomplishing?
As amputees we tend to struggle with getting back out there, worried that we won’t be able to live full lives filled with goals set and conquered, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth!
Yes, the first couple of years there is a lot of changes taking place with your body, and a whole new routine of being fitted for your prosthesis every few months, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be getting active and finding the joy of becoming independent once again.
Prior to my amputation I spent 5 years in surgeries, icing and elevating my leg, and going to appointments. I had no time to do anything else, and my life became a series of tasks in hopes of getting better, but not truly living. I had no time to dream about the next ski trip or learning a new sport, I was in survival mode, plain and simple.
However, I set many goals for myself to accomplish by one year post-amputation. I never thought, “What if I can’t do this?” or “That’s not possible.” I just set my goals and worked toward them. No one told me that maybe I was being to aggressive on myself, or that I was dreaming too big. My family and friends just walked alongside of me, supporting me through it all.
What I can tell you about that first year is this: I was so happy! I found joy in life once again! I never looked back with regrets to having had the amputation, and in that first year I knew that I could do anything I put my mind to.
Life is meant to be lived fully. I aim to try new things whenever the opportunity arises!
The point: We each are traveling on our own unique journey, but we all want to have independence and the feeling of freedom that comes with that, this truly goes for those of us who have been laid up, or stuck in a medical crisis. Setting goals to keep us on track and moving forward is key to feeling the freedom of independence once again.
When I speak to other amputees about what they want to get back to doing to make them feel productive, and independent in life, some of the most basic life skills is what they speak of first; dressing themselves, standing in their kitchen to wash dishes or make a meal. Basic, right? But that’s what makes us feel productive and useful. I know I couldn’t wait to show my family that I could serve them the way I use to, before the accident. And when we experience these baby steps of accomplishment it leaves us thirsting for more!
The goals and aspirations grow and change. As we build strength and stamina, as we get better at using our prosthesis, we begin to really dream of the possibilities. That’s when the real fun begins, and the joy from accomplishing goals becomes a need not just a want.
So, What do you dream about accomplishing? What will give you back your independence or freedom?
Dare to dream because being an amputee isn’t what it use to be. You can do anything you put your mind to, if only you dare!
This week I want you to make a list of the things you most want to do. Maybe tasks around the house or at work. Maybe just getting dressed or making the bed. It doesn’t have to be big, monumental tasks or goals, just ones that will make you feel good that you can do on your own again.
It is also ok to add, to your list, goals for the future. Remember, dreaming is what keeps us motivated and moving forward.
Don’t be afraid to add whatever is on your heart. This is a great time to not think about the “how” of these longterm goals, just dream!
Finding independence again, is such a blessing and brings great joy.
Just remember to START WHERE YOU’RE AT.
Know that with these new goals there may be some fear or anxiety, but with anything worth achieving we must all face fears. I do all the time. Just remember what you’re made of. Remember what you’ve been through. YOU ARE A WARRIOR!!
Now make that list and start tackling those dreams!
I hope you all have a blessed week, thank you for listening,
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Bunker Hill- 297 steps to the top! I was nervous but I did it!
Finding Peace in These MomentsThese are the times I struggle with the most. Yes, it can be nice to have down time but for someone like me downtime can become a bad habit and turn, quickly, into a new way of living.
I realize how hard I push myself, daily. I know I pack my schedule full, every single day. If I don’t keep that pace I truly become an all or nothing kind of person.
Well, I am being tested on my drive and motivation right now. I have been away on vacation, followed by a week+ of being sick, into prepping for my son to head back to college, to hurting my back! These past 3 weeks have been a call, from my body, to slow down and recharge my batteries, and I am trying to listen.
I have guilt for not being there for my horses, and feel uncomfortable in my body for the lack of gym time and hiking.
I know that this is a moment for me to work on my internal self, my self-talk, and my motivation to get back on the horse once I feel better, but it is tough!
When we get to a place of being so super active and it turns to a lot of downtime, it can be hard to feel mentally and emotionally good about ourselves. I know I am always trying to do what I feel I “should” be doing as a mom and wife, but when I am hurting, physically, it makes it hard to be active, and in a good headspace.
Here’s what I have been doing to make the best of my time:
I am cooking for my family,
I am reading my Bible again,
I am reading for pleasure,
I have been writing in a goal setting journal for the gym and food aspect of my life,
I am creating gift ideas for family and friends,
I am planning my seasonal parties,
I am active, in my head, at least.
As for my body, well, that is going to take time with a back that is hurting.
It’s amazing that everything I want to do to be, even somewhat, active takes back strength and control! I tried using my surf board in the pool and the arching of my back on it almost paralyzed me! Sit ups or planks? Forget it, back control. Lifting? No way, my back is always engaged with weights. Walking? I know I am not walking correctly (over compensating for the pain), so I will only create more issues. This is tough, I won’t lie. But I have seen this before, I have heard from many of you, and what I see is a moment we are given to learn about ourselves, a time to recharge our batteries for something more coming up, a situation that allows us time to regroup and goal set for our future, especially if our future feels uncertain and scary.
This is a time for us to use for the good. Use it to get to know yourself or to realign your life with new goals, hopes or dreams.
Maybe you have felt overwhelmed and unsure of what you are suppose to be doing right now, use this down time as a chance to gain clarity and focus.
You are a warrior, don’t you ever forget that!
I believe in you! Do you?
This week, allow yourself the moments you have being laid up to being constructive for your future. You are not being lazy, you are healing your body, you are listening to what your body needs right now. This moment isn’t forever.
Use this time to dream, goal set, find focus, change directions, plan.
What do you want from your life?
What have you been missing out on since you got “laid up”?
You can use this time for positive gains, just in a different way than you thought. You may not be on your feet at this moment, or unable to perform certain tasks right now, but prepare yourself for when your body is ready to get back at it. It’ll be here before you know it!
So Rise up, faithful Warrior, and chase your dreams!!
Until next time and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Practice Makes Permanence###### It was 1 year post-amputation before I felt confident enough to go out and try a 10K
Let’s cut to the nitty gritty.
Practice makes permanence not perfection.
As an amputee it takes daily, mindful practice placing one step in front of the other to get comfortable in your prosthesis.
To take time to practice what feels right and looks right is important to learning the proper gait which in turn will help keep the rest of your body healthy and stronger for the long run.
If you start getting lazy, or not taking breaks and pushing yourself too hard too fast you might find yourself getting tired and losing focus and control over your practice.
This is a journey, not an end game. I am still focused on my gait and I am almost 6 years post-amputation.
Hiking on uneven, rocky terrain takes a lot of practice!
See the waddle? I can tell I was being lazy or I was hurting based on this one snapshot.
Woah! Working on balance and leg strength is important everyday so you can go off roading!
And once again, I try to challenge myself on different terrain. Winter hiking boots on snow/ice! Quite the trek!
Be mindful as you work on walking.
Pay attention to your hips being engaged and swinging your legs through your step versus swinging it out and around.
Take your steps slow and be patient.
Walk wherever you can and make learning your prosthesis a full time job, it’s important!
Also, be mindful of when you’re getting tired and take a break so you don’t resort to bad posture and gait.
I know you can do it, remember it is a journey and one worth practicing al the time.
Rise up, Warriors, and get to steppin’!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Me and My Guys in Hollywood Studios, FL
Risks and Rewards, Tips and Tricks###### Traveled to the “Happiest Place on Earth” as an amputee
Traveling is exhausting for anyone. Spending a day in an amusement park can take the most energetic person and turn them into a melt down of epic proportions. Add in the heat and humidity of a Florida summer AND thousands of people and it becomes an challenge that the ordinary person struggles to finish.
Now add in someone missing a leg, dealing with sweating in a prosthesis that wants to shift on you and chafe your leg, sprinkle in the dodging of people who only seem to be concerned with their own schedule, and lines that you stand in, totaling hours, throughout the day and you have one of the biggest opportunities to rise to the occasion and show what you’re made of.
The amount of people is amazing!
Traveling is fun.
The Jungle Cruise during the final show at Disney World
Tron ride was EPIC , and probably to the only ride that me fitting into was questionable, but absolutely doable for even me, an above knee amputee.Traveling is challenging.
Overall, I decided to amputate so I could GET BACK to the life I was living before my knee injury, and that is exactly why I go thru all of those obstacles and challenges.
I WANT TO LIVE!!! Fully and completely.
Golfing is fun but challenging….I love a challenge!
Enjoying the rides, like Pirates, with my family!
That was an amazing day! Almost 11 miles and one exhausted momma! But look at that view (and ALL THOSE PEOPLE)!
What kind of life do you want?
What can you handle?
I have experienced moving around on trips and amusement parks as an able-bodied person, and injured momma in a wheelchair, and as an amputee. This week I give you some ideas of what to expect, what to pack, and how to deal with the ins and outs of highly populated places such as Disney World and Universal.
Get ready to pack your bags and begin your journey!
Enjoy the journey. Be present. Live your life!
You can travel, too, just be prepared (oh, and make sure you stretch!).
You may be an amputee but you can still enjoy taking trips.
This may seem irrelevant to the topic of travel but I assure you it is very relevant: STRETCH!
Make stretching a part of your day, everyday!
I didn’t and my back was screaming at me the day after our 1st park. The way I had to walk, in the heat, around all those people, looking out for myself, and my safety, made my body move in non-natural ways that over the miles and hours of being on my feet really exhausted my back and hips. I had 2 days and nights of phantom pains and back pains and all I could do was push through it and continue with our plans, trying to ignore the pain. On one of the final nights back in our resort I decided to sit on the ground and give my good leg a nice stretch only to realize how very tight I was.
Don’t wait til you have issues like I did. I am now starting to stretch every morning and evening to help my flexibility and my mobility.
Your Call to Action this week is to do the same.
Implement a stretching routine for yourself so you keep flexible. Even 5 minutes a day is better than nothing, so get started, TODAY!!
Also, listen into my IG Live chat Un(Limb)ited Conversation this week as Jackie, DPT and I discuss stretches for post-amputation mobility. You can find it on Instagram @BAWarrior360. Every other Wednesday at 4:00 pm MST I hope you join us!
OK, Warriors, rise up, and get traveling!
Life is a journey, not a destination.
Have a beautiful week
and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Not all who wander are lost.
Setbacks Happen, You Are Not AloneThe reality is that after your amputation the journey is just beginning.
The journey is filled with ups and downs and everything in between.
I wished I could tell you that once your limb physically heals, from the surgery, that it’s all downhill from there but that wouldn’t be accurate for 99% of the amputees.
Most of us will deal with 2-3 years of limb volume changes making the socket fitting process a true test of patience and resilience.
Add in phantom pains, possible neuromas, skin breakdown, etc and the challenges can seem daunting and never-ending
But have no fear, the journey is not an easy one, but can be so very rewarding.
You should be setting goals for yourself, depending where you are in your journey.
This life is a journey; embrace it, wherever you are at in it.
You will build character and learn so much about yourself, too.
I know you are going through some rough times right now, but you’re not alone. I see you. I have been where you are, and I will probably have a rough go at it sometime in the near future.
This is the life of an amputee.
There is beauty in the struggle, though. Your mindset can dictate, and WILL dictate your outcomes.
You have two choices, play the victim or play the hero of your story.
Your mindset matters.
If you are in the middle of a setback in your journey, have no fear. This is the moment to take a breathe, be present, and begin to anticipate what beauty is to come.
What do you want to achieve?
Where do you see yourself once you heal or get past this hurdle?
At this moment, when life seems too much and you are frustrated and feeling like you’ll never get back to the way you were before your setback remember that this moment is setting you up for a leap forward and in the right direction.
Get your mindset correct and be ready for the positive changes.
Use this time to create a plan that makes you happy, one that you can be excited about as you anticipate your full recovery, from whatever is holding back right now.
If you visualize a positive momentum to come, you can will it to happen.
Sending your mind positive thoughts and imagery is exactly how to succeed.
Pause in this moment, take a few deep cleansing breathes and prepare yourself for a positive shift.
You’ve got this, Warrior!!! Don’t lose hope.
I’m praying for you!
Until next time and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Enjoy YOUR JourneyEnjoy YOUR Journey
This is YOUR life.
It looks like no one else’s and YOU are like no one else in the world….. so why do we compare our journey to everyone else’s?
I understand, when life gets hard, and we see someone kicking butt and everything appears to be amazing for them, we wish that was what we had, but don’t be mistaken. Everyone has valleys as well as mountain tops. When you see someone that makes you wish for things to be like their life you forget that they were probably struggling not too long ago.
You also miss out on YOUR journey and the beautiful moments that are happening to you and around you.
Horse kisses make me happy
A wedding dance with my Dad
Being with my guys
A starting point is the beginning of a new journey. And each of us starts in a different place. Do not compare yourself to anyone else.
Start looking at your life NOT as a derailed train but a new direction to explore, new skills to be learned, and amazing people to meet and gain valuable experiences.
Find time today to look in the mirror and truly appreciate and embrace this moment right now.
It’s time to climb your mountain, rise to the challenges in life, commit to what you want and consistently get after it.
Embrace your journey.
Embrace your starting point.
Remember anything is possible with commitment and consistency.
Dare to dream and rise up, Warriors!!!
Have a blessed week and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Staying Present to Live FullyI played sports all my life and the one take away from all of those years was that if I wasn’t focused on the moment then I wasn’t going to perform at my best.
You’ve heard the saying, “Keep your eye on the ball” or “Keep your eye on the prize” and you have probably understood it in the context it was told to you. I heard it a million times in all the years I played softball. It wasn’t a metaphor, it was literal. “Don’t lose sight of the ball.”-You can’t hit a ball you aren’t looking at, and you can’t field a ball you don’t see.
But how about hearing that saying in life?
Can you see how this relates to your daily living?
All too often we spend time waiting for the next best thing to happen. We look forward to being out of this moment, and when we will feel happiness or joy again. We try to avoid living in the present when the present is too pain to handle. But what about right now?
I read something the other day that made me really think. What are we waiting for? The end of the journey is the grave. We should be living in this moment for all it’s worth, enjoying the battles and the victories. We must learn to embrace the bad times as much as the good ones because we learn from all moments, we create memories in all moments.
Moments like this make a pain-filled day just what I needed to find my smile.
Life is good and life is hard.
Without the hard moments, the ones where we live in a valley, were cannot fully appreciate the good ones.
This week I want you to focus on living in the present.
Stop time by living fully IN time.
A quiet moment with my pup. Breathe in, breathe out.
I don’t mean for you to wallow in your pain, that’s not the moment I am talking about. But in those hard and painful moments life is happening all around you. The sun is shining, the dogs are cuddling up against you, a friend sends you a special text. Your moment isn’t just the pain you might be feeling but all the things happening around you and to you.
It’s ok to acknowledge your pain and struggles, just don’t live there, and don’t give it power. Acknowledge and move on.
You are a warrior.
You are stronger than you know.
Keep your eye on the ball and live a full life, the life you were always meant to live!
This week, every night before you go to bed, make a list of 5 things that made you feel good, happy, loved, appreciated, alive.
Whatever you noticed that brought you joy and happiness.
This doesn’t have to be a writing assignment, just a list.
Maybe you smelled the rain and it relaxed you.
Maybe your puppy came and cuddled up next to you and you felt relaxed and loved.
Maybe the sun shining down through the trees brought you a sense of peace.
This is about staying present and appreciating the little things that happen throughout the day.
We must practice staying present everyday because we become so easily caught up in the wanting and yearning of a new day or a better life, or wanting everything that’s just out of reach instead of seeing how many good things are happening throughout the day to us.
Stay present.
Appreciate the little moments.
Move past the pain by acknowledging it and then moving on from it.
You are strong and capable.
You are a fighter, so fight!
You are worthy, so pick up your head and hold yourself up high.
Until next week, and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
These are the moments I live for
Normalizing Phantom PainNo matter what you think, every amputee has issues at some point or another.
No one is exempt from phantom pain or phantom sensations even though it appears as they do.
Most successful people, meaning those who appear to be living their best life after amputation, do not sit around thinking about phantom pain or wallowing in it, they keep moving, they keep pushing through it, until they make it through…for at least that episode.
I was once told that talking about it and harping about the phantom pain only gave it power over me, so I try very hard not to talk about it.
Moving through an episode, that is what I call them because they come on quick, last for a brief moment in time and then disappear as quickly as they came on…only to be repeated again in the future. But moving through an episode can be a lonely place and often times hard. Making a decision to keep doing life despite it and not letting it get the best of you takes mental fortitude. Some days I feel like I have it…other days, not so much.
This week is one of those weeks. Monday I struggled all day. Tuesday I forced myself to the gym and grocery shopping, only to feel exhausted by the end of it all and only to find it tough to get sleep Tuesday night… BUT, I made life happen for me, not to me!
I chose to get active and I felt better that I had, mentally, even though physically I was still struggling.
You have to choose your battles. Know when to push through and know when your body and mind need a break.
Just don’t give up and never, for a second, think you are the only one that is struggling. You are NOT.
Be strong, dear Warrior! You will get through it!
I hope you have a blessed week and one filled with positive momentum forward!
U
ntil next week and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
much love,
Prepare Yourself!Your steps backward are prepping you to be rocketed forward.
Ever feel like you are being held down, pushed backwards, not making forward progress?
I’ve been there and it can be so frustrating! Sometimes it feels like you are never going to get back to where you were or progress any further
What I have learned over these past 12 years of setbacks and surgeries, backward movement and disappointment, is that whenever I have gone through those moments, sooner or later, I am back to where I once was AND usually further along than I could’ve ever imagined…and sometimes down a path I would never have seen.
Sometimes these “valleys” take days , weeks or even months. Mine lasted 5 years of hoping and praying that life would cut me a break…little did I know that a simple pop of my MCL in a karate graduation would amount to an amputation 5 years later, and some of the most profound and wonderful moments of my life!!!
We need to remember that when we have setbacks- they won’t last forever, and that these setbacks are stressing us to launch us into something greater than we could ever have fathomed.
Prepare yourself; your heart, mind and body, for something great to happen. Don’t get down and give up, instead be prepared for your launch!
Be prepared for something amazing and spectacular to happen on your life.
Setbacks are a way to a new path and usually one that sets us up for greatness.
Be prepared to be launched!!
This week starts mentally preparing yourself for your launch, especially if you feel that you’ve been knocked down or held back by some illness, frustration, situation in your life.
Start seeing what could be and what might happen and see the positive side, get excited for change to come and push you further than you could ever believe you’d go. Sometimes just preparing our minds to accept change that might come can manifest itself into reality. “If you can think it you can do it” sort of scenario.
Don’t get down, just know that you are being stressed and stretched to be sling shot forward into a whole new situation with all new possibilities.
Just know that you won’t be where you are forever. You are being prepared to experience a forward movement and back to climbing to that mountain top.
I hope you have a beautiful week ahead.
And as always.
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
much love,
Angie
bawarrior360 #believinginyourself #limbloss #podcast #personaljourney #launch #setbacksaresetups #prepareyourself #amputeelife #ampstrong #valleystomountaintops #slingshot
Breathe In, Breathe OutSometimes we forget one of the most basic of human needs, breathing. Yes, of course we continue to breathe everyday, I’m not saying we stop breathing, what I AM saying is that we forget HOW to breathe.
I know I can get caught up in emotions and stress and only do shallow breathes or even hold my breathe, at times. This is not good for us, we must practice taking good, deep, and cleansing breathes everyday.
When we take part in active breathing, we can clear our bodies of toxins and bad energy and bring in the goodness around us, the energy of the earth and nature.
Breathe in through the nose, breathe in good energy, life-giving energy.
Breathe out through the mouth and rid yourself of bad, negative energy and toxins.
We should be taking time everyday to work on this and thus reap the benefits of cleansing breath. Even if for only 5-10 minutes a day. I bet after a while you will make time for longer sessions, only to gain the rewards of spending time with yourself. You’ll be surprised on how practicing breathing will elevate things, such as; stress and pain.
Why WOULDN’T you want to do this?
I know, I know. It’s hard to find the time, but like all things that we want to do throughout a day, we learn to make the time, until you can’t do without it. Building good habits only takes a couple of weeks of dedication for it to stick and become routine.
Try it!
That is your Call to Action for this week.
Find time to give yourself a break. Get comfortable, sit upright and breathe.
Clear your mind of your busy schedule, your to do list, and things that have been weighing on your mind.
Let it all go for this time period and give yourself the time to just “Be”.
If you struggle to quiet your mind and you find yourself wandering, it’s ok, just redirect you mind to quiet down and refocus on the moment.
Sometimes I find myself counting in my mind to redirect the thoughts and get back to a quiet mind.
Stay consistent and don’t give up.
If you are struggling with phantom limb pain you might find this to be releasing.
When stress seems to take over your physical well being try it and find your peace and focus again.
I hope you all have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!
and as always,
Be Healthy,
be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
How to overcome adversity to reach the topThe view from the top is always amazing and one we all strive for but that isn’t how life works, is it?
What happened when we fail, and fall into a valley? Maybe you have a medical issue, or are struggling in a relationship or job, or maybe you became an amputee, like me.
What then?
This is the time to focus on what’s in front of you. You need to figure out your goals and where you want to be and take the right steps to achieve them.
Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it?
Of course, in theory it sounds great but putting that into practice, day in and day out is another story all together.
I met an older gentleman at the Y the other day that made me realize that I need to appreciate the season I am in and the condition my body is in. I talked with this man for a bit and saw a yearning in his eyes to be the young buck he once was, one that had strength and stamina. He told me he use to be a body builder and now he was barely lifting any weight. I told him that I was impressed he was there and working out and that he should see that as a victory, he is climbing his mountain.
Is it where he use to be? No.
Is it where he wants to be? No, but he hasn’t quit!
He had been through knee surgeries and several heart attacks and he was at the gym, with his walker putting in the work that he COULD do.
That is amazing!
If we forget to appreciate where we’ve been and how far we’ve come, and living in the moment we are in, we can get lost. We start obsessing on how we aren’t doing what we use to be able to do, and not seeing what we are still capable of doing.
I know that as I get older, being an amputee is going to become hard on me and my body. For now, I work on what I can and embrace what I am able to do. I refuse to look back at a time when I had 2 legs and what I was capable of. Now I see me for who I am and how proud I am of my accomplishments because I have had to work hard, and my mindset has had to become strong.
Some days aren’t easy to handle but I must press on. I try to focus on the mountain top, each day, and strive to live in THIS moment.
Today is a gift and I am alive and capable. Don’t forget how special you are, and how this moment, right here and now, is what matters most.
Embrace it and live! You are a warrior, you are worthy of so much more. Strive for that mountain top and do t look back!!
It’s time to look forward and set your goals. Baby steps forward are better than any steps backward or not moving at all.
What is it you want to accomplish?
What will bring you satisfaction that you’re working toward something you want?
It doesn’t have to be big, lofty goals, just you doing what you can do NOW, and knowing you are trying your best.
Set those goals and go for it!
Don’t look back and try not to get discouraged. Remember, you are where you are. Do what you can, where you are at, and revel in those small victories.
you were built to be a warrior! Now, rise up, Warrior, and fight for what you want!
Clomb YOUR mountain!!
Much love,
What to Expect as a New AmputeeAs with anything new there is a learning curve. Becoming an amputee is no different. However, since few people know of anyone that’s an amputee before they, themselves, become one, there are so many questions without answers.
It seems overwhelming, confusing and quite scary.
Have no fear, even though each one of us is very different as we deal with our own amputation, we also have many similar benchmarks or stages we go through.
First thing you need to know is that you will get through this and you are going to do great. If you can embrace that mindset, a mindset of positivity, then you are already on your way to bringing that to fruition.
I believe in manifesting my own destiny and I have deep faith in my purpose and that the journey I am on was set before me by a higher power.
Speak positive and empowering words to yourself, and you will manifest positive and empowering outcomes.
After your surgery you will have time to adjust to your new body image and center of gravity, time to rest and heal, and time to prepare for what’s to come. At this point it’s a great idea to focus on getting some core strength back and balance. These things you can work on as you wait for the fitting process.
Me trying on my very first socket (L) and me a couple sockets later (R). See the weight change?
Adjustments are always being made, even when the socket feels right the leg direction can be off (too far forward leaning, not adducted enough). These things depend on your type of amputation and your hip alignment.
I’ve been fortunate enough to take my “test socket” home and work out in it to make sure it is made to withstand the riggers of my activity levels.
Here’s how my guy, Randy, creates my sockets. He casts my residual limb.
Once you’ve been given the green light by your surgeon that you are ready to be fitted for your prosthesis then you will head to your prosthetist’s office, discuss your goals, dreams, activity levels and where you want to be and where you see yourself in the future. This will help them fit you correctly and get you the best prosthesis for you and your goals.
Your prosthetist will create a “test socket” for you-this could take a couple of weeks- and then you will go in, try it on, walk around in it and they will adjust it for a more comfortable fit, then off you go with your brand new leg.
PT should begin at this point, if you haven’t already been working with one to gain core strength and balance.
I know this can be scary and you might feel apprehensive at first but remember, they want to help you succeed at walking and using your prosthesis correctly so you don’t hurt yourself.
Communicate with them, let them know what feels good and doesn’t feel good, what scares you, what you don’t understand, and what you want to be able to do. Discuss your dreams and goals with them.
Now as you start using your new leg you will start noticing changes in your volume of your leg. The more you start doing life again the more your volume of your residual limb will change and then you run into the frustrating aspect of being an amputee, the socket fit.
You can literally get a brand new socket made to fit your leg perfectly and the very next day it won’t feel as snug. You’ll start to add socks on top of your liner, one after the next, just to accommodate your leg shrinking in size. The more socks you use the less connected you will feel and then you won’t trust your prosthesis to stay in place and behave the way it should.
But don’t worry, your prosthetist will be taking measurements and once those measurements align with your insurance company’s guidelines you can be fitted for a new socket.
The problem?
It is the whole process all over again!
You get a new casting of your limb (some cast, some use digital renderings, just depends on what they like to use), they create a new “test socket” and adjust it to fit nice and snug. Next they create a new final socket and you go back in, try it on, walk around, make adjustments and then you’re on your way…..until this one begins to fit poorly.
The reality: the first 2-3 years are a series of nicely fitting socket, loosening, refitting, recreating, and then all over again.
I, myself, went through 16 sockets in the first 3 years!
The sooner you know and understand this sequence of events, the better it is for you to mentally grasp the journey so these moments don’t gut punch you and make you feel like a failure, or that you’re doing something wrong, or that this is heading down an irreversible path.
Embrace this journey. It is unique and challenging, but you will learn so much about yourself and build so much character, and experience, so quickly.
No one has the same experiences as they become an amputee but this is a basic outline of some pretty typical moments you will see to some degree.
Just remember you are stronger than you think and you will make it through this.
Plain and simple, this week I want you to face those fears.
I know you and see you. You are getting ready to head into your first physical therapy and have no idea how you will manage. You are worried you won’t be able to tolerate the leg, that you aren’t strong enough or even brave enough for this life….but you are!
As I tell myself when I encounter something that puts fear into my heart and doubt into my brain, “One step at a time, Ang”.
I can do anything, one step at a time.
One Step At A Time. Yes, that can be a metaphor, but I mean it literally.
You will NOT be asked to do stairs on your first day of PT, nor will they ask you to try running.
Baby steps is how you start. Just as a small child learns to crawl before they stand, stand before they walk, and walk before they run, you too, will go through these sort of “baby steps”. You are doing something for the first time. It takes, strength, balance, mobility, and practice to get it right, and even then you still won’t have it down. I still catch myself not walking with a good gait and making corrections. That’s ok, it takes time.
Enjoy the journey.
Embrace what scares you and make the most of these moments.
You can do this, look how far you’ve already come!
Have a blessed week and get after it!
Rise up, Warrior, rise up!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
How to Challenge Yourself Through Life’s StormsWhat do you when you’ve lost your motivation?
What has you derailed?
This is often a problem for anyone going through a medical issue, including amputees.
As a 5 year amputee myself, I have a different story, one I want to share.
I spent most of my life participating in sports of one kind or another, only taking a break when we started our family.
As the boys grew so did my desire to get active again, for myself, my physical and mental well-being.
I joined karate with my kids when they were just littles, and I really enjoyed the challenge of it and feeling a part of something.
Unfortunately, onely about 2 years into it I tore my MCL which led to multiple surgeries over 5 years. I gained weight, a lot, and lost my drive.
When it got to a point that I wasn’t going to get better, and I had tried everything, a blood clot came along to drive me to the lumeing decision to amputate, and that I did, 5 years after the initial injury.
At this point, I was prepping my body and mind for what was to come and with that I began to set goals and challenges, after all I was ready to attack life once again…too many years of sitting around on my butt.
The very first challenge was learning how to walk again.
The beginning of the journey-My first prosthetic and me at my heaviest since my injury
This was no easy task and with the pain of amputation/surgery, ill-fitting sockets due to atrophy and weight change, and the actual weight of the prosthesis, I was in for a really challenging few months. But I was determined.
For the first 3 years the volume of my residual limb changed a LOT!
I had to learn to put my mindset into the positive and in hyper-overdrive. I needed to find something to push me, so I decided on virtual races.
My virtual race medal wall. My motivation to keep going!
I could do them on my time, in my area, and with no one else around. I was going to use these races to push myself to wear and master my prosthesis. My very first race was 150 mile spring virtual race! I calculated my daily miles to figure out how to finish on time and then set out to walk the miles.
Can I tell you, in all honesty, that the first day I set out to do my 2 miles (easy, right?) I could only muster up the energy and tolerance to walk to our mailbox!!! 1/4 mile total walk! I was doomed!
But, the next day I got started and walked another block further than the day before. I continued on this path, having good days and bad and taking advantage of the good days, and pressed forward. I was determined to win this mental and physical challenge, each and everyday!
Was it easy? Not a chance! But it was plausible and that was all I needed to rise to the challenge and succeed.
Some days I could get my 2 miles in, and then the very next day I could only go as far as around the block.
I tell you this because the path isn’t always straight forward. You can be doing really good one day and then nerve pains, or the fit, can take you out. You should know this going in so as to give yourself some grace and not get down on yourself.
I talk about Practice makes Permanence, not Practice makes Perfect. 5 years in and I still have days where I see my gait looking lazy or off, I still watch and correct, but I have learned muscle memory and I know right from wrong as I walk.
Practice makes permanence
Setting goals early on in your amputee journey, or any journey for that matter, is important to building healthy habits. There are no shortcuts to figuring it out, you just need to put in the work and build experience. A great basketball player doesn’t just shoot during the game, they practice that free throw hundreds of times a week, maybe even a day, to build muscle memory and get the form down. Why would learning how to walk again in a prosthetic be any different?
Spend the time in it, get use the feel, get good at the stride, practice the little things everyday, and take breaks when you need them, but keep pushing. It will come and then you’ll be able to move onto the next challenge you set before you.
Of course this week’s challenge is to challenge yourself.
Set a new goal, one that you know you can accomplish without it being too easy. Pick something you have been dying to accomplish (like getting stronger walking in your new prosthetic). Now figure out a plan that will get you from point A to point B, and give yourself a specific deadline. Mine happen to come with their own deadlines, being virtual races had “complete by” dates assigned to them. They were a challenge, for sure, but it was good for accountability reasons. I couldn’t wiggle out of those deadlines, not if I was being true to myself, and why wouldn’t I want to be true to myself? Don’t I deserve that?
You can do this.
Drop me a message and let me know what you’re challenging yourself with and then get after it!
You can do this!
You are a warrior, so attack life like a warrior!
I hope you found this to be motivating and you take on this Call to Action.
Have a beautiful week, and until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
My funny girl
The Real Mental Side of Phantom PainOk, let’s talk about Pain. Not just any pain, but the “real” phantom pain.
It comes on without warning.
It can destroy our mood, our productivity, and our confidence.
When it does happen, and for amputees we will all have the pleasure of experiencing it at some point on our journey, it’s enough to cause us to doubt we will ever be able to function again because we can’t see an end to it in sight. It’s the most disabling thing about being an amputee because we cannot control it.
Just two weekends ago I experienced one of my many episodes of phantom pain. I was fine when I woke on Sunday morning, enjoyed a few hours of “normalcy” then out of the blue, like lightning strikes, I was seized with a multitude of sharp, knife driving pains, in the bottom of my non-existent foot!
At first it was just startling and I was wracking my brain as to why it might be acting up. You see, for me, I know what things might cause me to have a flair up of pains from the activities of the day or night before, but not this day. Nothing I could have done would prepare me for this nor could I comprehend what had made these phantom pains come on.
As the day wore on these flashes of pain came more sudden and more often. They are so real feeling that my “foot” was getting sore from all the stabbing.
The prickles on the cactus and thorns on the tree remind me of the sharpness of my phantom pains
If that isn’t a mental attack on the brain I don’t know what is!
If you are an amputee you need to make sure you have a toolbox of info and memories to use as you navigate throu9gh each episode of phantom pains.
Join me today as I discuss what a toolbox is and how you create one.
Remember to be kind to yourself when these pains hit. They will try to crush you and break your spirit but you can and will get stronger with each experience. Just know that it’s ok to shut down for a while as your head tries to understand what’s happening to your body.
You are strong enough and you will make it through.
These episodes don’t last forever, and you will soar once again.
Be the warrior you were meant to be and rise up!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
much love,
Like a little kid excited and waiting for Christmas morning with great anticipation only to be sad when the presents are all opened, stockings are emptied and bedtime arrives once again.
We too, can find ourselves wrapped up in waiting for life.
We wait for the next appointment, the next fitting, the next promotion, the next relationship, the next thing to be excited about. But what about now? What about the moments that are hard and challenging? Are you letting life waste away and pass you by while you wait or are you living with intention and purpose?
One place I find my purpose
It’s hard, I understand that. As an amputee we spend the first 2-3 years just waiting on healing, the next socket, the insurance company, the follow-up appointment, refitting, adjustments, etc, etc, etc.
Just when we think we have everything going well with our leg something changes, and we start all over again.
I spent the first 3 1/2 years changing and fluctuating before I got my latest socket which I have been in for over a year. And yet, I still have my moments that are hard and challenging. Isn’t that life?
How about you? What’s got you stuck? Do you know what you’re living for?
This week, if you are in a funk and can’t focus on the present find someone that you can reach out to and help.
Maybe a neighbor could use a visit, or a friend needs an errand run. Whatever it is, whomever you choose to help, realize that you can do so much good and real live your life even in a season of waiting.
Sometimes the first step in helping ourselves is to think about others and find our purpose in being a help to them. Finding purpose in your waiting is key to happiness and feeling content. Remember that when you wake, and have breathe in your lungs then you are meant to be here and to make a difference in the world.
Go out and seize each day, live your life don’t wait to live it.
Tomorrow isn’t promised.
Let your warrior out and rise up! You deserve to live and be happy, even in the waiting.
Have a blessed week.
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
An Equine Analogy For Your MotivationYou must look the part.
You need to rise up, clean up, and organize yourself if you want to achieve and succeed.
Trust me I know!
Today I found myself entranced on how much time I spend with my horses grooming them.
Why do we do that? Why do we spend so much time brushing them, wiping their faces down, conditioning their mane and tidying them up? It’s not like my horses are heading out on the town nor are they saddled and transported where others will see them… then why?
Getting in the Christmas Spirit last year
I’ll tell you why, because that keeps them looking kept and neat. It keeps them healthy and clean. I brush them, I wash them, I wipe out their nostrils and eye ducts, I clean out their hooves, all in the name of health. We need to do the same, especially when we aren’t feeling great. When we are down and out, our health depends on it, our outlook on life depends on it, and ultimately our success depends on it. It’s so easy to take the road less traveled when we are hurting and not at our best. When life throws us curveballs and tries to take us down that’s when we need to fight harder, rise quicker, and move forward. When we get wrapped up in negativity and cave to the easy path, or path of least resistance, we tend to let oursleves go, let our homes go and stop really living. That’s when we allow life to pass us by, while we wait for something better to happen to us or for us, for our situation to resolve itself. However, that’s not living life, that’s giving up and hoping things work out.
We need to rise up each day and prepare for life. We need to clean ourselves up, we need to make our bad, we need to get out and MAKE life happen! We all have issues. We will all have problems that arise, but the ones who succeed adjust and fight for what they want. The ones who succeed are the ones who dress for success, each and every day, despite what’s happening, despite the pain and frustrations they are going through. How about you? Are you “dressing” for success each day? Are you preparing for good to happen? That is the key.
I clean my horses up every single day so they are clean, healthy, and happy. When they get the grooming they need they can then attack the day with confidence and pride. Shouldn’t you be the same, if not more motivated to do so?
You are a warrior. Warriors plan for success and it starts with your physical appearance, at the very least. Start there and see where it takes you in life. You might be surprised.
So warriors, rise up and take on the day! You deserve that!
This week, take care of yourself, starting with your appearance-your physical self. Get up, get ready for the day, make your bed, and go do something.
Be active in your life.
Make life happen FOR you, not TO you.
Stop waiting for right time, the next day, or when you’ll feel better. Sometimes we need to just start something positive and good with the simple act of looking “put together”, ready to tackle the day. That is your challenge this week.
Go get after life! You’ll be so glad you did!
Be an active
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Find Your Purpose, Set Goals, and Get to Work###### This is me BEFORE my knee injury that led to amputation
Competition gives you focus and direction in life. It helps to define your day, provides a sense of purpose, and helps build character and resilience.
All my life I have been competitive. I had big brothers around always “toughening me up”, and sports were an every moment event, whether competing on our home basketball court or joining teams that played every weekend.
I think these moments served me well, and prepared me for a life after limb loss.
For some of you, the journey has been a long and hard one. It hasn’t been easy and you may feel like giving up.
Maybe you even think that “this is as good as it gets”, but I’m here to tell you, DON’T GIVE UP!!!
You can do this! Last week I talked about mindset, well, this is the time to put your mindset to the test and work on positive self-talk.
On the hard days, when things hurt or you feel out of sorts, or maybe you are not at a point of wearing your prosthetic yet, you may get discouraged…heck! Maybe you ARE discouraged. Now is the time to buckle in and dig deep. This is the time to set those goals and reach for them.
When I find myself in the struggle where pain is winning and I feel like doing nothing and getting depressed about this moment in life that things aren’t going as planned, that’s when I find something to take my mind off of it. I usually find something that brings out the competitor in me. This gives me a goal, a purpose, and consumes my time which takes the attention off of what I’m struggling with.
How about you? What do you do to fill your time? Give yourself purpose? Or distract your thoughts changing them into a positive flow?
Now it’s your turn.
Let’s turn your situation into something positive and meaningful, even if you feel like everything is going wrong and you aren’t where you want to be.
Set goals.
Be realistic but challenging.
If you aren’t able to wear your prosthetic just yet then don’t get down on yourself, remember life is a journey, the good and bad of it, so make some lemonade while you wait.
Once you’ve reached those goals, then go ahead and set more. Keep creating challenges for yourself. Setting yourself up for success in the waiting will eventually make you see that you are not waiting for life to happen to you anymore, but that you are living it.
Enjoy the process.
You deserve it and you are strong enough.
You are a warrior!
Hope your goal setting is epic just like you!
And until next time, and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Your Mindset is Your Greatest AssetWhen it comes to getting it done, or being challenged to push through something tough in life, how do you fair?
Do you struggle to feel accomplished?
Do you feel like you are drowning and there is no way out?
Or how about giving up because the going got tough?
If this sounds like something you have been through before, or are going through currently, then it may be time to check your mindset and your self-talk.
There is no denying that life will through you curveballs.
Back in 2013 as I was literally kicking butt in karate for my 2nd degree black belt, I would never have thought I would have hurt myself, gone through 10 surgeries, gained almost 60 extra pounds and then elect to amputate my leg above the knee.
Just writing that sounds absolutely crazy and a horrible fiction story. But that was my reality.
Those were tough days, months and years- five years to be exact, and making the decision to amputate wasn’t the end of that journey but a beginning to a whole new shift in my life. I still had to struggle with pain, swelling, adjusting to my new body image and learning to love it. I had problems with fitting prosthetics, I had a huge neuroma that a year after my amputation I went under the knife again and had it removed. Through all of these trials, however, I was being conditioned and building my resilience to my new lifestyle.
Each of these steps I had to figure my way through physically and mentally.
Each of these moments was leading me to a better understanding of myself, my tolerance, showing my strengths and my weaknesses, so I could become better at handling the curveballs of life.
What did I find that helped me?
MINDSET MATTERS!
What I tell myself, how I speak to myself with my inner voice (and sometimes my outer voice). I realized that my words and thinking could lift me up and allow me to soar, or it was going to be my demise with negativity. Through trial and error I learned and grew.
I take challenges head on now. I am competitive with myself, and I know that my mind, my energy, and my will to succeed has brought me through tough times. I believe how I think is what has made becoming an amputee a life giving second chance for me versus my undoing.
I am no one special, but my ability to see the positive in my situation has helped me become more successful as an amputee.
It hasn’t been easy, even though it may appear that way. What you perceive as me “easily” going through something really hard has had it’s challenges, it’s pains and problems, I have cried and I have been angry, but at the end of the day I choose positive!
How about you?
I didn’t add a Call to Action in my podcast, forgive me. Got out of practice with April being all interviews but here’s one for those reading my site.
Check your attitude today.
What’s your mood?
How do you feel about yourself and your situation?
Now ask yourself if you can control what’s happening?
If you cannot control what is happening to you then this is a great time to practice patience, positive self-talk, getting active to change your thinking, and setting some goals to keep yourself motivated during the hard days.
You will get through this.
You were designed to be stronger than your circumstances, you only need too believe in yourself.
You are special!
You are unique!
You are loved!
Have an amazing week, be blessed.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
The New Age of BionicsWhat happens to you when you find yourself in a do or die situation?
Hugh Herr was in that position as a teenager, barely making it out alive while doing something he loved and excelled at, a savant at his young age. But he didn’t make it out unscathed, he lost both of his legs below the knee.
What would you do? At that young age would you have given up, abandoned your dreams, or hid from life?
Would you believe that this situation inspired Hugh to become a creator, inventor and innovator in the prosthetic world?
He went from a kid set on rising to the top as a professional climber, to figuring out how to navigate life AND climbing again as a bilateral below knee amputee with prosthesis he created!
He changed his path to one of college and higher education. Getting his masters and doctorate degrees from Harvard and MIT, and is currently a professor at the MIT Media Lab and co-leads the Yang Center for Bionics at MIT.
He is known for creating bionic limbs that emulate the movement of natural limbs and has been called the “Leader of the Bionic Age” by Time Magazine.
He has TED talks, authored/co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts and patents, and most recently Hugh and his research group invented the Agonist-Antagonist Myoneural Interface, which is a surgical procedure for limb amputation that allows the person with limb loss to control their synthetic limb with thought.
His research and studies are beyond amazing! The ideas and possibilities to come for those of us with limb loss from what he is inventing are going to be incredible and will make losing a limb less traumatic and more doable with the hope of what we will be capable of accomplishing with such high-tech and realistic bionics.
The age of bionics is growing by leaps and bounds and this past December 2023, I was blessed with the opportunity to work in the MIT Media Lab, meet Hugh, and participate in the current studies with several PhD students. I was blown away, to say the least, by what they are working on and what will be out on the market in the not too distant future. We are going to be seeing more stable, more controllable, and more comfortable fitting prosthesis which will give us our lives back and with more meaning.
So, yea, the first time I get to meet Hugh I look like this! Strapped in and ready to do research for the greater good!
This week, as we close Limb Loss/Limb Difference Awareness Month with my 4th and final interview with such an important innovator, as Hugh Herr, the pioneer of our bionic age, you do NOT want to miss what he shares about what is up and coming in the world of prosthesis and bionics.
Join me and Hugh Herr for this incredible interview!
Please share today’s podcast to bring hope and excitement for what’s to come to those in our amputee community.
Again, thank you, Hugh, for giving me the time to talk with you, pick your brain, and for your genius and creativity in helping us gain back our independence and ability to move smoothly despite our limb loss. I am truly inspired and excited for the future.
I hope you all enjoy today’s podcast and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
John, Me and Tony-PhD students from MIT that were in charge of the study.
You can watch the NOVA production of Hugh Herr’s life: NOVA “Augmented” HERE
From Athlete to Inventor: Making the World Better one Prosthetic At a TimeAn incredible story today of a young man’s hard fought journey from super competitive athlete to amputee, to inventor who regained his competitive edge and is helping others do this as well.
Mike’s story is one for the books, and write one he did- “Driven to Ride”. His story began with huge hopes for a future in motocross racing, something he was great at, but one fateful day he lost his leg and what he was sure to be his career as a professional athlete.
However, like I’ve stated time and again, mindset matters and great people rise because they focus on the dreams and possibilities, not the negative and pitfalls. Mike didn’t let his accident and losing his leg, above the knee, stop him from greatness.
His story is one of success, struggles, creativity, and rising again to a level most people couldn’t begin to dream.
He used his curiosity and ingenuity to create a new prosthetic out of his own garage, built to take him to higher levels of competition that no other leg on the market could. He has refined it, created the company- BioDapt, and makes these prosthetics for other athletes wishing to take their craft to another level.
Mike’s story is one of sheer determination and love for the outdoors and competing. It’s incredible to see someone lose a limb and have the mind and knowledge to build, from scratch, an artificial leg for the purposes that he was seeking.
Listen in today to hear his story, how he came to a place that he had to get back up and start over, and how he went from amputee to gold and two-time silver medalist snowboarding Paralympian all while using his very own invention!
This is an inspirational story of never giving up on your dreams, pushing past the struggles, and achieving despite what appeared to be insurmountable circumstances. He could’ve given up at his young age after his accident, but he had bigger dreams and plans.
Husband, father, inventor, entrepreneur, olympian, and author, you don’t want to miss this amazing interview.
Ready to be inspired?
Thank you, Mike, for spending time with me and talking about the ups and downs that life has thrown your way and how you kept on rising and following your dreams.
Have a blessed week,
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Adaptive Surfing with Swell Surf FootThe Ocean is healing.
The Mana (power) of the ocean has a way of grounding you and setting you free so you can soar. It’s an unbelievable feeling!
Just before my 1 year anniversary of my amputation I traveled to Kauai and tried my hand at surfing. I hadn’t been able to get in the ocean, or really any water, for over 5 years due to surgeries and my inability to maneuver because of my injury. I was excited, and nervous.
Once I learned the basics I found a rhythm to surfing, a rhythm to the ocean. I felt the energy it had, and I felt that energy surge through me.
I no longer felt nervous, I felt carefree and alive, and I felt that ANYTHING was possible!
Today I talk with Zach Samalonis, the co-creator/inventor of Swell Surf Foot. He and Yuhan Zhang started this endeavor for a college course. They talked with surfers in the amputee community to get the data they needed to create a prototype, then designed, created and then got a few of their original designs into the hands of amputees ready and willing to try it and give feedback. I was fortunate enough to be one of them.
This is my original surf leg and foot alongside the Swell Surf Foot prototype.
Today we discuss how this adaptive equipment came to life from thoughts and research to designing and creating.
What amazes me is that neither Zach or Yuhan are amputees, but they were charged with finding a problem that needed to be solved and a community that needed their help for their capstone project their senior year at Thomas Jefferson University. The Swell Surf Foot can help bring surfing to more amputees and also brings those people to the ocean for healing. This low cost, water-proof prosthetic was developed with an increased ankle mobility to allow for correct surfing mechanics. In a world where most adaptive surfers have repurposed and fashioned make-shift surf feet because there was nothing on the market, this was filling a need, and want, in our amputee community.
What a beautiful gift their innovation is for adaptive surfers around the world.
Their dedication solving a problem and filling a need is genuine.
In a world where big companies rule the market, it is awesome to see individuals creating and making their mark.
Listen in to hear Zach talk about their inspiration, production, and dreams for the future of their product.
Find them online, give them a follow, and reach out to them if you’d like to try their product in it’s next gen status when it comes out.
Thank you Zach for your time today and sharing your story.
I look forward to putting on your surf foot again soon and feeling the freedom and energy of the ocean. Thanks to you and Yuhan, I have found a foot that brings comfortability, grip, and steadiness to my surfing sessions.
The ocean is a place for healing and finding freedom.
The Swell Surf Foot is a step in the right direction to getting more amputees out, active, and giving them the peace they need to move forward.
Have a blessed week and make sure you subscribe and share so that you and the people you care about don’t miss the amazing people coming up next on this podcast; each making a difference in the lives of amputees everywhere with their creativity, ingenuity, and dedication!
Check them out on Instagram @surfwithswell
or at Zachsamdesigns.com
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
TheraV Founder and CEO Amira RadovicWe are kicking off Limb Loss/Limb Difference Awareness Month (LLLD) with the founder and CEO of TheraV.
Amira found her passion to help people by creating a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical device that helps soften phantom pains through the use of vibration therapy.
Phantom pains are a very real, very painful, and often times disabling reaction after losing a limb. Most amputees will experience some level of phantom pain throughout the course of their lives. I would also say that all amputees feel some sort of phantom sensation (a feeling that the missing limb is still there and feels like pins and needles or a numbing sensation), I know I feel that everyday, all day, but I have become accustom to them.
Phantom pains, on the other hand, are intense. They come without warning, last days, sometimes weeks, and can feel like you are being shocked, set on fire, or like a knife stabbing your limb and cutting you open. I have had the distinct privilege (sarcastic voice) of experiencing those crazy, uncontrollable, and sleep depriving pains four times in my five years of being an amputee! I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy!
Amira’s father was a civil engineer and she had dreams of becoming an engineer, herself. She said she was always fascinated with the idea of using technology to enhance the human ability so she studied biomedical engineering at the University of Delaware. As a junior she had an opportunity to work at a prosthetic office. There she was introduced to the mental and physical pain that came with limb loss and the reality of phantom pain. She worked for years and talked to many amputees to come up with her TheraV for phantom pains, despite the lack of data and the stigma that surrounded phantom pains.
This week I had the honor of having her on my podcast to share where her idea came from, how it works, and where she’s taking it next. Like all great inventors, she is continuing to dive deeper into the mysterious world of phantom pains, what produces them, what helps, and how she can improve her already amazing product.
I am grateful for the time I got to speak with her and to hear her story, her passion, and what got her into the world of amputees and phantom pain.
An amazing thing about TheraV is that it can also be used by able-bodied individuals for things like restless leg syndrome or CRPS! Amazing, right?
If you are struggling with any of these issues, and would like to be rid of medications you might consider giving TheraV a shot.
Check out her website HERE.
With a world of big Pharma and large corporations it’s hard for the individual to break into the market. Please visit TheraV website, check them out on social media and give them a follow. By purchasing your own therapy for your home you not only have a safe way to manage pain you are helping Amira reach more people and giving them a chance to live without pain.
Thank you, Amira, for joining my podcast this week and for all you are doing for our amputee community.
Phantom pains are real pains.
Your research and devotion to reducing and eliminating them is so commendable! Thank you!
Remember to subscribe to my podcast so you don’t miss out on a month packed with inventors and innovators who are making a huge impact in our amputee community! also. p
lease share this link and podcast with someone who could benefit. My goal is always to help empower and educate those in need. Help me make an impact this month!
Thank you and have a blessed week.
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!!
Much love,
The Truth About Being An AmputeeNot everyday is a picnic.
This is true for everyone around the world, but when you talk to amputees who lost their limb because of an accident, disease, war, or electively, the operation is just the beginning, not the finale.
Once we heal and begin to transition into a prosthetic- wearing person we are just then beginning to experience what amputee life is like.
I started this podcast, not because I wanted to hear myself speak (I hate hearing my own voice!), but because I wanted to be the voice of reality, and transparency for this community. I wanted to be real, no matter what that was going to look like.
The past 2 weeks have been very hard for me, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Even though I have enjoyed traveling with my family, skiing and walking the Vegas strip, my residual limb has been struggling to fit properly into my skin fit socket. When the fit isn’t right it swells and becomes hard and very sore. Then through the night it settles down a little but then the next day I try to put my prosthetic on only to have an ill fit again, making it worse throughout the day.
Mind you, I have had this socket for over a year and I haven’t experienced this, then after being at higher elevations, flying, skiing without it on, I find myself not fitting well.
There’s not much to do about it but hope that I “normalize” again, soon, before it gets any worse.
This is the life of an amputee.
Some of us look like it’s all roses, but were have our days and even weeks (and some struggle for months) but we can hide it well.
Transparency is important to me because so many amputees that I’ve talked to are so frustrated because the ones they see on social media are living life and doing so well (you know, only showing the best moments) and they are not. They, and maybe YOU are one of them, that can’t figure out how you will ever wear your prosthesis or walk in it. If you’ll ever be comfortable again or without pain.
It is not an easy journey, but you can succeed in this life.
You have to understand the reality of your new circumstance and what it entails, really, before you can just be running along in your prosthetic leg. it doesn’t happen over night. it takes practice, patience, and a lot of faith.
You will feel knocked down at times, but you must get up again and keep trying, keep pushing forward.
Don’t give up….
This too shall pass and you will find your way through the challenges and struggles.
I have a simple task and request for this week.
Next month, April, is Limb Loss/Limb Difference Awareness Month and I have a full month of interviews with AMAZING individuals who have spent time creating, inventing, and innovating designs and products to help our amputee community.
You really don’t want to miss out on an episode in April so my CTA is simple:
Subscribe to my podcast and my YouTube channel (BAWarrior360) so you don’t miss any of these special people and the work they are doing. Plus, please share my podcast with someone you care about who you think could benefit from some positivity and encouragement as they navigate amputation or even medical circumstances that they struggle with.
That’s it! Subscribe, Like, Share!
I hope to continue to grow my audience so I can help and motivate more and more people in the world.
Thank you, warriors, from the bottom of my heart!
Have a beautiful and blessed week until next time!
And as always,
‘Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Me and my girl ♥
Skiing as an Amputee###### The Canyons, Park City, Utah 2024
I don’t know about you but, sitting in a lodge, sipping a drink in front of a fire sounds wonderful. Doesn’t it?
However, I did that for 5 years, while my family all skied and I sat there with tears in my eyes, missing those special moments I knew I’d never get back.
My husband taught me to ski when we were teenagers. We had dreams of teaching our own kids someday and the retiring and skiing through life. 2013 struck me with a knee injury that sidelined me for 5 years! Then, by 2018 I elected to amputate my left leg above the knee.
My first goal, 3 1/2 months after amputation? SKI!
Nice and easy
This is why I face my fears
Looks like I have 2 legs!!
Fast forward to last week and I can honestly tell you that despite my love of skiing and being with my family up on the mountains again, the fears I face before each day really try to take me down. Facing fears is no easy task, and yes, while sitting by the fireplace and sipping a drink in the warmth of a lodge is amazing, NOTHING compares to facing your fears and coming out on top! Not to mention, I will never regret getting out and living my life versus watching it pass before my eyes. I want to live life, and maybe that’s a product of being sidelined for so many years, but I won’t allow my irrational fears take me out of living my best life with my family.
Of course I’m going to challenge you to face a fear of yours. You don’t need to be an amputee, either. We all have fears that we can choose to face or turn away from. If you have been turning away, now is the time to stand up straight, adjust your hat, and take it head on! You won’t regret trying, succeed or fail. Because no matter the outcome, you did it! You faced a fear, overcame that emotion and gave it your best. No matter the outcome, you will know you tried and can feel great about yourself for going the distance.
Don’t let fears derail you and your goals. Stay the course, buckle down for the ride, and know that there is no sweeter victory than facing your fears like the true warrior you are and were built to be!
So today, decide what you are afraid of and take it on! Despite the butterflies, emotions that well up and want to hold you back, and no matter the outcome. Just go for it!
Rise up, warriors, rise up and face your fears head on! You will NOT regret it!!
Have a beautiful and blessed week!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Maybe I’ll see you on the mountains some day♥
Don’t Be Normal, Just Be YOU!
A word I try very hard to stay away from using in dialogue is “Normal”, as in, “Is it normal that I haven’t healed yet?” or “Is it normal to feel this way?”, or even “Does my limb look normal to you?”
The reason I stay away from it is because we are all so very different that there cannot be a NORMAL, or Norm.
We all heal differently, we feel pain differently, we became amputees because of different reasons.
We are different sexes, ages, fitness levels, etc, etc, etc.
I say just be YOU!
Learn what your new “normal” is, and how that changes day to day or even hour to hour as an amputee. Only you can decide what doesn’t look or feel right for you and your circumstance. And when in doubt, don’t ask Social media, call your doctor or medical professional.
This week practice keeping “normal” out of your conversations and just listen and tune into your own body.
Accept that you are uniquely and wonderfully made and there is only one you and YOU are normal, for you!
Have a blessed couple of weeks as I will be off next week doing family time.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Stepping Up For YourselfLast week I stepped up to rescue two horses and help out a family.
This family was in search of a good loving home for their gelding and Shetland pony but wanted a place where they would be loved and given a purpose.
Too old to be ridden but too useful to be forgotten and left behind.
They are perfect for what I’m all about: equine therapy.
Horses have such healing capabilities and serve a greater purpose than just transportation.
These two were in need of being rescued.
Horse TherapyHow about you?
Do you ever get to a place that you need rescuing?
I think we all hit a valley at some juncture in our lives. However, the best person for the job is actually YOU!
People come and go in our lives. Our friends, and even family, have their own lives and challenges that pop up. We have friends for seasons and then they are gone.
But YOU are always there.
You can count on it.
We need to realize that we are built to handle our problems. We must learn to handle where we are at in our journey of life, learn to adjust our thinking and speaking, learn to pick ourselves up in hard times. I’m not saying you must go it alone during tough times but if you are constantly looking for answers to your problems from other people then you might find yourself alone in the end, and THEN really struggle when things get hard.
Look within yourself.
Speak highly of yourself, where you’ve been, and what you’ve gone through.
You are a warrior!
Understand that only with time, experience, and perseverance can you truly tackle the valleys you will encounter along your path.
You are worthy,
You are strong enough,
You are a warrior!
Rescue someone today!
Rescue yourself!
And until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
How Connecting Helps EveryoneIt can be so easy to get lost in our own world. We can be so focused on our problems and issues that we can feel isolated and alone in a crowded room.
The problem is, even when we aren’t really alone, we get lost in the darkness and can’t find our way out.
We forget that as humans we need connections to survive in the world. We need to be heard, seen, and touched throughout the day, even if we are introverted.
It is part of our DNA and makes us feel whole, loved, appreciated, and a part of something bigger.
We often get into a victim mentality or sink so low that we can’t find our way out of the problems and issues that we are facing that we can bring those around us down as well, and often see people leave us and don’t know why.
So what can be done to remedy this mindset?
CONNECT!!!
I find that when I take the microscope off of me; my life, my setbacks, and my issues and turn them into reaching out and helping others, I forget my problems and find peace, joy and happiness.
I find that making connections with others through texting, calling, video chatting or hanging out places my focus and attention on them which, in turn, gets reciprocated back to me and it becomes a win-win situation. We weren’t meant to go through life alone.
We all need to feel loved and heard, but sometimes we need to be the one who reaches out first.
When we value someone else’s life, we find our value.
As humans we are meant to live in community, not alone and isolated.
So if you are struggling now and feel alone, make a connection with someone. When you do, you will be able to step out of your darkness, become the light for someone else, and find you’re not alone after all.
Mind over matter, because mindset DOES matter.
This week I want you to connect with someone.
Find someone you know is having a rough time, like you. Or someone you haven’t talked with in a while.
Check in on them, and let them know you were thinking of them.
Maybe a neighbor could use a visit.
Or a relative needs to hear your voice over the phone.
Maybe a friend, who appears to have it all together, is struggling but won’t reach out (because they, too, feel alone).
Who ever you choose to connect with, be as close as you can, meaning if you can physically visit them and give them a hug, DO IT!
But if not be engaged in a conversation with them. Be an active listener, drop everything you are doing and be present. Give them all of you for that time you have together.
Everyone wants to feel valued, heard, and loved. That starts with YOU!
When you connect with someone, you will notice a shift in your own mindset and heart. You’ll get out of your own way and begin to see your life through a positive lense.
Life isn’t easy, that’s for sure, but remember, you are not the only one who is struggling right now.
Rise up and be that connection for someone and feel it reverberate back to you.
Get out and connect and have a blessed week!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Self-Love for the Win“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.”
-Lucille Ball
This Valentine’s Day start with YOU!!
To love oneself isn’t selfish, it’s necessary.
It’s necessary for your mental health.
It’s necessary for your productivity.
It’s necessary for you to be able to love others, fully.
Have you ever truly listened to your inner voice? Pay attention, because what you say to yourself is crucial to your love and success in life.
We can be so critical of ourselves and fall into the trap of negativity that we can’t even realize our true potential. We compare ourselves to others, and we begin to doubt our abilities, our size, our beauty, our intentions, our very existence.
We are constantly bombarded with everyone’s successes and filtered pictures, great vacations and good deeds in the snapshots of social media that we lose sight of our own beauty (inside and out) and our worth in this world.
You are unique!
There is only one ‘you’ and you should be celebrated.
You are worthy, beautiful, a warrior, and special.
You must first find, within yourself, the joy of self-love before you can truly find joy in life. However, this does not come easy and can change and challenge you daily.
Are you listening? What are you saying to yourself? Is your self-talk positive or are you speaking negatively?
As an amputee, and being a part of this unique community, I can see first-hand how I could be negative and self-loathing. The world tells me that my body image is suppose to look a certain way, and I no longer conform to what is “acceptable”. Talk about a hard, internal battle. I stand in a grocery line only to see a size 2 woman on the cover of every magazine, looking gorgeous and happy. I don’t look like them, and I never will again.
I must fight the urge to compare myself, and fight to be positive about who I am, inside and out. This takes practice, perseverance, and fearlessness.
This Valentine’s Day I challenge you to love yourself FIRST! Find joy in who you are, how you were made, and believe that you are enough, JUST the way you are.
Valentine’s Day, this year, start with you….for the win!
Wake up and feel the breathe in your lungs.
You have a purpose!
Today, and this week, figure out what your purpose is and start by loving yourself. Love the good you can do and the good you can put out into this world.
When you love yourself you will find that you can be a light, bringing happiness and hope to those who are lost.
Listen to your inner voice and decide if you hear positivity being spoken. If not, it’s time to switch that up.
Begin with telling yourself:
“I am beautiful/handsome”
“I am strong”
“I am worthy”
“I have value”
“I am smart”
“I am compassionate”
“I am funny”
“I am kind”
“I am fearless”
“I am a Warrior”
“I am ENOUGH!”
Write these words down. Speak these words out loud when you need to hear them.
Find your strength and self-worth from within and not from the world around you.
You ARE enough! Believe it, and begin this Valentine’s Day by loving yourself first and watch how your life changes for the better.
Rise up, Warrior, and know you are loved!
Until next week, and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Playing To Win; Playing For Your FutureDealing with insurance can be tricky and often frustrating. I speak from experience.
It’s unfortunate that insurance companies make it so hard to understand the ins and outs of their policies as well as getting approvals especially since those who are trying to get covered are often going through really tough emotional times.
As I got myself prepared for my amputation I was doing everything to prepare myself, mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially seeing as this would be a forever life changing surgery.
My experience was not smooth, nor was it kind, but I figured out how to handle my situation, found my voice, and fought for what was right and what I needed.
Join me this week as I take you on my journey with the games that insurance companies play, and how you can play and beat them at their own game.
This is what I fought to get……
So I can do this….
…And this
….And this
…And this.
What are you fighting for? And if you’re not fighting for what you want, then who will???
Randy and David at The Limb Center and also Limbs For Humanity
This week, if you are in the middle of a big decision that takes medical insurance, make sure you do your homework and get confirmation about what is covered.
If you have been told “No” by your insurance company then it’s time to fight for what you want and need.
We must fight for ourselves, because only we know exactly what we need and want to make our lives worth living.
Help yourself by fighting for your future. Don’t give up, and don’t take “No” for an answer!
You are a warrior and you are WORTH IT!!
Have a blessed week and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Finding Hope after AmputationNo one really tells you what to expect after amputation, and quite frankly, even if they did, each journey is different.
The reality is that the first couple of years are filled with bumps, bruises, ups and downs. You will have highs and some of your lowest lows. There will be enormous changes, in your life, and in your body. And even when you finally get through the healing process, post-amputation, the challenges are just beginning. But with all that said, you can and will survive.
You spend A LOT of time in your prosthetist’s office the first 2 years
My very 1st prosthetic, one of many. Had no idea what was to come. All I knew was that I would be walking again!
Yet another socket!
Randy at The Limb Center in Phoenix, making my mold, for ( you guessed it) ANOTHER socket!
You will learn how your body adjusts, how it heals, what kind of strength (both physically and emotionally) you have, and you will build character…. oh boy, will you build character.
These are all the sockets (minus 3) that I have gone through, because of changes to my limb, in just 3 years!!!
The process is long and can be stressful if you don’t have patience. You will find yourself doing well one moment, only to feel like you’ve taken a step back in the blink of the eye. But don’t you give up! And don’t you worry. This is all part of the learning process and the changes you are going through, physically. Becoming an amputee and traversing the first 1-3 years is all about adaptability and change. If you can go into it knowing it is a process that could take that long, and that you will have positive moments of moving forward, riddled with backward steps, then you will be ready and able to handle what gets thrown at you.
You are a warrior, built for adversity.
Be strong.
Stay positive and active.
This is the to fight for what you want out of life.
We are in this journey together!
This week I want you to decide what it is that you really want out of your new life.
You will want to start building your own toolbox for those moments that become hard and emotionally draining.
I have so many hobbies, and things I do to pass the time, and to distract myself on the harder days, the days where phantom pains want to destroy me and my resolve.
What do you do when you get upset? Tired and frustrated? Or when you are hurting?
Most of us have a coping mechanism to help through those moments in life. This time is no different.
Be prepared to redirect your thoughts so you can get through and come out stronger on the other side.
Prepare yourself for battle; the internal battles that seek to bring chaos into y9ur life, making you doubt yourself and trying to destroy every dream you have. You are a WARRIOR! Believe it! You will succeed and be stronger for it.
Be prepared.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Stay the Course and Press OnThis is the year. Embrace the journey and get your mindset right!
We started our year with a new puppy. I had forgotten how hard potty training was as an amputee. What does that mean, you might ask? Night time wake up calls are very difficult when you don’t have a leg on, grabbing an energetic puppy, and crutching outside and down a step…all before that puppy has an accident! This week, I am navigating this alone for the first time, tonight I may just leave my leg on.
I tell you all this to show you the reality of being an amputee.
As I sit here and write this up I am working later than usual, because of said puppy, and her boundless amount of energy she’s had all day. She is finally asleep and I have a moment to finish up my post.
THIS is life.
This is part of the journey. The good times, the hard times, the moments that make me smile and the times that exhaust me and make me see my shortcomings as an amputee.
Would I change a thing? Would I do it differently?
NO!
I am a stronger person for what I’ve gone through.
I know myself even better than I ever have.
My faith is stronger than ever before, and the people and experiences I have met and had along this journey I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Mindset matters. I keep saying that. How we see ourselves, and our lives, DOES matter.
When we let go of our past, embrace our situation, learn to ride the ups and downs of life, that is when we can truly live a full and meaningful life. That is when you can find purpose and joy.
Don’t give up when it gets rough. Keep fighting the good fight. You can do it, you are strong enough.
This week, focus on the positive. Find your purpose by setting goals you can achieve, and that challenge you just enough. Create a list of the things you’ve been dreaming of doing, trying, or accomplishing.
Write them down then create timelines of when you want to try or accomplish them. Be specific so they don’t fade away.
Next, figure out what steps you’ll need to take to get to your goal.
Use the next week to get your list together and your mindset right, and go out and kick butt!
You’ve got this, Warrior!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
The Power of Words, Mightier Than ResolutionsHappy New Year!!
A New Year’s upon us, a fresh start is here
There’s a feeling of renewal and excitement for what’s to come and an urgency to make changes in our lives and in our habits as a new year begins, however, we know how setting New Year’s resolutions can fall short after just a month of setting those goals. Every year I share how I stay clear of New Year’s resolutions, and work more on making lifestyle changes that are doable and goals that are achievable. I, myself, do not believe in New Year’s resolutions but the romantic in me loves doing something new with the new year, the idea of renewing my spirit and recreating myself always excites me.
Our new pup, Senna, helping me record!
Today marks the start of my fourth season of BA Warrior podcast and what better way to start a new season and a new year than a word for the year. You might ask yourself what does it mean or what does it look like to choose a word for you to live by. It’s like a mantra for the year that can help you stay focused and in control of the things that you want to see changed in you and in your life. This is not a New Year’s resolution. This is a way of life and way to succeed at what you put your mind to.
Join me today, and my new puppy, as we delve into choosing a word for you to live by this year.
Today I want you to think about a word that you can focus on for the next 12 months. a word that will help you become, and do the things you wanted to do. The words I have chosen for myself are ‘Be Present’.
When you figure out your direction and what word or group of words will help you stay focused, then I want you to write them down on notecards and place them where you will see them every single morning and every single evening. For me, I will have my word on my mirror in my bathroom where I begin and end every day. This helps me keep that focus on my goals for the year.
I’m so excited to start another year of podcasting with you. I am also want to know if there are things you want to hear about, things you’re curious about, or questions you have as an amputee, a supporter of someone who is an amputee, or just someone who needs some positivity in their life please let me know.
Time to rise up, Warriors, and have the best year of your life!
Until next time and as always,
Be healthy
Be happy
Be YOU!
Much love,
Cheers to the End of Another Year!As 2023 comes to a close and the holidays are now upon I want to wish you all a blessed and happy new year!
As I celebrate my 5th year anniversary of my amputation today I am realizing how blessed I have been with how much I have experienced, accomplished, and the people I have met through this journey.
I also know that the vibes you put out into the world come back to you 10 fold.
Our attitude is contagious. How we approach the world can either add joy to it or be a thorn. Which are you bringing to the world?
Today as you are experiencing the emotions of this season remember that many people are struggling. Some struggle with an invisible problem (missing a loved one, a rocky relationship, struggles with money or job) and other’s with something very real and visible (amputation, being alone, medical conditions).
Be kind.
Remember that we all struggle.
Spreading joy takes very little on our part and a smile goes a long way.
Finish this year strong and positive and reap the rewards of being kind and positive with the people you meet throughout your week.
I know this seems like a pretty basic and obvious statement, but when we get caught up in our own schedule and agenda we often miss helping someone in need, or miss an opportunity to brighten someone else’s day.
We all fight battles, we all need kindness shown to us.
As you struggle through your own situation (for me it can be phantom pains like I’m dealing with as I type this) there are others going through something even more difficult and debilitating, making it hard for them to function or find joy during this time of year, making them feel alone and isolated.
We are in charge of our own attitude and only we can choose to see our glass half full.
So where are you with your situation, half empty or half full?
The next couple of weeks, as I take time off to be present and with my family, I challenge you to watch the world around you. Look for ways you can make it better. Smile more, see the silver lining in your situation, find ways to bring happiness and positive vibes into the world… then watch to see how those vibes come back to you and change your life.
I hope and pray you are able to find happiness and joy during this time of year and that good health befalls you this new year.
Change your perspective, change your life.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Winter Wonders and Woes for AmputeesWintertime brings colder weather, holidays and family time, ice and snow, along with new outdoor activities. It also brings with it challenges for getting around if you are an amputee (or anyone who struggles with balance).
Crutching on snow and ice should be an Olympic Sport
I am fortunate enough to live in Arizona but as a family, we love to get out and ski in the mountains of Colorado and Utah.
My very first goal as I was getting ready for my amputation was to ski again with my family. I had just 3 months from amputation to test myself.
Even though there are different ways to accomplish “skiing” I wanted to be standing and looking like I always did as a skier (minus one leg that is). My stubbornness definitely helped me. That plus my perfectionist attitude and drive.
My first day I was so nervous and didn’t know what to expect. I tell you this because even though I had been skiing since I was 17 years old there was so much relearning to be done and a lot of newness to skiing with only one ski. For instance, turning one way versus another was so much harder not having the downslope ski to aid in control.
As time went by, I began to understand what was needed to succeed. Every chance we got I went on the slopes. And every time I was on the slopes I got butterflies and had to suppress fears of getting hit from behind, falling and trying to get back up (not as easy with one ski and on a slope of snow), or heading downhill and catching icy patches.
There are other ways to ski, like on a mono ski (sitting in a bucket sled, leg(s) strapped down), or using a ski bike.
This past trip we decided to take a day off from skiing, but I wanted to be outdoors and breathing in the cold mountain air and enjoying the snow all around us, so we went for a hike into the mountains.
It was beautiful!
Backwoods hiking
Beautiful views, challenging terrain for an amputee
Winter life for an amputee is quite challenging. Just as changing our shoes, or going over different types of flooring or terrain, challenges us for a few minutes before we feel comfortable moving about with the change, winter challenges us and our feeling of confidence and trust in each of our steps. We must be more cautious, and meticulous with each step. I am always looking down at where my feet are landing and what type of surface I will be hitting with the net few steps. For me to enjoy the beautiful mountains w were hiking in I had to stop and set myself then look all around. Once I got my fill I would begin to march on once again.
All in all, I am excited for my next winter trip and plan to try snow shoeing and see how it feels to have larger foot on my prosthetic.
Even though there are a lot of new things to adjust to as winter weather approaches, know that you are capable, you just need to learn your perimeters. It takes time, but with focus and determination you can conquer winter without any falls or injury. Always know to protect your good/sound leg and take your time. Don’t allow anyone to push you faster than you are ready to go.
Stay positive and create positive verbal cues for your brain to latch onto and you’ll find yourself maneuvering snowy conditions like a pro!
FIERCE AND ON FIRE Challenge!
Don’t forget that we are still charging forward on 100 miles before Jan 1!
Are you in?
Check the past couple of podcasts for the link to join and to register for the challenge at Run Motivators if you want to order a medal for your trophy case!!
Let’s keep moving and end 2023 active and healthy!
May your hot;liday season be filled with family, fun, joy, and blessings of all kinds.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Change Is in the AirI had the distinct honor of being a part of a gait study at MIT in their Media Lab in Boston. It was the final project of a PhD student’s program and it was amazing!
To see what the future of prosthetics is heading toward and being able to test something that is still a ways out from being on the commercial market was such a blast and a lot of work. Testing the product through different scenarios and also using my own leg to show my baseline capabilities for comparison was so interesting and enlightening.
I would never have picture myself, in a million years, being able to be a part of this, nor did I ever picture myself without a leg.. oh the places I have been, the people I have met and the experiences I have enjoyed, all because of my decision to amputate almost 5 years ago.
MIT Media Lab lobby
Getting geared up for my baseline study with my own leg
Gathering data
Making adjustments
Such an honor to meet the man who created his own prosthetics after losing his own legs, Dr Hugh Herr.
Would I do it all again? Yes!
First off, I am not a person that looks back and says, “if only I had…” or ” I would have done this differently”. Instead I focus at what’s happening now and what’s in front of me. This makes me a happier person.
Second, I wouldn’t trade all the problems I have had (phantom pains/sensations, fitting issues, rashes and burns from sockets) because everything I have been blessed to experience has also been met with amazing people, experiences and seeing and doing new things.
I am a better person, a more well-rounded person, for having this life altering surgery. I am happy that my life changed direction.
I have been able to test my will power, my integrity, my character much more by going through something so big. I have been tested and been able to rise up and become a stronger individual, both physically and emotionally.
I wished I could share with you so much more about my time at MIT, but until this student’s study is published it needs to be hush hush. Someday next year I will talk about it in more detail, but until then, I suggest that if you ever get a chance to take part in a study, one that helps make progress in our prosthetics, take it. Not only are you helping the future, you will also get to learn more about yourself.
As the past couple of weeks I have pushed you all to get active during this busy time of year. Taking care of yourself is so important for your mental and physical well-being but we tend to put it off for other things. Don’t wait! Join me on my Fierce and On Fire challenge.
It’s a virtual challenge by RunMotivators and if you’d like to join you can register and receive a medal for accomplishing this virtual challenge.
The goal? 100 miles, your way.
What does that mean?
You decide how you accomplish 100 miles. I set the goal timeline for December 31st but you can always set your own timeline since this started 3 weeks ago for me.
How can you reach 100 miles?
Whatever is comfortable and easiest for you and your circumstances. If you are wheelchair bound them maybe do some upper body workouts.
15 minutes=1 mile
You can swim, walk, hike, ski, surf, run, bike…the sky is the limit and you decide what challenges you, where you are at.
The idea is to get moving for YOU!
Making yourself a priority during this time of year, when we tend to ditch the things we do for ourselves to doing things for others.
Are you in??
Join me TODAY and get a jumpstart on your own health and fitness goals.
I hope you have a blessed week ahead and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
There are many facets to being an amputee, a lot revolves around the fit of prosthetics, dealing with phantom pains, and relearning to walk. However there are other obstacles to overcome, goals to achieve, finding your independence is usually on the top of the list!
This was a huge goal for me (and also for others I have talked to over the past few years). Independence looks different for each of us but when we decide what it is we are looking to achieve there’s no better feeling when we reach that goal.
For me, today was that day. I felt the complete independence of traveling alone-for the first time as an amputee! Packing up, getting to the airport, carrying my own luggage, finding my way through security and to my gate, all while being balanced, strong, and confident. I was able to grab my luggage, find my way to the Uber line, and check into a hotel. These may seem like simple tasks, people do them everyday, but being with my husband since we were 17 and never traveling without him, he always took charge, he always looked out for me, and guarded me from uncertainty. With him I was always safe and taken care of, so you can imagine how exciting, and challenging, doing this was for me.
What a day of firsts!
If you ever wonder if you’ll be able to travel again, let alone, travel solo as an amputee, I’m here to tell you that you can and you will! You can find that independence if that’s what you want. It takes time and practice. You have to plan ahead, and be prepared.
Listen in to today’s podcast as I discuss the things I have learned over the past 4 1/2 years of traveling as an amputee, the items I make sure I pack, and how I navigate the airport hoopla.
Oh, and if you are curious as to why in the world I have traveled alone to the other side of the country, on my own, in the middle of the holiday season, leaving the beautiful Arizona weather behind for the biting cold east coast then make sure you tune in next week!!
This is no different from the last two weeks:
Join my Fierce and On Fire challenge today!! Don’t wait! Join me as I make a solid effort to pay attention to my own health needs this holiday season by making sure to exercise in some way, everyday for at least 30 minutes.
The challenge is 100 miles and is virtual. If you want a medal the click HERE to join me!
If you want to join me but don’t care about the medal, that’s cool, too! I have a private Facebook group you can join for the motivation and community. You can also join my IG channel Fierce and On Fire for the community as well.
How can you compete against yourself?
Great question. You do whatever it is you love to do and are capable of doing, where you are right now in your health journey.
If you want and can run, walk, hike, bike, swim, then do it!
If you are bedridden or in a wheelchair try upper body exercises with bands. 15 minutes of exercise = 1 mile.
NO EXCUSES! If you want to help yourself then be kind to your mind and body. Don’t wait for January 1 to make the dreaded “New Year’s Resolution”. Start today. Challenge yourself today. Make yourself more of a priority and end 2023 on a high note.’
Let’s do this together, as a virtual team of sorts.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YO(U!!!
Much love,
Staying Healthy in the Hustle and Bustle of the HolidaysI had the distinct pleasure of getting sick recently. I haven’t been sick in so long, and not once since becoming an amputee.
I was on a vacation and burning the candle at both ends. I’m sure, between being around a lot of people and lack of sleep my immune system became compromised, leading me to having tingly skin, sore muscles, nausea and sleepiness. What I wasn’t expecting was how my amputee body would react, or even THAT it would react.
Yep, you guessed it, phantom pains!!!
Laying with my girl when I struggle brings peace and healing.
As if all that other stuff wasn’t enough to take me down, I had the distinct pleasure of experiencing phantom pains and the total discomfort that added to all the other symptoms. It was crazy, and it totally sucked!!!
Listening to my body and knowing how much I run myself into the ground during the holidays I decided I needed to make some changes and adjust my thinking and patterns.
How about you?
Are you taking care of yourself?
What are you doing to take care of yourself when you’re up against a demanding schedule?
Let me help you create a positive and healthy change during this holiday season so you can be at the top of your celebration game!
Here’s my challenge (AKA Call to Action):
Take time each day, from now until the end of the year, for yourself. accept my challenge from last week’s podcast and take on the Fierce and On Fire Virtual Challenge- 100 miles by Dec 31.
You can walk, run, hike, bike, swim, ski, exercise, you name it, you can do it, as long as you are taking time for yourself and moving in some way or another, however you can.
Check my link in my IG bio @BAWarrior360 for how to register.
You can also check last week’s podcast HERE for the link to join.
I pray you have a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving week!
Until next week,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Creating Positive Momentum Through ChallengesThis week let’s challenge ourselves!
Let’s face the mountain head on and not veer out of fear.
It’s time to unleash the warrior within you, are you ready??
Well it doesn’t matter, now is the time! If you wait until you are “ready” then the time will never come.
SO how did I start my amputee journey, you ask? I was ready! I was nervous, of course, but when I came to grips with it I was ready to soar. I began to dream and wonder what I could accomplish, what hurdles I would overcome, what new things I would learn. To say that I was excited about the possibilities, would be an understatement.
I began by wearing my leg out of the prosthetist office and using it all day every day for a week…WITHOUT PT! Needless to say, I was so bruised on my femur bone!
I mean, I was walking, and so proud of myself, but I needed help tweaking my form and gait.
After I took some PT I began a new journey with new dreams. I was going to reinvent myself, whatever it took!
I had about 12 goals set for myself, even before my amputation, about what I would accomplish as an amputee.
Obviously I wanted to walk as naturally as possible, and as soon as possible, but there is no shortcut or magic potion to make that happen. It takes grit, determination and consistency. But how do you maintain consistency, especially with something that is scary, uncertain, and hard to do?
What I did was register for virtual races! Not only did I have set miles but I also had the metaphorical carrot dangling in front of me…the cool looking medals!!
My very 1st race as an amputee! This started it all and how I got use to my prosthetic leg.
For me, that’s all it took! I registered for my first 150 mile race in May, a month after getting my prosthetic leg. I made a promise to myself that all of my steps in my leg would count toward my miles, then I introduced myself to the large Facebook group and told them of my goals. Not only did writing it down for all to see make me accountable for my goal, it also gave me a HUGE cheering squad with this new group of friends!
And this is where it all began! I attribute my success of learning to walk again to my virtual races.
These were the ones I did the first 1 1/2 after becoming an amputee! They all have special meaning,
depending on what I was trying to accomplish, how I felt or what I was going through.
It’s your turn now, and I’m going to help you and be there by your side as we do this together!
Let’s crush a goal before this year ends.
No better time than the present to start, and the best time of year to make time for yourself.
The link below is to register for a 100 mile virtual race.
I have already registered and I want you on my team!
I will create a private Facebook group too, just for those who join this race with me.
Can’t run? No problem-WALK!
Can’t walk? Bike, recumbent, stationary or traditional.
Can’t do those things? SWIM, use a hand bike, exercise with stretch bands, dumbbells or body weight!
The sky’s the limit on how you go about logging your miles.
3 miles of biking= 1 mile of running/walking
exercising moderately 30 min=1 mile of running/walking
etc, etc, etc
You see where I’m coming from? We can all do something to help us feel better and get on track. So no matter where you are, don’t think for one second that you can’t do something in some way, shape, or form!
It is time to unleash your inner warrior! Fight for the life you want! Start today and let me walk alongside you and your journey! After all, we all need someone who gets us where we are at.
I’m here for you so won’t you join me on this virtual race?
Join me and let’s “sleigh” this holiday season! No excuses, no surrender!!!
Click HERE to register for the Fierce and On Fire Challenge
Oh, and did I mention that not only are you helping yourself by joining this challenge, you will also be supporting the Erin Regan Animal Sanctuary non profit 40 acre farm. A portion of your registration in this challenge goes to support this cause. This non profit is dedicated to saving the lives of farm and companion animals from abuse, euthanasia, and homelessness.
It’s a win-win in my book! Join me today! Click the link above!!
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Learning To Listen To Your GutWhen you are going through something have you noticed how many people have advice?
The questions of: Have you tried this? Did you see Dr. So and So? This is the only prosthetic that works…. etc, etc.
I have had the opportunity to see many doctors throughout my injury, been to an amazing plastic surgeon, and have great prosthetists. I tell new amputees all about them but I try to stay conscious of pushy. My personal experience is MY personal experience, and I am always hopeful that it can be somebody else’s experience too, but it may not be. This just recently happened and it was heartbreaking to see. Without going into detail, because that’s what this podcast talks about, I had a couple of friends, amputees, use one of my doctors to help with revisions and their experiences were not like my positive experience.
I also watch social media posts and peruse the comments and am taken aback by the many people who believe their way is the only way, their doctor is the best doctor, their prosthetic brand is the best out there. Do you see where I’m going with this?
“Always”, “Never”, “The Best”, and “The Worst”, are red flags in my book, and should be avoided at all costs.
So why do we fall victim to adhering to these types of comments and following this type of advice? When we are in pain, scared, anxious, and in doubt we want ANYTHING that will get us out of that situation, and the faster the better. When we ask a large group of people (social media groups) how they handle this situation, or ask for help when we are experiencing phantom pain so extreme we are beside ourselves, we will take any advice if the person comes across unwavering and confident in their advice.
The problem? We are all DIFFERENT!
The love I have for my prosthetic. I am empowered to live my best life, with my new lease on life.
We have different reasons for our injury, different backgrounds, different personalities, different pain threshold levels, and completely different reasons for what we are feeling.
Just last week I experienced phantom pain, like my foot had been set on fire. It was non-stop, day and night. I haven’t had that in a long time. This time it was caused by my situation, not my fit. I was very upset and stressed about something (listen to last week’s podcast), and this was how my body dealt with it. However, if I had told any Facebook groups that I was dealing with this major burning, without giving the situational background, like so many people do, I would’ve been told that pain meds work, or gummies were the way to go, or try sleeping it off, etc. But what I needed to do was get outdoors for fresh air and allow myself to grieve. The fresh air and exercise helped me cope with my issue, which allowed my phantom pains to subside.
Fresh air and exercise! Just what I needed.
I knew what I needed. I trusted my gut on why I was experiencing what was happening to me.
We sometimes forget, in the midst of hard times, that if we just listen to our bodies, that we know what’s best and what is right for us.
When we schedule an appointment with a doctor but feel unsettled when in the office, we need to listen.
When we struggle with pain, we must quiet ourselves enough to listen to what our body is telling us.
Yes, it’s good to get some opinions, but take all advice with a grain of salt. We know ourselves better than a doctor with a PhD. We understand what we’ve been going through more than a random keyboard warrior who loves to put their two cents into everyone’s problems.
Aren’t we worth that?
Don’t we deserve the best care possible?
It’s time to advocate for yourself.
When you have an appointment, make sure you take questions you want answered so you don’t forget them if your train of thought gets derailed (mine did as soon as one doctor brought up amputation for the first time-I was stunned and my mind went blank. Luckily my husband was with me).
Bring someone you trust with you to the appointment (see comment above).
Listen to what your body is telling you. You know YOU best! DOn’t doubt yourself.
Remember, advice is great for optionality, but there is no “One size fits all” answer to your situation.
You are a warrior! Don’t you forget that! Fight for yourself! Fight for the life you’ve envisioned for yourself. You deserve the BEST!!!
I’m praying for you. Rise up and be heard, Warrior!
Until next week, as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
How Grief Plays a Role In Your HealthToday’s podcast I will let speak for itself.
I am dealing with grief and last several weeks the stressors in my life were so high that my phantom pains were intense.
Taking care of yourself in the midst of pain, sorrow, grief, and anxiety ridden situations is very important for your overall health.
Listen in as I tell you about my past week and a half, how I’ve been feeling, and what I have done, successfully and unsuccessfully, to deal with my emotions and the pain that I was feeling in my heart.
I pray you all are doing well, and I apologize for the delay in posting this week.
Stay positive.
Be the warriors you were meant to be and know that I am here and will get through this and heal on my time.
Until next week,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
In loving memory of Bella Rose October 27, 2023
You have made it through a HUGE surgery. Maybe because of an accident or a sickness. Maybe you made the decision to amputate so you could live a better, healthier life. Whatever the reason, you have made it through that emotional decision, and come to terms with your new reality.
Unfortunately, your journey has just begun, but have no fear, you can shine and move forward with your new lifestyle and live an amazing and full life!
You might think that the act of being amputated is the hardest thing you will have to go through, or that you won’t ever live a full life with all the “restrictions”. And while it’s true that it takes time to adjust to your altered body, you can overcome the perceived restrictions.
A life as an amputee can be as good as you envision it, goal set for it, and how you approach it. It is mind over matter. It is about positivity, attitude, and courage.
Your journey, like life itself, will be filled with ups and downs, There will be storms and there will be rainbows. That’s life!
What can you start doing, now that you are an amputee, is adjusting your mindset, from being a victim to being the warrior in your story.
It’s time to goal set, dream of your future, build strength and grit. You will need all of that to find success, and if you prep correctly and envision the possibilities then you will succeed!
You define success.
You will get knocked down but if you realize this you will be better prepared for those moments and be ready to fight.
Remember, you are a warrior, not just because you have gone through something extreme, but because you fought to rise up after being knocked down. You have got into battle and continue to fight for what you want in life.
This week, listen in as I discuss what it took for me to find success after amputation.
This week is about coming to terms about your body.
Setting goals.
Understanding that this is a marathon and not a sprint, becoming prepared to fight for a better life and finding strength and resilience through adversity, and learning how to get back up after getting knocked down.
Be prepared for battle and fighting for what you want (and you should go into this knowing exactly what you want out of it).
You can achieve great and amazing things for your life. You are not a victim, you are a warrior!!!
Have a blessed week and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Mindset MattersSo you’re an amputee now. You’ve gotten through your surgery, and you’re home. Now what?
The road is long, my friend, but doable.
You can and will survive, dare I say, you can even thrive as an amputee.
How you see your circumstance and adapt to your new way of living is up to you and based on your own mindset.
After I elected to amputate my leg, above knee, after 5 years of surgeries and a blood clot, I had no idea what I was in for, but what I did know was that I was strong, stubborn, and going to hold myself accountable to my own success (seeing as I chose this path). This is my journey and I was going to own it- the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all.
Mindset matters!
If you tell yourself you will succeed, chances are, you will.
If you tell yourself you can accomplish your goals, chances are, you will.
This is no different. Positive self-talk, self-love, and positive mindset will all come to your rescue on those hard days.
Yes, there will be hard days, weeks, and even months as you adjust to your new way of getting around. It’s ok to have those emotionally bad days, just don’t allow yourself to linger there. As you heal, then start the fitting process of your prosthesis, you’re going to realize that the tough days are just beginning, but I know you can handle it. Why? Because you are a warrior and capable of great things!
I would tell you that I am successful at being an amputee, and living my best life. How do I gauge that? By the goals I have set for myself, achieved, and by the fact that I don’t see myself as handicapped or incapable, anymore.
This mindset takes time, and is refined through trials. It doesn’t happen overnight so don’t get frustrated if you don’t feel this way…yet.
Stick with positivity. Keep pushing yourself toward your goals. Never give up and one day you’ll realize that you have gotten to a place where you have found joy, happiness and peace with where you are at, and living a great life. Being an amputee isn’t the end of the world, nor the end of a healthy, happy life. On the contrary, you will find your new journey very rewarding once you grasp what makes it tick.
Find Your Rainbow
Nothing worth achieving happens quickly, remember that. We must fight the battles, learn to pick ourselves up, and to try, try again. These moments that try to take us down are the precise moments we need to experience so we can become stronger and learn how to manage them in the future.
I’d say that 75% of my Call to Actions revolve around goal setting, and this one is no different.
You must find it in your to dream and write down the things you hope to accomplish as an amputee.
Don’t limit yourself, just write!
List as many things as you can that you’d love to accomplish.
At first they may be as simple as wearing your prosthesis a little longer each day, or not taking it off when you get fatigued. Then you’ll start dreaming of taking walks again with your dog or family.
Mine got as big as learning to surf for the first time ever. HEY, why not??? right?!?!
Write them all down, now figure out what is attainable at the stage you are at and set that as priority number 1. Create steps to that goal, how will you achieve it. and then get after it!
Don’t wait until Monday, or after this holiday nor that holiday, START TODAY!! Today is as good a day as any. and the sooner you start the sooner you’ll achieve your goals.
You are a warrior and capable of more than you may believe. You are resilient and an overcomer!
Best wishes on your goal setting!
And until next week, as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Angie
Persistency and Continuity Lead to SuccessTrying something new, or being thrust into a new situation, can be tricky, difficult, frustrating, and downright terrifying.
As an amputee, I can truly understand and appreciate that. However, with the right mindset, the setting of goals, and the willingness to be persistent, even when experiencing failure, we can master what we want to achieve.
Overcoming setbacks through persistence and continuity is a powerful journey of resilience and determination. When faced with challenges, those who are persistent continue to pursue their goals despite obstacles. You will possess the tenacity to endure failures and setbacks, learning from each experience and using it as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block. Setbacks, in an amputee’s journey, are common as we relearn to walk, build muscle and stability, all while our limb changes and fitting of prosthetics is a challenge.
Hiking 2 miles of Awa’awapuhi Trail near Waimea Canyons
With the mindset of succeeding despite the hurdles, being persistent in reaching your goals is vitally important, as is being consistent. Continuity involves maintaining a steadfast commitment to your objectives, even in the face of adversity, and there will be adversity. Somedays, as an amputee, it will feel like it is always about adversity and the roadblocks trying to take you down will feel like stone walls. However, through continuity, you will develop a sense of discipline, enabling you to stay focused on your aspirations and making gradual progress.
Kayaking Hanalei for 3 hours
Combining persistence and continuity empowers you to navigate through setbacks with unwavering determination. you learn to adapt, improvise, and keep moving forward, ultimately transforming setbacks into opportunities for growth. This approach not only builds character but also fosters a resilient mindset, enabling you to achieve your goals despite the challenges you will face along the way.
When you see an amputee who is running a race, surfing the waves, hiking huge miles and high elevation, or happily moving about their day remember, they started with baby steps. They fell down a time or two. They spent hours, days, weeks, and even years practicing what they have achieved.
Everyone starts a new task as a beginner, learning from mistakes, and failures. It is those who continue to pick themselves up time and time again, and press forward with conviction who eventually find their way to success.
Success takes time, commitment, practice, and determination, despite setbacks.
You can find success, too, just don’t give up when things get hard. You’ll be so proud of yourself in the end.
Fun snorkeling days on Kauai
Today figure out what you want to achieve. It’s ok to dream big, but pick the first thing you really want to accomplish, with where you are right now.
Write that goal down!
Next, write down a deadline to achieve that goal.
Finally, list steps you will need two take each day to reach that goal by your deadline.
Now go out and work for what you want!
Remember, falls and failures happen, and can be great stepping stones for success.
And also know that it’s not uncommon to be heading the right direction and then hit a setback. You know the old saying, “two steps forward, one step back”, right? Just prepare yourself for that so you don’t get discouraged.
Stay the course! Don’t give up.
You deserve to be happy, and living your best life.
Until next week, and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be You!!
For Growth and Overall HappinessTake it from me when I say that it can be really difficult to drop the ego and allow yourself to be vulnerable.
I have always prided myself in being a high achiever, a perfectionist, a go-getter, and so highly competitive that I have built up walls and a tough exterior when I am trying new things or in a competitive environment. The very last thing I would ever do is ask for help or, worse yet, show any weaknesses in front of anyone.
The problem with that is that I cannot grow, evolve and improve in this state.
We need to get outside of our comfort zones to challenge ourselves.
And when we find ourselves challenged we need to ask for help and we need to have times of failing. That is what helps us learn and improve ourselves, our craft, or our hobby.
In this podcast, I take you on my journey when last week I finally put down my ego and reaped the benefits! It was humbling, exhilarating, and challenged me. In a short time I also made a new friend with similar interests who inspires me to keeping working hard. What a blessing getting out of my own way has been in just a short time. Imagine what I can accomplish now that I have this nugget of information, this new skill or letting go of my ego so that I can better myself and my life!
Won’t you join me on this new and exciting journey?
Has your pride, or ego, stopped you from accomplishing some of your goals (big or small)?
Then this week it’s time to bloom where you’re at and shine!
Set yourself up for success, enjoy the breathe of fresh air as you swallow that ego, show your vulnerable underbelly, and challenge yourself to something new.
You will be amazed at how happy you’ll feel about your new found freedoms from your own prison.
So get out of your own way, Warrior, and rise (and fall) in the new challenges you choose to take on.
Through failures and weaknesses we find our strengths, and build character.
Time to define your life!
So rise up, Warrior, rise up!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,.
Angie
Fear of Letting GoAs we come to the end of this three part series on overcoming fear I feel that today’s podcast of Letting Go to be a big one, especially for amputees. Not that we all don’t struggle with letting go of: the past, what we can’t control, and toxic relationships, but because as an amputee myself I have seen and heard of so many amputees struggling with these three aspects of letting go.
For most of us, not living in the past is hard. We all tend to have some part of our heart in the past. Sometimes we fear that letting go of the past will also mean we will forget something that was beautiful about it. Memories stay but that doesn’t mean that “living” there is a good thing, especially when we deeply miss some major part of it or, worse yet, can’t forgive a transgression against us that happened in the past. I know several amputees who became an amputee due to a past wrong done to them: a drunk driver, a negligent driver that they were a passenger with, and those pasts NEED to be left there. I know I can’t speak to this struggle as it is not my story nor my journey, however, I have talked with and watched the lives of people I have met that are dealing with this and one common thread amongst them is lack of joy and lack of healing. These are the people I have seen struggling with being an amputee, finding purpose, finding joy, and those who struggle to feel peace in their new place, struggling to feel good in their prosthetic and the fit, even not healing correctly or in a timely matter. Our minds are strong and can determine how we see ourselves and our lives, dictating how we feel and function. When we get stuck in a place of anger and blaming our circumstances on a past transgression, we aren’t punishing the offender we are punishing ourselves!
Doesn’t knowing this make you want to work at forgiveness, for the sake of our own lives? You aren’t saying that what this person did to you and your life is OK, you are just letting yourself let go of the one thing that could be holding you back from recovery and living a healthy, happy life….Aren’t you worth that? (I think you are!)
Another aspect is letting go of things out of your control.
So you’re an amputee now. Now what?
Your limb is gone, and never growing back. Time to move forward. Learning to embrace where you are at in your journey is half the battle. You can’t change what happened, but you can control HOW you handle it. If you sit and worry about healing, the prosthesis, the fear of being or not being able to walk again, etc, you are just going to stress yourself out and you are worry about something that isn’t important right this minute. Stop, breathe, live for RIGHT now. Can you find something to be happy about, right now? I bet you can. Maybe it’s that you survived, you healed well, you aren’t on pain meds anymore. Maybe it’s that you have a family that is there for you, a friend group who is surrounding you with love, support, and prayers. Maybe it’s a pet that is glad you are home (they don’t care if you have one less leg or not!) Perspective! Do you have it? You can’t control something that has already happened to you, you can’t control how long it will take you to heal, or if your prosthetist is going to be “the one”. You can control your emotions, your outlook, your decisions. Start there, and let the Higher Powers that Be do their thing. If you spend your time worried and wondering how long before staples come out, how insurance might deny you, how long before I get a prosthesis that fits right you will be exhausted from all that worrying. That’s not productive nor is it beneficial to your health (mental or physical). Learn to let go of the things you can’t control and start dealing with the items within your control. You’ll be surprised how happy you will be.
Finally, letting go of relationships. Now, as an amputee, and one who has been listening to new amputees talk about the beginning stages of getting fitted for their first prosthetics I am highly speaking of this perspective….however, some of you listening may be in a toxic relationship, one that has been negative toward you, not supportive, or downright mean, take this as you see fit.
You do not owe anyone the benefit of sticking around when it is not in your best interest!
As I speak of this I am directing this mostly toward new amputees who think that their prosthetist is their prosthetist, no matter what. Some of you how found yourself in a hospital bed, only to wake up from an accident, missing a limb, have been given a prosthetist by the hospital and you know nothing about them. Some of you live in a small town where there is only one company and you lack options. I am here to tell you that you do NOT have to sacrifice good, personal care because of those circumstances. You CAN shop around. You can change who is handling your fitting to someone more connected with you, more caring, and understanding of YOUR situation. Even though they handle amputees day in and day out, doesn’t mean they know YOU. You are unique, even as an amputee. What works for one Above Knee Amputee, doesn’t work for another. We are all different, from our age, how we became an amputee, our health and activity level, etc. These all determine how we handle a prosthetic, to how it fits, and what kind we need.
Unfortunately, we consider our prosthetist, like doctors, as the professional and take their word on all matters about our fitting. The problem is, we are the professionals of our own body and we know what feels good and what doesn’t. It’s ok to speak up. It’s ok to communicate and ask for changes. And it is definitely ok to change who you are using when you feel that you are not getting the care that you need. Most of us don’t want to “rock the boat” and don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings, and you don’t have to. You just need to know when you’ve given your prosthetist several opportunities to make things right by you and when to cut ties and move on. You CAN interview other prosthetists to get the “best fit” for your situation and personality, after all, you will have them in your corner for the rest of your life. You deserve the best!
This week there are several things you can be doing to overcome the fear of letting go:
The Past:
Try to stay focused on the present. Letting go of past hurts and mistakes can be hard and some days will be harder than others. Just keep telling yourself that you forgive_________, and repeat it over and over again. Find ways to stay in the present and start finding goals to occupy your time. Letting go of past hurts and mistakes, or even heartbreak of losing a limb, just keep living in the now and finding the joy in the day to day events. Over time you will feel the weight of the past giving way to joys of future journeys.
The Uncontrollable:
It’s inevitable that we worry about things out of our control, so don’t fret when you succumb to that way of thinking. Recognize that you are worrying about something you can not control and refocus on what is in your control. This takes mindfulness. You must be present and in the moment to see what you are doing and how it is not helpful. Redirect your thinking to what you CAN do in that particular situation and focus on that. Practice, practice, practice. This one is hard to let go of, but your heart and body will thank you when you do!
Relationships:
This goes out to those new amputees who feel like they aren’t in the right m medical office. Don’;t be afraid to communicate exactly what’s going on with your limb. If you still feel like you aren’t getting the care that you need, and the changes being made so you are comfortable then maybe it’s time to shop for a new provider. Don’t be afraid to do what’s right by you. It’s your life, after all! And you deserve the very best care. Be patient, be kind, but when push comes to shove, if you don’t feel like you are being heard, or time isn’t being spent on you to make necessary adjustments so you are out of pain, then it’s time to say good-bye to the old and find someone new. You deserve to be happy and feel the best you can in your prosthesis.
I hope this series on fear helped you in some way or another. If you feel like you know someone that this could speak to, please like and share.
I appreciate each of you and hope you are living your best life.
Until next we and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Angie
Fear of Failure
A big fear of mine has always been failing, especially in front of a lot of people. How about you?
After becoming an amputee this became the daily fear that would well up inside of me. Every day I put on my leg I had to deal with idea that, as I was learning to walk in it, I just my wipe out. Then after I got good at walking, I added in the fear of falling with a running blade on, which would make for a more epic fall.
It feels like the normal, everyday, things were now causing my anxiety.
I realized right away that I would have 2 choices:
Stay home, pout, and not get out and work on my new life
or
Get out, try everything, fail, pick myself back up and try again.
On the edge of the Grand Canyon!
Me and my bees
My new Swell Surf foot, ready for the waves of Kauai
My 1st time wadding in a rushing stream, keeping balance, and trying fly fishing! A whole lotta new!
As you probably guessed, I opted for the second choice! Get out and LIVE!
This took time, patience, humility, and drive.
It wasn't easy going into a grocery store with a new leg, knowing people were watching, almost waiting for me to stumble. At least that's how it felt at first. But I had a family to feed and a husband at work all day. I was not going to be a burden and I was going to learn this new lifestyle, no matter what it took.
As a teacher, I told my students all the time that it's ok to fail. That's the only way to learn. It was time for me to take my own advice.
It's a long road, a hard journey, when learning to walk again. It's difficult to take an old. easy, everyday task, and start over.
Have grace and forgiveness with yourself. Be patient, like you'd be with your own kids learning something new.
What advice would you give your baby who was just learning to walk? Would you be mad at them for trying their first steps and falling over? Of course not, so why would you be mad, upset, impatient with yourself?
Why is it that we are so hard on ourselves, yet so forgiving with others that we seeing trying and failing?
Remember, it is more rewarding to try, try, try again and get something, than to just be able to do something simple that you get on your first try.
When you are forced to subject yourself to uncertainty, and yet certain failures at first, you are building your experience, you are building your character, and you are building a warrior mentality. These are the characteristics that will help you succeed at your next task.
Don't be afraid to get out there and try something new. You never know what will come of your efforts. What I have learned is that with every trial, I became stronger, met new people, inspired others, and found a deep joy for my new life that I wouldn't change for the world!
Deep inside of you lies a warrior waiting to be unleashed! You've got this. Face your fears head on and watch how you will transform your life!!!
You are a warrior!!
This week begin to change your mindset. Speak positively to yourself and then think of 1 thing you have been wanting to do but have been too afraid to try it.
Now make a plan on how to get from point A to point B. Remember to break it down into baby steps. You cvan do this. I believe in you!
Work at it every day, even for 5-10 minutes. Realize that learning to do something new takes failure. Embrace the failures. Even laugh at yourself from time to time. We all fail at first.
Pick yourself back up and start again!
Don't give up!
You've got this!!
Until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Fear of the UnknownWe all face challenges in life and more than that we all struggle with how uncomfortable it is to not know what’s going to happen.
We get fixated on the “what ifs” and begin a dangerous road of fearing the future, the outcomes, the unknown.
This isn’t living, and this isn’t healthy.
As I navigated 4 months from deciding to amputate my leg above the knee until the surgery date I ran the gamut of emotions, questioning my decision, wondering if it was the right choice, pondering and fretting over the “what ifs”.
Let me tell you, there are a LOT of “what ifs” when you have 4 months to think about it. What happened to me within that 4 month time frame was nothing short of a miracle and one that I will forever be in awe over.
Something changed within myself, in my deepest part of my subconscious that day in November 2018, just a month out from my surgery. I was transformed from worrying about a future I couldn’t even fathom to a place of peace.
At that moment I began living for each moment and knew that I was going to be alright, no, more than alright, I was going to overcome and be a fighter.
This is an opportunity for each of you as you navigate your journey called life. You don’t have to be ruled by fear of the unknown, but embrace the moments that you are living in.
A quick reminder to let go and live for the moment. Let go of what you cannot control.
Finding peace in the moment, being totally present and letting go of what you cannot control.
You deserve that happiness.
You deserve to live a full and healthy life.
Smile more!
Today, I want you to let go of what you cannot control, take several deep breathes, and allow the warrior within you out.
Fight the battles of today.
Let go of what is uncertain- your tomorrow.
You are a warrior,
You are wonderfully made,
You are special!!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Angie
The Reality of Phantom Pain
It's real!
It does exist, and it can come out of nowhere and attack you when you least expect it. Phantom pain is an equal opportunity offender with no regard for who it targets.
Phantom sensation is similar but constant. It's not about the excruciating pain it inflicts, like phantom PAIN, as much as it's the never ending, always present tingling, buzzing, and throbbing of the missing body part, (in my case, my lower left leg and foot).
No matter what's going on, how active I am or am not, or even the weather, phantom sensations are always burning in my foot. At first I didn't think I was going to be able to take it but I can tell you two certainities:
After suffering phantom PAIN, I will gladly take the sensations! I find that these sensations are a gift in that they help me to find my footing as I walk because my foot feels like it's there at all times.
Just a reminder, all journeys are NOT the same. my pain tolerance might be higher than yours or your phantom pain might last longer and be more intense than mine, we are all different and how we handle them is also going to be different.
Some people choose to medicate to help with the pain, others use mirror therapy or a neurotransmitter.
Others may choose to use tap therapy, or heat/cold therapy to lessen the intensity.
I have a neurotransmitter implanted in my back, but it created more pain than it stopped so I have turned mine off, for now.
I also have chosen to stay far away from medication so I know the true feelings of my pain and learn to deal with them naturally as they come. I spent too many years on drugs to help with all the surgeries and couldn't wait to get off of them, permanently!
Like I said, everyone is different. what works for me may or may not work for you. Only you can decide how to attack these phantom issues. It's always good to talk with other amputees to see how they are dealing with their pain and what works for them but remember what works for them may not work for you.
I say this so you don't get discouraged if it doesn't work. You will need to keep searching and trying out new ways to handle your pain based on you. And sometimes something will work one time but not the next time it occurs. Talk about frustrating!!
Phantom pain is for real! It's vicious, distracting, and debilitating! It can and will try to consume you, and break you, just remember you are strong! You are a warrior!
This is a tough one.
You will need to get creative and dig down deep!
This is where TRUE warriors are made.
Don't sit and dwell on the pain, it will consume you and make it harder to bounce back from it.
Find somethings that work for you (I use distraction when I am in a bad pain place-walking, driving in my car, playing music, watching a movie, reading, moving some more, getting to the gym, etc) This keeps my mind active, and distracted. Don't sit around thinking about it, it'll only amplify the pain, trust me, I know!
Once you find things you are capable of doing, use these techniques to help you on the rough days. You will find that you will handle the phantom pains better if you have resources ready to be utilized.
And don't forget to communicate with your family, friends, your support system. Even best laid plans get wrecked, and if you are screaming on the inside, more than likely you'll start screaming on the outside and the people who you love the most will be casualties to it. Let them know that you are struggling. Phantom pain is invisible to everyone outside of us, they can't know what we are going through so we must be open and honest, for the sake of relationships.
You've got this and you are NOT alone.
Rise up, Precious Warrior, Rise up! Fight your battles with confidence and with the assurance that this too shall pass.
As always and until next week,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
It's Time to Wake and Seize the Day
As I approached my surgery date for my amputation I began to dream. I dreamt of all the things that could be a challenge and how I was going to conquer each challenge. I created a vision board, set goals, and dared to dream of rising above my circumstance.
My Vision Board
Once that surgery happened, I began to set my sights on each goal: learning to walk as quickly as possible, skiing with my family, learning to surf, virtual races, and then a 10k, in person, at the Phoenix Rock'n'Roll Marathon.
Skiing for 1st time-3 1/2 months post amputation
Sled Hockey-1 month post amputation
Phoenix Rock'n'Roll Marathon: 10K race for St. Jude- 1 year post amputation
Virtual races all done as an amputee
Surfing for the first time...ever!
I worked hard at PT, I trained outside of PT, got back in the gym, and dreamed about reaching my goals.
Each day I would wake up and jump at the opportunities to become stronger, mentally focused, and created smaller goals to get to the big ones.
I had purpose and I was driven.
My "WHY"-my husband and my two sons
My family was backing me through all of my endeavors, and I am so grateful for that because as I set my goals and worked toward them, I grew stronger and more confident in my new abilities. My family became my "WHY". Why I was doing what I was doing was so that no one had to cater their life for me because of the position I was now in as an amputee. I wanted to be strong, confident, self-sufficient and totally independent to be the wife and mom they had always known.
When you wake up and are given another day on this planet with the people in your life, you need to see that you have purpose. No matter what you are going through, or the challenges you are facing, you have something to offer this world: a smile, a kind word, inspiration, your talents. There is more to you than your physical being. You were given a soul to share in this world. You were gifted with talents that only YOU could possess. It is up to you to make good on them, to see past your own circumstances, and give each day your best.
YOU have purpose.
If you have breath in your lungs, you have purpose.
What is your purpose in life? What gifts do you possess that the people, your community, could benefit from?
Who or what is your "WHY"?
What gets you up and charged each morning?
First thing is to figure out your "WHY". Who or what makes you want to be stronger? More fierce? Unstoppable? Who do you live for?
Write it down!
Next, figure out what you want to do with this life you are given. You are more than your circumstance(s). You are more than your physical body.
Don't define your goals, dreams and ambitions by your situation.
Tell yourself you can do whatever you set your mind to.
Now write down what you want to do in the next couple of weeks, months, and by year's end.
Dream it, do it!
These goals and ambitions give you your purpose.
Example: I began looking for ways to help others on their amputation journey. I wanted to use my positive outlook to help others and to show them that life wasn't over after amputation, just different, and adaptable.
You are a warrior!
Be strong, find ways to conquer and live your best life...No matter your circumstance you always have purpose and something to give this world.
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Finding Patience Amidst Trials
Today, I want to share with you an important lesson I've been learning lately: the power of patience in the face of trials. Life has a funny way of throwing obstacles our way, testing our resilience and pushing us outside our comfort zones. But through it all, I'm discovering that cultivating patience can be a game-changer.
As an amputee, trials and challenges can be overwhelming, leaving us feeling frustrated, anxious, and stressed. But remember, every difficulty we go through is an opportunity for growth. Patience allows us to stay calm, focused, and determined, enabling us to find creative solutions and move forward with resilience. Embracing the challenges in our lives can be used as steppingstones towards personal growth, and better health.
In our fast-paced world, where we look for everything to be given to us instantly, having patience has become more of a lost art. We are constantly seeking instant gratification and quick results. However, true growth and transformation takes time and experience. Patience teaches us to appreciate the journey and find joy in the present moment. By shifting our focus from the destination to the process, we can savor the small victories along the way and celebrate our progress.
Today, I was reminded, yet again, that I need to learn patience, enjoy the moment, and be present. Sakari, my mare, was my teacher and today she gave me the gift of living in the moment. Normally, she would come right over to me to get our morning going, but today she took her time and slowly ate her hay. As she ate, I spent a few minutes wandering around, baking in the summer sun, feeling a bit impatient. But after I took stock in the moment, I saw the gift of just being there, watching her every move, and observing the world I was now a part of. This is where I find healing and reconnect with myself. I almost missed it!
Perhaps the most incredible aspect of patience is its ability to teach us valuable life lessons. It teaches us perseverance, empathy, and self-control. It encourages us to practice gratitude, mindfulness, and acceptance. By embracing patience, we become better equipped to handle future challenges and build stronger relationships with ourselves and others.
This week you need to address a problem you are facing. Write it down and then write 3 things you CAN change about the circumstance, then write down 3 things you CANNOT change.
Now, using those lists, get to work on doing what you CAN do and letting go of what is out of your control.
Breathe, relax, and have faith.
I hope you found something that can help you through your trials and assist you in gaining patience. Have a beautiful week, And as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love, Angie
Seeing Your Life with Renewed Positivity
What grounds you and wakes you up to the moment you're living in?
What lights a fire and gives you strength and clarity?
I realize that all too often, that I am wishing away a moment, a day, even a month, just to get to the next thing on my list, like nothing else matters.
Have you ever been guilty of that?
After my amputation I just remember wishing for my first socket to be ready, then my next PT, I couldn't wait to get walking, or out of pain. Living in frustration and anxiousness because THIS moment wasn't where I wanted to be.
Every once in a while, something will happen in my life that wakes me up to the fact that I am wishing away my life, not happy where I'm at, and wanting to be anywhere else, doing something else. That's when I stop, slow down, and reflect on how precious my life, in that moment is. I see the mountains for the first time all over again. I watch the birds coming and going, paying attention to each sound they make, smelling the desert air as if for the first time as the storm rolls in.
This is where I want to be, in the good and the bad, living on purpose, with a purpose.
So how do we stay present, and not take life for granted?
How do we handle the pains, and bumps and bruises, we are dealt on a daily basis, embracing it for better or worse?
Unfortunately, it takes an event to snap us out walking through life in a zombie state of mind and to see our lives with fresh eyes.
I experienced that this past weekend when my family came to visit, and it was their first time to ever visit Arizona. The first time to feel the dry heat, see the ginormous cacti, and smell the monsoon roll in. As I pondered how it must feel, look, and smell to them I was reminded how I felt my first time, and how I took all of that for granted.
This is the same for us as we go through the trials in life. We get fixated on our next doctor appointment, next surgery, next test, only to forget the moments in between.
Life is going to through us curve balls, it's going to try and knock us down (and will succeed every once in a while) and sidetrack us into thinking and worrying about everything else but what is happening to us right this moment. We must stop this.
We must embrace the moment we are in, live intentionally, and enjoy where we are. This moment is fleeting, and another one will take its place, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
I realized that I am guilty of wishing away days, instead of enjoying them. I regret this as I now sit here, wishing for them to come back, but it is in vain. What I can do is to stay present from now on. Enjoy the good times with the bad, knowing that they will pass and be filled with others. Each of these events is a part of my journey, making me into who I am, building me into the person I am meant to be.
Maybe today you are hurting or struggling with life. Maybe you are wishing today away, hoping for a better day tomorrow. Are you seeing clearly at the life you are making for yourself, or just going through the motions? What a gift it is to be awoken from a deep sleep, from routine, to see clearly once again, to enjoy life with fresh eyes.
What are you wishing away? Remember, you'll never get tomorrow back.
This week, try to stay present. Enjoy each moment for what it's worth, even if it's not pleasant. Enjoy the view, you'll find your outlook on life can change and become more positive, when we let go of our distractions and fine tune our sight to what is in front of us.
Practice being present and looking at the world around you as if looking at everything for the first time- with eyes like a child.
You are strong and capable, but it takes practice. Set down your phone, find time to sit in silence and without distraction, your heart and mind will thank you for it.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!
Much love,
Angie
P.S.
When You Least Expect It
Just when you think you are in the clear. Or when you feel like you got it all together....Wham!!!
Yep, life send you into a new challenge.
I am 4 1/2 years out from my amputation and into my 15th socket I go. However, even though it should have been a simple change as it was just a remake of the socket I was in (the plastic was giving away but still fit) we encountered complications.
Nothing major, but my valve wasn't working properly for a couple of weeks, which meant I couldn't wear it, and then once that got fixed the end of my residual limb seemed to be moving too much down inside of the socket, which was creating swelling, which in turn made it worse.
It was a snowball effect. One issue, led to another issue, which led to another issue.
Simple fix. Hmmm.
Ever have that happen to you?
How did you handle it?
What I can tell you is that after 4 years of wearing a prosthetic, I have become more attuned to my body and what feels right, and what I can and cannot handle. These are minor issues, indeed, but if you don't have the experience (which only comes with time and observations as an amputee) then you may be prone to freaking out about the fit and worried that these issues could get worse and create bigger issues.
I remember the first time my residual limb swelled. I didn't know what was happening, why it felt weird and hard, and freaked out that I was getting an infection. After all, I had heard of amputees getting infections years after their surgery! YIKES!!
Now that I understand what is happening with my limb, I know how to combat it and when to call my prosthetist for help and adjustments.
Experience is key, but I share this with you so you understand what can happen, even years later. That you need to build up your patience and knowledge so you can handle these odd moments, because they don't just stop after the first year.
Don't give up hope.
Try not to get frustrated, and make sure you make time to stop and breathe deeply.
Smile. It helps with your emotional state in the midst of problems, and don't let fear strike you down. I understand that each new issue is delving into the unknown, but you will survive, and you will rise up again, and again, and again.
Remember, you are a Warrior!
Now go out and seize the day!
You are special, unique, and there is only one YOU in this whole, wide world!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Reinventing Yourself
What would you do if you have a second chance? How would you spend your days if you received a new lease on life?
This is how I felt after my amputation. I realized that the choice was mine and I could do and try anything I wanted and reinvent myself and enjoy new hobbies, sports, and activities.
I wasn’t going to allow my amputation to define me or limit me, it was my time to show myself, my family, and the world what an amputee could do when they put their mind to it.
I was going to prove that life was just beginning, not ending, for me.
The choice was easy for me, but maybe you are struggling with this. The choice is: Am I a victim or Am I a warrior?
Well, I am a warrior and a fighter. If someone thinks I can’t do something, then I will pursue that with my whole heart and rise up to the challenge. If I am told it can’t be done, I will find a way to accomplish it. I want to prove that I make the decision on how full my life was going to be, and I was NOT about to roll over and die.
This is my journey. This is my story. And I know you can achieve this, too. You must consciously choose each and every day, to overcome the obstacles and rise up. It takes a change in your mental game, and goal setting.
You are a Warrior! You CAN rise up and become whatever you choose to be and accomplish whatever you put your heart and mind to.
This is the moment you can reinvent yourself and live a full AND happy life! I know you can!
You are beautifully and wonderfully made! You are a WARRIOR!!
It’s time to unleash your inner warrior and watch your life blossom into everything you ever wanted and deserve.
The time is now!
This week put your focus on positive thoughts and goal setting. What is it that you'd like to try? What would you like to accomplish? What have people in your life said that you might never be able to do again but you know that if you work at it that you could actually do? It is time to put the past behind you, forgive and move on, and reinvent yourself! It is time for you to unleash the warrior within you and shine! Now it is time to believe in yourself, and live your best life yet! YES YOU CAN!!! Today is the day! Now is the time!
Rise up, Warrior, rise up!!! Reach out to me if you need help, advice, or encouragement! I am here for you!
And until next week and as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!!
Much love, Angie
Hug and Kisses XOXO
Are you seeing amputees doing all the things you could only dream of doing? Thinking you are so far behind that you could never get there? Or see them doing amazing things, “pain-free”?
Well, in the spirit of complete transparency, and shedding light of the realities of being an amputee, I have had a hard couple of days. Yep! Even 4 1/2 years out. Do they happen often, no, but phantom pains, poor fitting socket days and just plain “off” days can come out of nowhere and hit me like a freight train!
This weekend was no exception. I has been out hiking, doing what I love, and even though it was a tough hike I got through unscathed…. However, the next day, I’m sure my muscles were so taxed that my phantom pain came back in sharp stabbing droves, meant to take me out in mere moments!
The reality check is, we all have our journey, whether you’re an amputee or not. You cannot compare yourself to anyone else, because there is no one like, who went through what you went through, and can handle it like you. Our pain tolerances are different, our illness that led to our condition are difference, our age, activity level and our gender are all different.
Most people think that going through amputation is the hard part, but in reality, it’s the first 1-2 years after, in which you have to get fitted for a socket, place something heavy and cumbersome on your body, and relearn to walk all over again. The fit takes patience and time to adjust, you fall, you get rashes, you break down and get frustrated. And when you finally get everything to feel “good” you have atrophy and drop weight and your limb changes and you start the whole process ALL OVER AGAIN!!! Sometimes even just 1-2 months after you finally get a good fit!
So whether you are struggling on the path you are on in life, or finding it debilitating to keep moving forward as an amputee, know that this is all part of the journey. You have to experience the ups and downs to learn and become stronger, physically, mentally and emotionally. I can tell you all that I’ve gone through but to truly learn from it and appreciate it, you must go through it yourself. And your journey won’t look like mine or anyone else’s, your journey is YOUR journey. Embrace it and enjoy it for all its worth. You’ll be amazed at the person you’ll become as you wrestle with the challenges you’ll go through.
This week, listen to yourself. Know when you need a break and take it. Spend time reflecting on what's got you blocked or bound up and know that this isn't the end, just a hiccup. Take a deep breathe, and rise up again and give another crack at it. Baby steps, little by little, keep you moving forward. Don't give up and believe in yourself!!
And as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!!
Much love, Angie
A Fishing Analogy for New Amputees
From experience, I KNOW, without a doubt, that there are fish in our lake.
Just yesterday I caught a huge northern pike and released him..... he is in there, waiting for the next lure to tempt him.
How does this relate to amputees and our journey? Great question.
Patience, for one. And knowing how to keep moving forward, even when you feel like giving up, for another.
I must have casted 1000 times in 5 hours last weekend, and not a nibble!!!! 5 hours!!! I'm either totally dedicated to my craft or absolutely crazy! But, I love the POSSIBILTY. The possibility that I could catch a fish, maybe even the biggest fish in the lake (I may be a little competitive 😏) keeps me going.
Not my biggest catch, but I'll take it as a win!
This is the same for amputees. No matter what I tell newbies, until they go through it themselves, it just doesn't click. Some people think they'll get through it without a hiccup and be off and running right after they get their prosthesis. What you have to remember is that 1) Everyone's experience is unique and individualistic. 2) We all atrophy and thus makes our fitting process a challenge, and 3) You don't know what you don't know, and it won't make sense until YOU go through it.
That being said, going through the early moments of becoming an amputee are like fishing. You know that you will be able to walk again, run, hike, bike, swim, etc. You've seen tons of other amputees make it, and the prosthesis they are making now are so amazing and helpful to our success. but you also need to remember that you can't catch the big fish if you aren't patient, and ready to put in the time.
Go at it with a positive attitude. Take a step back when things get hard, and you.ve forgotten what WILL be possible. You have to earn it, so to speak, and you'll be better prepared and ready for future hiccups after going through the first year or two. But it won't be easy. You will be pushed to the edge a few times, whether with the way it feels, the fitting, pain, sensations, or a plethora of other things that could happen. But don't lose hope. I went through the changes and the exhaustion of never-ending appointments to get the right fit. I went through excruciating pains of a neuroma and the surgery to remove it, along with the setback of healing from that surgery before I could wear my leg again. I understand the heartache when you just want to be and feel "normal" and you just don't see how that will ever happen for you. It will! I promise. Keep the faith. Don't take yourself too seriously and learn to laugh at those moments. Cry when you need to then pull up your big boy/big girl pants and trudge forward. You will get to where you want to be, but you will work for it, I promise that too.
What I use to tell my students all the time was that if it was easy then you wouldn't feel as proud of yourself for accomplishing the task at hand. Same goes for us amputees. You will have to overcome some seriously huge mountains at times, but when you are at the top looking back at where you came from, you can be so proud to know that you truly ARE a warrior!!!!
I believe in you!
Don't you dare give up.
Put in the time, practice patience, and know that with time, things will get easier.
You are amazing and will accomplish great feats. You only need to be steadfast and patient. Be realistic in knowing that it takes time, but in the end you will succeed!
As always, and until next week,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
(Be PATIENT....)
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Patience is a virtue. A few of my favorite things as I sit at the lake fishing
The view is so peaceful
Wildflowers everywhere!
Where You're At
Ever felt alone, even though you are surrounded by your support, your family, your friends?
As an amputee, it can be hard for anyone to really grasp what we are feeling when it comes to nerve or “phantom” pains. To explain it, doesn’t do justice, yet we can deal with it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I know I do.
There are many times that, even though we are surrounded by people who love us, we feel alone and having to handle pain and problems that accompany bring an amputee by ourselves. It is in those moments that we must rise up, become stronger than we ever thought we could be, and fight through the pain.
This can only be done when we treat ourselves like our own best friend. We must love who we are enough to support ourselves with positive words and thoughts, words we would lend a friend in need. Sometimes that is harder than it should be as we struggle in silence.
When we feed ourselves words of affirmation, love, positivity, and forgiveness, we give ourselves the greatest gift, a fighting chance to rise up stronger. We must learn to love ourselves, where we are, now, so we can gain a healthy mindset and live a full and healthy life.
Start today. Begin by affirming that you are worth love, happiness, and good health.
Speak positive words into your heart and mind.
Practice this daily, even hourly, if you need to, until it becomes second nature to be a positive person.
Your future self will thank you for it!!
Until next week, and as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!!
Much love, Angie
Let’s Talk About SocketsThis week we begin a new series called Prosthetic Parley with Randy and David. My prosthetist will come on once every other month to discuss hot topics that you, the viewers are interested in and talking about. This week we discuss what types of sockets there are and what fit might be right for you and why.
Please keep in mind that these are the opinions of two prosthetists, whom I use and trust, but it is in their opinion. We hope that this educates you enough so you can speak to your own prosthetists and make a positive decision on what would work best for you.
We also dive into Limbs For Humanity, a non-profit that Randy and David, have just begun, bringing prosthetics to people who are not able to get one due to location and financial situations. They work with Rocky Point Medical Clinic in Rocky Point, Mexico, as well as doing good for those here in the states. They are in need of your help so if you have any spare parts or old prosthetics that you are no longer using, please reach out to me or them so we can put them to great use, helping others become active and mobile once again. If you aren’t an amputee and don’t know of anyone with spare parts, financial donations is also a huge help so they can purchase the items they need to construct limbs and sockets.
You can reach them at one of the Instagram accounts below:
@limbmaster
@gogobanks
@thelimbcenter
@limbsforhumanity
Or reach out to me:
@BAWarrior360
@angie_heuser
Check this episode out and if you have any topics you’d like covered in the next episode please feel free to let me know!
amputeelife #amputeegirl #prostheticparley #thelimbcenter #limbsforhumanity #sockets #abovekneeamputee #belowkneeamputee #bawarrior360 #personaljourney #factsandopinions #discussion #liveyourbestlife #podcast
The guys, hard at work
Rocky Point, Mexico. Rocky Point Medical Clinic
Special shout-outs to Rocky Point Medical Clinic, Lencho at LS Labs, @Alps_south, @collegeparkind, and @b.tyler.hyatt
I hope you enjoy this discussion time with Randy and David and may your week be blessed!
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Navigating Friendships Through Life’s TrialsFriends come and go in our lives. Sometimes it’s because of geographical change, and sometimes we outgrow each other. Other times we part ways because there is a fall out, or even a misunderstanding that goes unattended and left to grow. On the flip side, as our stages in life change so do the people who come into it, and a new friendship blossoms in an unlikely moment.
If you have been dealing with a difficult time in your life, you will notice one of two things might happen.
One, certain people will rally around you to assist and be there for you. They check in often, organize other helpers, and even come to help you pass the time. They bend over backwards to make sure you are taken care of, and love doing this for you and your family.
Two, some people will disappear when you need them most. This is heartbreaking because what you thought was a great, solid, and caring friendship is destroyed in the blink of an eye. When the going gets tough…they get going!
Now, based on these two descriptions we also need to see OUR side of the relationship. Let’s call this self-reflection time.
How are you projecting your situation out into the world? Who is getting sideswiped by your frustrations, “Debbie Downer” moments, and your wrath?
You see, it takes two. And of course, we know it’s hard to deal with something big that goes wrong in our life. I understand this. I spent 5 years in and out of surgeries, only to come to the realization that amputation was the only way out. I’m sure that I had some “moments” that weren’t so sweet and joyful. However, what was my body language saying? What words and type of tones were coming out of my mouth? Who got hit with the anger, frustration, and disappointment I was feeling in the worst moments on my journey?
Do you see what I’m saying here?
Sometimes we need to correct ourselves, for the sake of the relationship. We need to remember that everyone goes through hard times, unexpected illnesses, and redirections in their journeys. What we can’t do is succumb to the negative emotions at the risk of losing beautiful people in our lives. Negativity kills friendships. Negativity kills relationships. Negativity will keep you down and devour you from the inside out.
Friendships are two-way streets, and we just need to take a look in the mirror to see if what we are putting out in the universe is helpful in growing, and nurturing the relationships we have, or are we using our circumstance to separate us from those that we are closest.
Good friends want to watch you rise up and succeed. Does your personality during crisis mode invite them in to your life or scream at them to get out?
Take stock in your relationships.
This week make a list of the friends who have entered your life and those who are on their way out.
Next, decide which ones are worth saving and which ones are toxic to your recovery and happiness.
It’s time:
Reach out and love on the friends who mean something to you. Give them a reason to call you friend. We must learn to reciprocate the attention and support.
Cut ties with those who are bad for you. The ones who’d rather see you down and out, the ones who don’t believe in you and have let you down time and time again.
Use this next week to take stock in the true friendships in your life and, if need be, what it’s going to take on your part to nurture them.
You’ve got this,
And don’t forget that it’s ok to let go of those who are bad for you. Maybe they were a positive in your life PRIOR to what you’re going through, but they have changed since then. This is tour life, and you deserve to be happy.
Best wishes on clearing up your life and the poeple in it.
And as always, until next time,
Be healthy,
Be happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Night time visit with my girl
Do you struggle with pain?Is stress always knocking at your door and trying take over?Maybe now is the time to try something that can help you through the pain…. How about some breathing?I spend a lot of time around my horse.Every morning to be exact.She brings me to a peaceful place, a place I can forget my problems, schedules, to-do lists, and phantom pains.I find quiet and calm around her and work on, believe it or not, my breathing!Did you know that deep breathing can:decrease stress and increase calmrelieve painimprove immunityincrease energylower blood pressureimproves digestionWow!!! That’s a lot of benefits!We should all be working on our breathing and relaxing, and less time worrying and being stressed out!Challenge yourself today to build in a breathing routine to your daily schedule and reap the benefits….This week challenge yourself to spend some quality time…. with yourself.Choose a quiet place, free of distractions (and your phone).Find a comfortable position and begin to relax your body and take slow, deep breathes in, filling up your lungs. Then slowly release your breathe out through your nose.Continue to feel your breathe fill your lungs and find peace and calm in this moment.Try to do at least 5 minutes today, gradually increasing your breathing time, each day going forward.Take note of how you feel the rest of the day and as the week goes on.Don’t stop there! Find the benefits of deep breathing each night before bed and the quality of your sleep…I dare you!!I hope you find calm that overcomes your pain, and a peace that allows you to live your best life!As always,Be Healthy,Be Happy,Be YOU!!!Much love,Angie and Sakari🐴
Cleaning Out Your Mind and Heart to Have a Body Worth Living InThe sun is shining, and the days are growing longer, it must be spring!
That also means it’s time for Spring cleaning…. no not of your home, but of your mind and heart.
If you’ve been feeling down, and unproductive, or frustrated and frazzled, then it’s probably time to clean out your thoughts and your emotions. Yep, you can do Spring cleaning on yourself.
Too many times we get caught in a hard time and we feel derailed, alone, frustrated, useless, sad, etc., etc. But these hard moments, or circumstances that you have no control over don’t have to be a negative. We can use these times of trial to hone in our skills of being positive, building character and resilience.
However, if we are not careful, we can become our own worst enemy and sabotage our lives, with negativity and worry.
When we take stock of our thoughts and feelings and throw out the negativity, we are clearing out that space for better things.
I challenge you to create a better headspace for you, change your thinking and self-talk, and get yourself moving in the right direction. Your body will thank you!
Find your inner positivity and SMILE!!
Create a list of the positive and negatives on your heart right now.
Create a 2nd list of the positive and negatives on your mind.
Now go through and figure out what you need to do to eliminate the things that are taking you on a negative path.
Example might be that you are frustrated or embarrassed by your body image. Ask yourself what you can do to change that, it may be taking a walk outside every night, or getting back in he gym, or trying a virtual race, it may also include kicking the late night binge eating you’ve been doing.
Once you’ve gone through all of your negatives, figure out how to make adjustments to your thinking, your habits, and self-talk then create goals for yourself (like walking everyday to change the negative mindset you have about your image).
Use the month of May to kickstart a new healthier, happier you!
Figure out the problem(s).
Make a list.
Create solutions.
Set goals.
Crush goals!
Remember that you are amazing, and awesome!
You deserve the very best of you, so don’t settle for anything less.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Shark Attack Survivor to Shark Advocate: A True Bounce Back Story###### Pictures in the Deep
Facing the creature who turned his life upside down… head on and with love and respect. Truly inspiring!
This is one story of bouncing back that has always stood out to me. Since I first met Mike, on Kauai, to our first interview in 2021, and watching his path widen, deepen, and become more powerful and enlightening, I have been in awe of his love for the one thing that did him harm. And quite frankly, that speaks volumes to me… not just about Mike, but about sharks! If someone is a victim of a shark attack and literally turns around to advocate for them and their rightful place as the apex predator of the ocean, AND portrays them as beautiful, and graceful creatures to be saved and admired, then I need to listen up and educate myself past the fears that have been instilled in me by Hollywood since I was a child.
This is Mike’s mission through his photographs and advocacy stance in DC.
Forgiveness was given, and a new path is being forged between the victim and the perpetrator.
This is the true meaning of healing on the inside.
When Mike was just 18 years old, with dreams of becoming a professional surfer, this nightmare couldn’t have been farther from his mind. Yet, with support from his family and community he took a huge setback and created a new life for himself. He studied, met people, watched for doors to open, and went with the flow of his new path, which all led him to forgiveness, empathy, love, and partnership with the one thing that almost took his life.
Mike and the Tiger Shark
His setback became the set up for the life he lives now, and the life he adores.
When he was asked if he would change the day of his attack, to keep his legs and become that professional surfer, do you know what he said?
Back at it!
Listen in to hear his answer.
Listen in to hear what happened that fateful day, and to hear what new adventures he is on.
Thank you, Mike, for your time and telling your story, and for being the voice of a misunderstood creature in our oceans.
Mahalo!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Prosthetics, Trauma, and Giving BackMeet my prosthetists and friends, Randy West and David Banks (left and right in blue). We met and began discussing my future as an amputee months before my surgery. During that time, I told them of my past activity levels, my current life as a wife and homeschool mom, and my dreams and aspirations for my future. They used that information to fit me and help me realize my dreams. They listened to me when I had questions and struggles, they made changes to my fit when I needed it and directed me to great medical doctors when I needed more than a great fitting socket.
Molding my socket
Another one done!
Two sets of eyes are better than one.
My team
They have done so much for me and given with their hearts.
David, as you can see in the 1st picture above, is an above knee amputee himself, and like all amputees, when it happened he had to adjust and change direction in his life, which brought he and Randy together. David tells his story in this podcast, and I will tell you that his story makes a full circle, which is kind of amazing!
Now after 20+ years of friendship they are beginning their road of a non-profit called, Limbs For Humanity. They go to Mexico every month and see as many amputees as possible in a weekend, bringing parts and prosthetics to these people, people who never even dared to dream about one day walking again. They give of themselves, and their time, heart, money, and talents for the sake of bringing mobility to people who never thought that was possible….and it has been life-changing (and not just for the clients, for David and Randy, too).
Giving back is the ultimate gift
This story of David’s tragic amputation as a young man, and now as a company who gives of themselves for a greater cause is what Bouncing Back is all about!
They have taken setbacks and used them as set ups for the greater good.
Come along today and be inspired by David’s story, find hope that a prosthetist can truly care about your well-being (because they do exist!), and find purpose in your life, because when one window shuts you must look for another window to open, and what’s on the other side could be life altering!
I haven’t done any CTA this month as we are talking with people about their journeys and how they bounced back to get where they are, but I feel this episode is a great one to put one out there.
This week, go follow my friend’s non-profit @limbsforhumanity on Instagram
And give!
If you have spare prosthetic parts around your house, touch base with me or them and we can donate to people who need them. Donating money is another way to help a non-profit get off the ground running. Money helps them get the parts they are lacking, among other things to help these guys get to Mexico to give new life to so many people.
Randy, David, I appreciate you!
Thank you for being exactly what I needed when I wasn’t even sure what I needed and allowing me to fly!!
Please help them and donate today! God bless!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
A Bright Soul and A Sweet PupWar torn and separated from family, Maja’s story is a great comeback story and includes a sweet Great Dane, Rosie, who is also an amputee.
It looks to be a story of who saved who, and you’d be correct in assuming that.
As you listen in this week, you’ll hear a story that begins with tragedy, suffering, separation, uncertainty, and fear. However as we delve deeper into Maja’s life we will see a strong woman who has found a way to bounce back and make a new life for herself, in a new country, and with a new friend.
In war torn Bosnian, Maja grew up. A teenager who snuck out one evening, with friends, she found herself outside of her home when a bomb blew up right in her neighborhood and Maja lost all 5 of her friends in that moment, along with being severely injured herself.
One moment she is bleeding out being taken to a makeshift hospital, undergoing amputation- without anesthesia, the next she finds herself getting an opportunity to be taken to the US with a kind lady wanting to make a difference in a child’s life…. and Maja took it, leaving her family behind and traveling to a country where she knew no one and didn’t know the language.
Fast forward 15 years and night terrors and PTSD set in, enter Rosie, a Great Dane pup who lost her leg and in need of a good home.
This is a comeback story for the ages. A must listen and one to help you rise up and conquer your own situation.
When things happen to us, we have a decision to make: are we the victim or the hero of our story? We get to decide that for ourselves.
When you feel like you have had a setback in your life, realize that this setback is setting you up for a comeback. When we change our thinking we can change the outcome.
Thank you, Maja, for spending time with us, telling your story and being a positive light in this world. Your ability to see the positive and let go of the past is remarkable and a beacon of hope for all who hear your story. May you continue to find peace and healing everyday.
During Your Bounce Back?###### Me in my very bouncy running blade
April is Limb Loss/Limb Difference Month and I am excited to share with you several guest speakers throughout the month and into May, however, we had a major setback yesterday and will have to reschedule them for another week.
Turning my setback into a setup, I spent most of last night frustrated and upset that my plans, well-thought out but still botched, coming up with what I feel is a super start to this special month.
Our support groups, people, family, friends, and companion animals!
Yep, let’s turn the tables and give thanks to those who were by our side, through thick and thin, through the good times, and the bad. Those that helped us laugh when we wanted to cry and held our hands when we were afraid.
Who was there to support you?
Who stood on the sidelines and cheered you on?
Who protected you?
Who visited when you felt alone?
These are the people (and maybe animals) who deserve our utmost gratitude and love. They saw us at our worst and lifted us up so we could shine.
Today I am grateful for the medical staff who helped me through, for my family back home, for the friends who checked in on me and brought my family dinners, and to my husband and 2 boys who were my biggest fans, strongest supporters, carrying me through hard times and bad news, to making me laugh until I cried. I wouldn’t be where I am today without all of you! I am forever grateful for every note, call, meal, smile, appointment, taxi service, adjustment, joke, and hug you all supplied me with to get me through.
YOU are my heroes!
My hubby, high school sweetheart, and biggest supporter. I love you!
Best kids in the world and always there for a hug!
My family! 5 siblings (I’m the youngest😏), with our dad
My PTs who helped prep me for amputation(plus 4 years of PT prior to it, trying to save my leg!) They are family.
My best bud and Phoenix Rock n Roll Marathon challenger, Mary Wylie
Post amputation PTs and those who didn’t laugh when I’d come in and say, “So, I’d like to try…”
And thanks for helping me get ready to surf!
PT Dan and owner of Touchstone Rehabilitation. He helped me get my gait down so I’d stop bruising my femur!
The guys who make the magic happen! Making sure I’m set up for success with ideal fitting sockets to awesome paint jobs!
PA Mary representing the surgeon’s office on my 10K a year after my amputation
Special nurses who got me through the amputation- Day 1 of my new life
And there are so many more family and friends who were there for me. Thank you, thank you all, from the bottom of my heart!
This week, use the next 7 days until pour next episode to reach out and give a heartfelt thank you to those who have been there for YOU! Trust me, you will make their day and your bucket will be overflowing knowing that you made a difference in their lives as well.
Everyone wants to be appreciated for the moments they helped out someone they care about.
When we show that sort of appreciate, after the fact, shows them that we saw them and their kindness.
Now who couldn’t use a little more of that in their life?
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Me and my support girl😍
We all have roadblocks and circumstances that come out of nowhere and try to derail our lives.
These moments, or set backs, can do one of two things to us:
They can disable us, or they can challenge us to grow.
Set backs can become set ups for the next big thing in your life!
Are you feeling stuck, frustrated, alone, or defeated? Today I am excited for you all to join in my interview with Coach Dar, a world renowned mental skills coach for many professional athletes and Fortune 100 companies, helping them to awaken greatness within and change their perspective so they can get out of their own way.
Coach Dar has also just published her first book titled, “The Art of Bouncing Back”, a great metaphor for life, right?
She speaks from a place of experience as she delves into the setbacks she’s had in her own life. These “moments” could have easily destroyed the person she is, but instead they have set her up and placed her where she was meant to be, helping thousands of people, of all walks of life, achieve greatness despite their situations. Through the tools she speaks of in her book and with us today, you too can unleash greatness and live your best life.
It’s time for you to Bounce Back!
Coach Dar and yours truly
If you are struggling right now, wondering if you’ll ever be able to bounce back, Coach Dar and I talk about the basic things you need to start doing right NOW, to change your mindset, and gain mental fortitude so you can move forward, and become a stronger you!
Get started today, change your thinking, practice positive affirmations, and watch yourself become the best version of you, living the life you want to live.
Thank you, Dar, for being a guest on my show. It was a real pleasure, and I am grateful to you for sharing your own personal journey so others can learn from you.
You can get Coach Dar’s book, here, or wherever books are sold.
I hope you all have an amazing week, and as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
My bouncy running blade
You can do it! It’s time to bounce back!April is Limb Loss/Limb Difference Awareness month and I have a packed line up of some incredible people for you to hear from, feel motivated by, and relate to!!Next week I am starting off this amazing event with someone who has just published her first book, who hasn’t lost a limb but was dealt a rough hand, which has led her to rise up and carve out an amazing life for herself, helping other people reach their full potential.Coach Dar, who has worked with many professional athletes, the corporate world, and now is even speaking with youth who have experienced Limb Loss just published “The Art of Bouncing Back”!Bouncing back is April’s theme on my podcast, because we’ve ALL been some place that we’ve had to make the decision to give up or bounce back, right?Join me next week to hear Coach Dar’s amazing story and some tips and techniques from her on how we can all rise up to our full potential no matter our circumstance.Don’t miss this event and April’s line up!!Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!!Rise up, Warriors, rise up!Grab your copy of Coach Dar’s new book, “The Art of Bouncing Back”, read it, take notes, and then tune in next week to hear from Coach Dar, herself.You’ll be glad you did!Until next week and as always,Be Healthy,Be Happy,Be YOU!!!Much love,Angie
Your Mind is Your Only LimitYour Mind is Your Only LimitToday I’m getting ready to ski.I’m an above knee amputee and won’t let that stop me.I decided to amputate so I could get back to skiing with my family.It was a choice, it was my fate, and I am embracing it.You can decide what kind of life you have, no matter your circumstances. You can roll over and succumb to it or you can rise up and live the best life possible.This is a mind game. And, yes, a physical one, too. Just make sure you know the difference.If you want to get active but feel held back because of your circumstance or because you are an amputee, I am telling you that you can achieve your dreams. Know your body’s limits and reach for them. Don’t allow others to make you feel incapable or tell you that you “can’t “, don’t even let “can’t” be a part of your vocabulary.You are more than capable of becoming the best version of yourself, your mind is your only limit.Mental toughness, mental fortitude, must be exercised and strengthened.Believe in yourself, set goals, make sure you know what is good for you-don’t push past a doctor’s warnings, and know your body.No excuses!As always,Be Healthy.Be Happy,Be YOU!!!!Much love,Angie
The Leg is Fake
“Humor can alter any situation and help us cope at the very instant we are laughing.”
-Allen Klein
If I didn’t laugh I would cry… Oh wait, I did cry!
Yep, it was that kind of week for me. It happens, and I wanted you to hear what it’s like for me when I fall on hard times, because it does happen.
I began doing some treadmill work last week and believe I hit a nerve in my residual limb, making it angry. Then 2 days later I pinched a nerve in my back and off we went! Serious pain shooting down my legs, creating massive phantom pains in my residual limb and beyond.
To top this fun adventure off I was also having to fast all day Sunday and then most of Monday for a health exam that I wasn’t excited about. Between nerve pain, pinched nerve, fasting, and anxiety about an appointment, it was the perfect storm and an epic test of my mental fortitude.
As I sat around hurting beyond belief, I was thinking of all the things I talk about on my podcast and how to cope with hard times. It was then that I realized that I needed to practice what I preach. I had to dig down real deep to find the strength, the pain was so intense, and I was also sleep deprived, did I mention that? I couldn’t just sit and let it get to me, and I couldn’t take it out on the ones I love and who have supported me on this journey, so I needed to practice positivity, embracing the moment for what it was, remember that it won’t last forever, and breath.
It wasn’t easy. I had to keep starting over and re-adjust my thinking. I failed time and time again to, mentally, get past the pain. I had to remember everything I’ve been speaking about and be honest about where I was at. …
I was in a valley!
I went from the peak of a mountain top just 7 days ago, and within a blink of an eye, I was in the depths of the valley, looking for a way out. THIS was the place I had spoken about, the place I had told you happens to each of us, and it came out of nowhere and without warning.
The positive side, you ask? There’s only one way from here, and that’s up!
I am ready, I want to be on the top of the mountain, I have a new appreciation for the joys of mountain tops and a deep desire to be there again. That is my goal! It will always be my goal.
Mountain tops and valleys
This week I want you to practice breathing to gain composure when you’re hurting.
Use a Body-Scan to assess each of your body parts, find where your pain is coming from, acknowledge it and then move on from it. If the pain draws you back to that area, revisit, acknowledge again, and move on. Do not give that area any power over your focus and time during this scan.
Finally, communicate with the people around you when you fall into that valley. Keep them informed of what you are dealing with and what you need… maybe even apologize, in advance, for not being you.
You are a warrior!
You are perfect the way you are, and strong enough to get through this.
Speak positive, and know that you are capable, loved, and enough!
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Angie
Finding Your Path Through the ChallengesDo you have a challenging road ahead?Do you struggle with fears of what’s to come and if you are strong enough to manage your circumstance?We all face challenges, every day, yet some are so huge we struggle to see past them. We may cave to fear and shrink back from the challenge that lies in front of us.Through my personal journey with 5 years of surgery, recovery and setbacks, only to be followed up with a blood clot and elected amputation I give you a snapshot into what my life has been like, the hard times, the fears, and what it looks like facing challenges head on and coming out the other side.I had 2 extremely profound experiences following amputation that gave me peace, joy, and hope that everything would be alright and that my new “normal” was going to be an epic ride!###### A horse who saw me for where I was
Feeling the mana, power, of the waves and the stoke of rising up!
Rise to challenges!If you fall, dust yourself off and rise again!When you face fears and challenges in life, the outcome can be transformational, and will help build up your character!Never give up! Continue to fight for the life you want! You can do anything, if you’re willing to give it your all.This week pick something that you find challenging in your life that you have been wanting to address, attack, and conquer. Now get after it!It doesn’t have to be a huge, enormous issue, just one thing that maybe you’ve been afraid to face or fear you might fail at. If you have been house-ridden and really want to try getting outside for fresh air and steps, start small. What is it that you ned to accomplish first? A child doesn’t learn to run before it can walk, nor can you expect to walk a mile when you haven’t been to the end of your block. Baby steps will help you chunk your bigger goal into more manageable, small goals. These baby steps may be small, but they are leading you in the right direction- FORWARD! Take your challenge head on, chip away at it, pick yourself up when you fall, and continue to make strides forward toward your goal. You’ll be glad you did!Be strong! Rise to the challenges! Press through fear and watch your life become a masterpiece!#abovekneeamputee #ampstrong #podcast #bawarrior360 #empowerment #challenges #riseup #mission22 #characterbuilding
A Mindfulness Journey to HealingTaking time to stop and hit the pause button.
Taking time to sit quietly and reflect.
Being present and mindful, living in the moment.
This is how a horse lives, and this is what we can do to help ourselves heal and live healthy, full, and rich lives.
Quiet, mindfulness time with my sweet girl😍
How often do you find yourself saying, “Where has the time gone?” or “If only there were more time in the day.” I find that when I am multitasking and moving from one thing to the next, what I’m really doing is cheating myself out of truly living and appreciating the moments.
Today, as I laid down in the corral with my horse, watching her eat, watching her ears move to the sounds around her that distracted her, enjoying her playing with me as I trusted her while I was on the ground and she towered above me, I noticed how much I just enjoyed the moment. I had nothing on my agenda, no place to be, and nothing that “had to get done” and so I sat quietly. I observed and watched her movements. I studied her and the world she lives in. The sky was overcast, the birds were soaring overhead, the horses in neighboring properties were mulling around. My girl was attentive but relaxed, as was I.
She was being a stinker here and grabbing my hat!
After she circled around me a few times, she pawed the ground and then laid down, right next to me. These are the moments I live for. She realizes she can trust me, and that I am not distracted with anything; it’s just me and her, nothing else mattered. I placed her hand on her nose and I stroked it gently as her eyes closed in complete peace. Her breathing got deep and loud, and then she laid back, across the ground. As she laid there, I began to read from a book I brought into the corral. It was then that I realized how mindful I was living in that moment. Loving the feel of the cool breeze, and then the intensity of the sun as it broke through the clouds. I was attuned to the things happening around us so I knew how she might react…the last thing I needed was a 1200 lb. horse jumping up and crushing me out of fear. I have learned to live in the moment so that I could connect with my girl.
This time got me thinking about how we heal, and what is missing in most of our lives. we are so caught up in the busyness of our lives that we are forgetting to enjoy the journey.
Is this you, too? Do you want to find a peace inside, a healing that helps you overcome and move forward from your circumstances? It’s time to start living mindfully. You don’t need a horse to do this, just the patience and conviction to create a new, positive habit.
This week I want you to find time to live in the moment, breathe deeply, let the past dissolve away, and don’t worry about the future.
Be present, be mindful of what you are doing. Make each task you do full and give each one your complete attention. If you are washing the dishes, pay attentio9n to the feel of the water, the temperature, and the feel of the soap on your hands.
Make time to stop and slow down and really experience the world. Find a quiet place and spend 10-15 minutes with no phone, no music or TV on, no distractions, just you and the world around you. Remember to spend time on your breathing and clear your mind of “to-do’s”. Take time for you so you can begin to heal what ails you. You may be surprised how this will affect you and how you will crave this quiet time the more you do it.
You deserve this.
And as always, until next week,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie (and Sakari🐎)
Boop!
Picking a Prosthetist You Can Grow Old With…It’s YOUR Choice!Today’s topic is one of those decisions we must all make if we decide to, or get thrusted into, becoming an amputee. We know that it won’t grow back, and we know our bodies change as we get older, so it only makes sense to find a prosthetist that you can rely on, trust, and connect with, after all, he (or she) will be your go to for all things prosthetic in your future.
Have you/Are you “interviewing” several different prosthetists and prosthetic companies? That’s a must!
Do you feel heard? You should!
Have you explained what you envision doing in your future to give them a better understanding of who you are and where you want to be (goal setting, see previous episodes!)? You must, if they are to help you to the best of their ability.
If you have a current prosthetist but are struggling with your fit, have you explained it to them and do you feel they are working with you to solve the problem or are they brushing it aside or, even worse, telling you it’s you, and you just have to deal with it (YES! I have actually had someone reach out to me and tell me that their prosthetist told them that!!!)?
Teamwork makes MY dream work!
Adjustments, adjustments, adjustments! Constantly making improvements.
Randy made me a surf leg so I could go live out my dream!! Now THAT is a prosthetist who listens and cares!
Getting every angle just right, but he said he’d come along to Hawai’i to help… just in case! 😉
The big question I see being asked out in the amputee community is about prosthetists. How do I know I’m getting a good one? Is ______________ a bad company to use? I don’t know if my prosthetist is good, what should I do? And the list goes on and on.
I would start by telling you, TRUST YOUR GUT! and Interview, interview, interview! Even if you are in a “relationship” with a prosthetist now, remember this is YOUR life! YOU know what you want. YOU know what goals you have for yourself. YOU know your body better than anyone else.
I’ll say it again. TRUST YOUR GUT!
You are trying to get back to a good life, no wait, a GREAT life! And you can, I’m telling you that you can, with the right support, and right tools. Just like when you are looking for a doctor to diagnose you and check your health, you know when it feels right. It’s no different here. Don’t settle for anything less than the best. And who works for you might not work for someone else, and vice versa! Don’t listen to other, make up your own mind. Go and interview them and use the advice you heard to make an educated decision.
Life can be great again! Becoming an amputee isn’t the end of life as you know it, it’s the beginning of a life you’ve never dreamed of!
Chase after it with all you’ve got. Put in the leg work (pun intended) and watch it pay off for you!!
Remember, you are worth it!
Simple:
This week make a list of prosthetist in your vicinity, or areas you don’t mind traveling to (remember that the first 2-3 years you will be there a LOT!).
Call them and make an appointment to meet with them and ask questions. Even ask to talk with other amputees-most of them have a peer-to-peer program that see this prosthetist, they’ll be a great resource on how they feel about their relationship with the prosthetist.
Even if you are already in a relationship with a prosthetist, you can do the step above. If you are unhappy with the service you are receiving then look elsewhere to see what’s happening at another office and company. Maybe the grass is greenier….and nmaybe it’s not.
This is your life. You must take charge and get what you need tolive your best life, now! I believe in you! No go out, and find the prosthetist of your dreams!😉
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Walking a Mile in My LegYou never really know what people are going through, and the idea of “walking a mile in someone else’s shoes” is how we best “try” to understand and empathize or learn from their journey.
Join me today as I walk you through a typical day of being an amputee (pun intended), from what my mornings look like to midnight runs to the bathroom and everything in between.Some days are easier to deal with but there are days that can really test my perseverance and fortitude.Staying focused on the positives and finding ways to distract myself when times get tough can be a challenge, but I take you through how I run my days, and how routine can help me get through days I’m just not feeling it.I also talk about items that help me make complicated tasks easier to complete and how to travel with just carry-on baggage despite all that I need for travel.Walk in my leg for a day and experience being an amputee through my eyes.This week just find the positive on what you are dealing with. Find the silver lining and enjoy it! Remember there is always something positive, or good, in your life. When you realize what you have you will be better able to handle the days when times get tough and push you to your limits…. and NEVER give up!Have a blessed week, and until next time, as always,Be Healthy,Be Happy,Be YOU!!!Much love,Angie
Just Be YOU!!If you are like so many people, you spend time looking at social media. It’s where we turn to for updates on old friends and what’s happening in the world, it can bring us closer together…or make us feel insignificant.From IG posts, to Facebook groups, to Tweets. The problem comes when we start seeing things and situations that we wished we had or were in. We see others having fun, going on luxurious vacations, living great and happy lives, and accomplishing huge feats. What you don’t see is all the times they struggle, deal with depression, hate themselves, have regret or guilt, don’t have the money to get basic needs met, etc, etc.No one wants to show the negative side of life, or the struggles they are going through.But we all struggle. We all find ourselves in a place where we haven’t met our goal or fail miserably at reaching one. If you don’t keep that in the forefront of your mind as you look out at the world, you’ll find yourself hating yourself or feeling worthless. And that never helps anybody.It’s time to be YOU!It’s time to love yourself and appreciate how far you’ve come.Don’t compare yourself to anyone other than the YOU of yesterday.###### Karate days- Pre amputation
This week it may be a good idea, if you are struggling with loving yourself, not feeling good about yourself and where you’re at in life, or in the “comparison game”, to step away from social media. At least until you can start to see the good in you.This week I want you to think about what makes you happy, or brings you joy. Also, where do you want to be physically and emotionally, next week, next month, even by next year? Make a list of the things you want to accomplish because YOU want it and that makes you happy.Now STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS! The only person that matters is you. You know how far you’ve come and how far you want to go. You know what obstacles tried to stop you and may still be in front of you.Your life is YOUR journey and will look nothing like anyone else’s, so why would you compare what someone else is doing, accomplishing, etc., when you have your own life to live and your own struggles and limitations to deal with?
You do you!
Be happy with who you are because you are special and there is NO ONE else like you in the entire world!
Now go get after it!
Compete only with yourself to be better than you were the day before.
I believe in you!
Have an amazing week and until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
An Everyday Love Story Filled With HealingHave you ever been around someone who just made you feel so comfortable and you were able to be your true self?
What about someone who makes you uneasy and on edge?
We each carry ourselves differently based on who we are AND how we are on any particular day.
What I found out about myself on this given day was astonishing! How I thought I was handling my amputation and what I was actually carrying inside of me were two different things and it took a horse to show me that.
My husband and I went to Miraval Resort in Tucson a few years ago and I signed us up for an equine meditation class. I had no idea what it was going to be like, but I knew it had to do with horses and I was all in.
What I hadn’t bargained for was what this hour long class would teach me about myself and how that would change my life forever!
Today I will tell you of the story that created, in me, a deeper love of horses, an understanding of my own personal struggles, and how I am healed and all the better for this moment in time.
Equine therapy is near and dear to me. I am working on how to bring this to the people in my life and helping others heal from the inside out so they can realize their full potential regardless of their circumstance.
Today I took my visiting father out to find the wild horses of Salt River, and what we found was a greater thrill than I could have ever imagined! Check out my photos of this magical day, below.
As we stood there enjoying the grazing of these beautiful creatures and the amazing sunshine and mountains that surrounded us, I wasn’t thinking about my leg, or phantom pains, or the fit of my socket. Reconnecting with nature and being surrounded by such beauty was just what the doctor ordered. My mind was somewhere else. My heart was open to possibility, and my healing grew deeper as I allowed this moment to wash over me.
Are you struggling with healing? Are you holding onto the past and refusing to let go, or unwilling to forgive the one who hurt you?
This week be open to something new. Check out equine therapy in your neighborhood or location.
You might be surprised to find someplace close to you that supplies this type of therapy.
If not, reach out to me and let’s talk. I can send you in the right direction, and if you’re live in the Phoenix area I may be able to work with you.
Find ways to heal yourself from the inside out. This can bring about more positive outcomes and greater change to your life.
Reconnect with nature. Breath in fresh air and take notice of the animals, trees and plants around you.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
The face of healing!
You are Special and Deserve It!What do you do when you’re struggling? Maybe you are like me and lost a limb. Maybe you have a plethora of other medical issues and have been wheelchair bound. Or maybe you just can’t get out of your own way and headspace.Is this you?I know you want more from life.You may have even questioned, “Is this all there is for me?”Don’t give up!Dream!Chase answers!Seek help!I struggled for 5 years and went through 10 surgeries, only to be left with a leg that only had 20° range of motion and wouldn’t straighten. I could barely move around my home, let alone ski with my family, hike, take the dogs for a walk, or ride a bike. All dreams that I knew were fading away! Talk about depressing and defeating.A blood clot was my wake up call and the metaphorical nail. I talked, researched, visited doctors, asked opinions, even spoke with other amputees to make up my mind.Dare to dream!Don’t give up!Join me today to hear how this journey is going and at the end of my podcast listen for my Call to Action for YOU! Let’s do this together!!Make a list of the dreams you have. List everything that you would love to do, see, experience, try.Dream big! Don’t be afraid. Spend some quiet time thinking and dreaming. Write them all down.Now place them in an order that builds upon each other. Maybe some are more accomplishable now and work to build upon the next and so on.Finally, ask yourself what you need to do to accomplish goal 1, goal 2, etc. Pursue those goals by working through what’s stopping you. I understand that some may seem really far off based on medical situations. If your goal is to run a 10K and you’re in a new socket then plan to start small. Maybe it’s getting it on and wearing it around your house for a few hours, then for the day around your house. Work toward walking all day in it, out and about. Then work toward walking to the mailbox every day. The next thing you know you’ll be out walking a mile, then 2.Take your big dreams and break them into small goals to achieve them. Only you know what it will take to get yourself there. For me it was scheduling my amputation, then dealing with that loss, then healing and getting a prosthetic. Finally I registered to run a 10K a year out and worked on strengthening and learning to walk again. Baby steps. I may not have run the whole race but I DID finish!! Then I moved on to my next goal. I had them all mapped out in my head and on my vision board in my bedroom (see the podcast on making a vision board back in season 1) I highly suggest a vision board to help you visualize your dreams and goals!!Spend the next 7 days dreaming and writing them down.If you need to talk through your plan please feel free to reach out to me on IG; @BAWarrior360 or Facebook: BAWarrior360I’d be happy to help in any way I can.Until next week and as always:Be Healthy,Be Happy,Be YOU!!You are a Warrior!Much love,Angie
New Year, New Season: Welcome to Season 3!Wow! It’s 2023 and we are on to season 3 for Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior! Welcome back, and a special welcome to first timers! I hope you take a listen to some of my old episodes and find some help or comfort in my words on the journey you are on.I am an above knee amputee trying my best to empower others to live their best lives, despite their circumstances. This means I speak of my life and the reality of becoming an amputee and living day to day, the good, the bad and the ugly of it. I am transparent with my journey as it is NOT all roses. I am hoping by speaking the truth of my journey you won’t feel alone in your struggles and circumstances, and you can see that despite the hard times, you can still live a good, full, and happy life. So come join me on this journey called life. Subscribe to my podcast, website, and YouTube channel. Don’t forget to like and share as you explore my sites. I appreciate you!So where have I been? For those of you who have listened in and followed me you may have noticed my lack of podcasts in December.I spent the past 4 weeks being fully present with my family, traveling, skiing and staying away from social media, but it’s good to be back! I have missed this. Several weeks ago, our family went skiing and as much as I love skiing, it truly pushes me WAY out of my comfort zone, now as an amputee, and into a fearful, anxiety ridden state of mind. I’m not sure why it’s like that but it is. I decided that I can choose to cave to fear or face it.This episode is dedicated to facing fears. We all have them, we all have to decide how to handle them, so why not discuss this as we begin a new year that is filled with uncertainties, struggles, and new fears that will inevitably arise in the next 365 days.I don’t want you to stress about the future, as today is all you need to deal with, but you should be prepared for the ups and downs.Sometimes you’ll be prepared, and yet other times you’ll feel like you got sucker punched by a situation. How will you handle it? Will you face the storm or shy away? Will you rise up or cower? You can’t totally prepare for unknown situation or problem, but you can start positive habits and behaviors now so when hard times arise you are stronger and positive enough to handle them.It’s time to strengthen your self-esteem and resolve. Prepare for the battles ahead, dear Warriors. You can do this, I know you can!!Until next week and as always:Be Healthy,Be Happy,Be YOU!!!!Much love,Angie
It’s that time of year again. Everyone is out shopping and preparing for the holidays season of giving. If you’re like me, you can sometimes struggle with what to give some people in your life, and worse, not sure what others can get for you, especially if you are struggling with mobility, pain, or lack of strength.
I decided to let you in on my all-time FAVORITE gifts that I have received, since my amputation, that have helped me get stronger, shed weight, become active (even on days when my leg hurt too much to walk), and get mobile.
There is no reason you can’t get out and live your life, with the right equipment. Please, just make sure that you wear protection for your head and body. I don’t want anyone getting hurt. I wear my helmet, and depending on the activity, wrist, elbow and knee guards, too!
Scooter, with OUT brakes, not recommended!
Street paddleboard
I suggest starting in kneeling position. I started standing up and slipped and fell. Tore my AC joint!
IndoBoard, now I use it barefoot and don’t need to hold onto a door. Baby steps to improve.
Maglock Bike Pedals and shoes
Me and my surfboard. Strengthening without any strain on my residual limb! Great workout!!
Whether you need a gift for someone who is struggling to become mobile, or you need a fun gift for yourself these should get you started on a path of fun and healthier living.
Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love, Angie
Serve and Be Served
What we put out into the world is what we get back. Have you ever noticed people who seem to have it all together, are happy, productive, and have good things happen to them? …have you ever REALLY looked at them? Ever notice their attitude?
Even though no one goes without troubles and hard knocks, in life, these people keep their chin up, hunker down and weather the storms because of how they perceive their life and circumstances.
They are warriors!
YOU are that warrior, too, whether you believe it or not. We all have the capability to conquer and rise when times get hard.
How do you change that perspective and give yourself one of positivity and gratitude?
SERVE OTHERS!
There’s nothing more powerful than to give of yourself, even when you are struggling. And when you serve others, you, too, will get the benefits. You’ll feel productive, happy, thankful, and you may even forget your own woes in all of this.
Give it a try! Serve someone this week. Call a lonely neighbor or friend, send a gift card to someone in need, smile at the cashier at the grocery store, serve at a food bank/soup kitchen.
When you serve others, it’ll also serve you. Your circumstances won’t necessarily change but your attitude definitely will.
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love, Angie
Living Life With Gratitude
Life is hard. You can choose to lay down and have it destroy you or you can reframe your thinking and how you view your circumstance by finding things and people in your life for which you can be grateful.
It’s that time of year when we hear people say they are thankful for their life, we see trinkets in our homes that say, “Grateful, thankful, blessed”, and Thanksgiving is right around the corner in which tell the people around d us that we are thankful for them in our lives.
Thankfulness is a hot topic in November, but what if you are struggling right now? What if you are going through a rough patch?
Well, this is the time, more than ever that you need to find those moments, things, and people in your life that make your life special, happy, or filled with joy.
By reframing how we see our circumstance we enable ourselves to be at peace through these hard times. By seeking out the silver linings in our lives we are choosing a path of gratitude and happiness amidst the struggles.
This can be life altering! And the more we practice this way of thrilling and speaking the more often we will see what we are going through as just a moment, or blip, in time. A moment that will pass and nothing more.
Remember, we all have these moments. They are chances to define our character, grow, and reinvent ourselves. Without these hard times we cannot truly appreciate the good that has been in our lives or the good that is to come.
Reframe your thinking. Reframe your circumstance. Practice mindfulness, living in the moment and appreciating the little things in your life that are truly good.
Living a life of gratefulness is a choice, and one that will not only affect your situation, but it’ll also effect the people around you.
Choose an attitude of gratitude and spread that to all those around you. You might be surprised on how your outlook on life will be uplifted, and how you bless someone else with your positivity will come back to you ten-fold.
Practicing gratitude and reframing your circumstance: * Don't be picky, appreciate everything! Be mindful, and present Keep a gratitude journal Remember the hard/bad times, they will help you cherish where you are now. Pay it forward Reflect. Spend 5, 10, 30 minutes in quiet time, thinking about all you have Reframe your bad situation by finding the silver linings, what it could be teaching you, and how you are growing stronger for the future by going through it. *Celebrate the little things
The sunshine
My family
My prosthetic that allows me my freedom
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, And as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!!
Much love, Angie
thankful #grateful #gratitude #thanksgiving #podcast #bawarrior360 #abovekneeamputee #calltoaction #attitude #reframeyourcircumstance #payitforward
To Party.. I mean, for Medical Insurance
Sorry, I had the Beastie Boys song stuck in my head. But, for real, do what they say and FIGHT for your rights!!!! They know what's up!
The Beastie Boys had it right when they sang, “You’ve got to fight, for your right to party” however I’d say you should also fight for your right to having appropriate medical coverage, and for us amputees, the right to mobility. As if becoming an amputee is an easy adjustment, mentally, emotionally or physically, we should not have to struggle with the draining process of being initially denied prosthetics and fighting another battle.
Come along with me in this podcast to hear some tips I’ve learned along the way of my own insurance fiasco, denials and all.
Find out what the best piece of advice I was given by my GP prior to my decision to amputate, how I surrounded myself with the right medical team, what I did to “assure” that my insurance plan covered my specific prosthesis and what I did when it all fell apart.
Somewhere along my personal journey I hope you find the tools to help yourself when the time comes to fight for your own medical coverage and how to handle things when they get denied.
Don’t give up! Never surrender! Be the squeaky wheel and fight for the life you deserve to live.
Fight!!! Me BEFORE my injury which led to my subsequent amputation
If you know you will need to rely on your medical insurance in the near future, like I did with an amputation, do your research, ask questions, ask more questions. Be prepared!
Don't take no for an answer-insurance companies always say no first and expect that a majority of people will just quietly go away.
Don't give up. Ask for help, if you need to, but be proactive, persistent, and strong... for your own health and happiness in the future.
As always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!!
Much love, Angie
Life is never truly easy, for anyone. Sometimes it feels like everything is going our way when out of the blue a bomb drops.
Maybe your job or family life is struggling, or maybe your health. Then you can feel overwhelmed and defeated.
But don't fret. We all go through these moments. We all have valleys we must trudge through. What I have learned through life is that the valleys don't last forever and soon you'll be on top once again.
The problem being on top is that you never know when a valley will strike again, when you get gut punched and feel the wind knocked out of you.
If you realize that this is just how life goes, the sooner you can prepare yourself to handle those moments.
Not like you will ever be totally prepared but at least not naive to the fact that it happens. If you practice positivity, and strengthening your character, you will be better prepared for those moments. They won't control you and every aspect of your life.
Our job is to learn from them, to build up our resilience and character to better handle those situations.
As an amputee I have these moments a lot. As soon as my socket feels great, I'm out being active, life is good..... BOOM!
My socket doesn't fit anymore, it's too loose, or there's a crack that's hurting my leg, leaving painful raw spots every step throughout the day. That's when I need to dig down deep, realize that this too shall pass, and I must carry on. My family depends on me to function. I have goals I want to achieve and a life I want to live... to the fullest.
If you are struggling right now, life has served up some lemons and a swift punch to your gut, don't fret. You can get through this.
We all deal with these moments, wishing they would just pass us by, but if you can see these as learning moments, to better serve you in the future then you are on the right track. Each trial we go through breaks us down to build us back up, preparing us for the next, making us stronger. But it's up to you to rise to that challenge, it's not just given to you. You won't just rise up because you sit around pouting about your circumstance. You rise up and build character if you FIGHT! You have to use those muscles to get back up, you need to speak positivity into your soul, you will struggle otherwise.
Take a look at today's Call to Action for steps to take to work on your resilience today.
This week I want you to prepare for the storm.
How you do it might be a little different from me, but a basic strategy is:
Use positive affirmations about myself. Post them somewhere or at least write them down. Look back at them when the going gets tough! This week, write down a "silver lining" about each day for the next 7 days. Even in the toughest times there is good. Sometimes we have to look long and hard, but it's there. Realizing that your world isn't ending because of something bad is half the battle. If you start looking for the positive and the good in your life then you are armoring yourself for the battles that are sure to come.
I hope this helps you get through your week, and your future. Fight the good fight, Warrior! You and your family are worth it!
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!!
Much love,
Angie
“How long did it take for you to learn to walk?” “Was it hard to learn to walk in a prosthetic?” “What helped you get use to your prosthetic?”
I get these questions on a weekly basis from curious onlookers to amputees in wheelchairs.
It took time and commitment. Some would say courage, as well, because it’s hard to learn a basic skill all over again, and the fear of falling, and failing, is so great as we get older.
This week I share the one major thing that helped me conquer using a prosthetic and walking again, with confidence.
GOALS: Commit My 1st in person race as an amputee, just one year after amputation!
Focus and determination
Now it's your turn! Find a virtual race you can push yourself, at your pace, and in your timeframe that works for you. Sign up and then get to work! Get excited when the mail arrives with your finishers medal, you earned it!!!
If I can do it, so can you!!
Be the warrior you are meant to be. It’s time to rise and live your best life.
Commit- Be Consistent, Build your confidence!
As always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!!
Much love, Angie
And don't forget! TODAY is the final day to join the #14daysofmagic challenge Go to www.magicmind.co to order your own pack of Magic Mind TODAY!!! Use my discount code: BEYOU14 to get a discount on your order. And remember to post yourself being productive while you're using Magic Mind for your chance to win a 1-3 month subscription of Magic Mind!!
What inspires you? Who inspires you? Did you know that you, too, are an inspiration? Yep, you are!
Each of us has the ability to impact another person’s life and outlook just by the way we carry ourselves, how we behave, speak, and interact with the people around us. A simple smile could give someone just the boost they need when they are struggling. Having grace and forgiveness may give another person in our lives the peace they are looking for when everything around seems to be falling apart.
We can be that for someone. The reality is, people are watching, and people are looking for someone to inspire them. Even when you aren’t at your best, or you are struggling, you have the ability to brighten someone’s day and give them a hope that they need to rise up.
If you’re like me, an amputee, or someone who is struggling to push through physical adversity, then you have an opportunity every single day to show the world that anything is possible.
First time waterskiing as an amputee...anything is possible!
Skiing again, as an amputee....anything is possible!
First time, EVER, surfing...anything is possible!!
Even if what you do is commonplace for you now, like me walking with my prosthetic, there are people who have never seen an amputee who are amazed by this. Smile! Show the world that you aren’t going down without a fight and that you are more than your circumstance, because you are!
Be an inspiration, you never know who is watching.
Never, ever forget, that you are an inspiration to someone! Now go out and INSPIRE!!!!!
As always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!!
Much love, Angie
Some people might tell you it’s impolite to ask amputees questions, or rude to allow your kiddos to stare or question why an amputee is the way they are but I will tell you that I love sharing my story and informing people about “life as an amputee”. If we can inform, then we are educating. When people are educated about something they can have compassion, sympathy/empathy, and be better able to help in ways they never could if they didn’t understand.
I know not all amputees feel the same way I do, and that’s ok. We all have our journey to travel and for some it’s been tragic and hard to cope with the circumstance.
Life of an amputee. Getting the right fit. The never-ending battle!
I’d tell you, don’t be afraid to politely ask those who invite you in with eye contact and a smile. For some amputees healing takes place the more they talk about it. For others, it’s just too hard to relive. Read the person, be polite in your approach. Not all amputees are dealing well with being an amputee and talking to strangers feels like an invasion of a private, mentally exhausting battle that rages within.
On the whole, though, I believe most people who you’d see out an about as amputees are more than willing to share.
Also, if your child points and stares it’s ok, they are curious and innocent. They shouldn’t be afraid to ask, and I will usually smile and ask if they think I look like a robot or superhero. Some even like to touch my prosthetic, and I oblige. Start them young on showing care and curiosity, allow them a chance to understand and sympathize with someone else’s plight. They'll be better off for that and that may lead them into becoming future inventors of better prosthesis or interested in becoming a prosthetist.
Don’t be afraid to ask, you never know what you might learn and how you could help someone by allowing them to open up.
For those of you who:
May have an amputation in the future, May know someone who is going through amputation, or *Are just curious,
If you see someone who is an amputee, don't be afraid to ask questions. You may be surprised at their attitude on sharing. I'd say more of us don't mind answering curious, polite questions about being an amputee. Just remember to be polite and not aggressive. For some people, their circumstance can be a very horrific memory, be kind and show compassion for what they might have gone through.
Reach out to other amputees, if you are on the verge of going through it yourself, talk to prosthetists, and also see if they have people willing to do peer to peer meetups so you can get comfortable with your impending situation.
Questions lead to understanding and bridge the gap for us amputees, to being more mainstream and "normal" in society. There is so much we can do now that technology has advanced so much. Educate yourself, be kind, and go ahead and ask.
As always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!
Much love, Angie
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Forgiveness and Grace
No one knows what our future holds, and for sure, I never expected to become an amputee, but here I am. And quite frankly I am a better person for it, have met amazing people through it, and grown in ways I never would have if I never went through it.
I found acceptance of my circumstance BEFORE going under the knife, and that has helped me embrace, love, and move forward as an amputee, even through neurological pains, physical healing, and never-ending phantom sensations. Not everyone gets that chance though, and I get that. Some of you went through horrific accidents, war, and illnesses like cancer or diabetes. Some of you have anger at the person or circumstances that surround you, and put you where you are today. That is understandable, but are you holding onto that anger, bitterness and resentment? If so, you are also not allowing yourself to truly heal and move on...and there is so much more out there for you. A better life, and happier place to be, healing!
Don't let anger destroy what could be a beautiful life
I know that I can't speak to your situation, but I've had smaller issues in my life, times when people have wronged me, and I couldn't let it go. I held on to the anger, the frustration, and couldn't stop grumbling about how rude and wrong the other person was. I have had to let that go, walk away, both physically and mentally from that person and that wrongdoing, for the sake of my happiness and my family. It's not easy, and still, to this day, I can still allow myself to go back there and remember how angry I was. But what does that accomplish? NOTHING!! It just wastes my time and energy, that's all.
Forgiveness is hard, and it takes practice. You can feel like you are over it one day, and the next day be just as angry. Allow yourself time to heal and practice forgiveness. Just don't give up, it is well worth the time and energy to forgive someone or your situation in the long run. You will find your happiness return, and an ability to live a more peaceful, centered, and happy life. When you do heal from that situation you will find that you can then begin to heal on the outside as well, and move forward in life, instead of being stuck in the past, and in anger and resentment.
Once you have decided to move forward and let go of the past, then you can truly heal. You may find that the pains you are physically or neurologically experiencing will lessen or even dissipate over time, or at least become manageable.
Trust me when I say that forgiveness and letting go of negativity is the cornerstone to feeling better and getting your life back on track. What have you got to lose? At worst, you'll stop being overcome by anger and hate, at best you can heal and start living your life again, truly living your life again, not just surviving.
Are you just surviving? It's time to start living and healing! Don't waste another moment on those negative things. Bring closure and forgiveness into your life so you can begin to heal, from the inside out!
This week's call to action will be hard for some of you. It will definitely take more than a week, but today is a stepping stone in the right direction for your well-being and happiness.
Today you begin to forgive the person, circumstance, or yourself for where you are right now. I know it's hard, but if you are listening to my podcast then I believe you want to live a better life...and this is the first step in doing that. You cannot expect to find happiness and peace amidst anger and resentment. Let it go!
Find a mantra to repeat whenever you feel the anger taking over. Even a simple: " I forgive you" that you can repeat out loud or to yourself, everytime your mind goes back to that negative space.
Don't stop! Keep repeating until you live it! Remember, our brains are powerful and will believe whatever you feed them. If you speak positive, then your brain will follow your lead. Keep at it.
If we could only see the damage within ourselves from past experiences, like we can see the physical damage done from surgery, we would understand the importance of healing within ourselves. If you are hurting, feeling discouraged, broken, sad, anxious, angry, then you really need to focus on your inner YOU before you can heal and build up your physical YOU.
When we feel great, happy, content, or relaxed we tend to have energy and then that energy is used to move us, heal our bodies, and become more physically active. Ironically, when we do start moving our bodies not only is that good for our physical being, but it, in turn, lifts our spirits and helps with our emotional and mental state as well.
So what comes first? It's like the chicken or egg scenario. If you are emotionally defeated, it's hard to motivate yourself to do something good for yourself. Yet, if you could just push past that, the endorphins that your body releases when you become active can boost your spirits.
After all I have been through since 2013, when I couldn't be active, left me feeling miserable at times. It actually took its toll on my body as I had gained 55 pounds through 5 years of knee surgeries. It was actually after I had my amputation that I was once again able to move, and rose up to once again, define who I was and live a better life. It was hard, I stumbled and fell often both physically and metaphorically, but I kept pushing myself, and the boundaries, until I began to soar.
The first picture, on top, was me right after my amputation in 2018. The 2nd picture is from 2 weeks ago.
I began doing things I thought I may never do again, I attempted new sports and activities, and found a pure joy that no one could take away from me. I healed myself from the inside out and accepted my new situation, and moved on from there, challenging myself to anything and everything I could think of as an amputee. I became so active that the extra weight dropped off and now I am more fit then I was, even in high school!
You can achieve this, if you want it. It takes commitment and perseverance. You must set goals and follow through, but it can be done.
Don't count yourself out just yet. I believe in you!
It's simple this week:
Write down all the emotions and feelings you are having that eat away at you. All the negative thoughts and feelings you have about yourself, where you are at in your life, your medical situation.
Now destroy that list! Burn it! Tear it to shreds! Crumple it up and throw it in the trash!
It's time to move onward and upward. Today you learn to forgive, have grace, and think positive thoughts.
It's never too late to start a new path, take a road less traveled, and to adjust your life.
Don't put it off anymore, you deserve the best from yourself.
I believe in you! Let's do this!
Best wishes on your new beginning!
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Making Your Dreams Become Reality
If you can dream it, you can do it.
We've all heard that saying before and maybe even been told that by someone trying to cheer you on. It's true, to an extent. Dreams become reality when we have the vision to imagine them, and the mental and physical strength to follow through to accomplish them. Dreams aren't easy to accomplish, but they are attainable with the right tools to get you from point A to point B.
Once I knew I was going to amputate my leg I knew I needed to set my sights on goals and dreams that would help me heal and live my life. I created a vision board that my PT suggested so I had inspiration every day to accomplish my goals, and my "whys" for setting them.
My Vision Board
This is an example of my vision board that I looked at every day for months prior to my amputation. I was feeding my brain positive signals about the plans I had for my body after the trauma. What we tell ourselves fuels our brain to follow suit. Mindset is based on positive thoughts, positive talk, and mental strength. If you feed your mind negativity, you won't see anything but negative. If you feed your mind positive messages and possibilities for success, you'll find success knocking at your door.
I don't know about you but I want to live a full, healthy, happy and fulfilling life. If you're not living that kind of life right now, ask yourself, "What's holding me back?" I bet it's negativity, excuses, and lack of planning.
You can do this! You need to dare to dream. DREAM BIG!!! don't shortchange yourself or your life. You want something? You want to achieve a goal? Go after it!
It's time to create your own vision board. Take a look at mine above, google search Vision Boards and see other examples. Then set out to create your very own. Dare to dream. Dream big and don't limit yourself. Put it all on the table, no matter how big or small the dream. Add quotes that motivate you. Add pictures of you getting back to your activity that you once did, or pictures of an activity you want to try. Throw on some pictures of your "whys" as I have found that doing it for myself is good but accomplishing something for a bigger picture is even better. My example was skiing. I wanted to ski again for my boys and husband. My husband and I always talked about skiing after he retired and I wasn't going to let losing my leg get in the way of our youthful dreams.
Once you've created your board, place it somewhere you will see every morning and every evening to keep you motivated!
You've got this! I know you can do it. Believe in yourself.
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Positive Mental Attitude for a Better Life
Join me today on the road in Las Vegas as I discuss how our attitude can make or break our day to day lives and ultimately leads to our feelings of success or failure.
This past week I met someone who was struggling with their quality of life and wanting more. We discussed PMA and I talked about how goal setting and how surrounding myself with good people, who wish to see me succeed, has been key to the successes I have reached since becoming an amputee. I truly believe that whatever thoughts and words we feed our minds we achieve. If I say I’m afraid I’ll fail, then I probably will, but if I speak positively, I find I succeed at what I set out to do.
Set yourself up for success. Be kind to yourself and make the decision to have PMA! You’ll be glad you did!
Start today! Write the letters P-M-A on a post-it note and place it where you will see it every morning and every evening. This will help you remember that your positive mindset is so important to your happiness, your health, and your goals. Set goals. Make them challenging but realistic. What is it that you want to get back to doing or try for the first time, and have either been told "You can't do that" or told yourself you can't? Time to change that thinking. *Speak positive words into your mind. You are more capable than you think. Will it be easy? Probably not. You may need to modify how you get to your goal, and what your goal is, but start small with baby steps and work your way to getting where you want to go and I promise, you will feel so good about yourself when you achieve it.
Get after it! You are worth it!
And as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!!
Much love, Angie
Extreme Nerve Pain aka Phantom Pain
Oh, it's real alright!! I experienced 3 days and nights of non-stop STABBING pain.
It's MASSIVE pain, no way to control it, mentally exhausting and disabling pain like no other! It attacks when you least expect it and can make itself at home for days, or weeks on end. I am not talking about what I feel everyday-yes, I said "everyday". Everyday, I feel my missing foot. I feel pins and needles all day long and into the night, until my body shuts down and I fall asleep. The pain I felt THIS week, for several days, was 100x worse, relentless, and brought my to my knees and into tears- which doesn't happen often. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. And the unknown of how long it will last is just as bad as the pain itself. Listen in as I talk about my recent journey through ANOTHER “episode” of shooting phantom pain; what it feels like, why I think it happened, and how to push through it!
Three things you can do to make sure you get through the struggle:
Choose to keep moving, even when it's hard, MOVE! Do what you can and stay active as much as possible. Distract! Distract! Distract!! Everything we go through flows like a river. Whenever things get hard do you look back a realize you made it through to better times? Likewise, when things are going great, then all of a sudden you are dealing with something tough, it just happens. That's life. The quicker you realize that, the easier it is to know that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. Positive self-talk. It's ok to feel defeated and frustrated when you're going through something, but it will be easier to swallow if you create a positive environment, with positive words, and an attitude that creates good feelings. It's hard, and at times I find myself beating me up inside. Don't go there, and if you do, get out of that mindset quickly.
You will have these moments, how you handle them is up to you. Strive to build a positive aura around you, stretch and flex those mental muscles and soon you'll find that you can handle it, and maybe, just maybe, come out a better, stronger, happier YOU!
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
much love,
Angie
What Happens When It's YOUR Decision??
Hi there! Remember me?😉
I'm back from a much-needed break and ready to bring you some amazing episodes! Won't you join me by subscribing to my website, podcasts, or YouTube channel??
Here we are 3 1/2 years after my ELECTED amputation and I had someone ask me, "How hard was it for you to decide to amputate? Because I'm about there, myself, and I'm scared."
The morning after my amputation
Active, healthy me, living a life I love.
Well, after 3 1/2 years of being an amputee I reflected on what it means to make the election to cut off a limb, how I navigated such unchartered territory and what demons tried to take hold of me…until I relaxed into my faith, and trusted, that’s when my whole world came together and made sense once again.
Join me on the journey of discovery what the human body can tolerate, how we can harness this power in our everyday lives and what, I believe, is the secret to success.
Please make sure you like, share, and subscribe so you don’t miss another episode!!
Thanks for listening!
As always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!
Much love, Angie
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Traveling, and Enjoying It, Despite Your Circumstance
I'm back after a much needed 3-week break. Traveling is so much fun but can be really hard when you're dealing with a "disability". I'm going to take you through my vacation, what I packed, how I adapted, and the pitfalls- because of course, there are always a few. If you're planning on traveling anytime soon or you wished you could travel but you think it'll be too hard in your circumstance listen in today and hopefully you'll feel ready to tackle that vacation sooner than you thought and with confidence!
This trip was a biggie. We were gone almost 2 weeks, stayed in 6 different places, walked miles upon miles, battled Disney goers, high humidity, and major storms. We saw towns from Civil War era, ate regional foods, visited old plantations, swam in the sea and visited another country. It was amazing, but it had it's tricky moments for me, as an amputee, and pushed me to my physical limits on a daily basis.... and I wouldn't have it any other way! I am grateful to be able to walk again, enjoy family rides at Disney and Universal, play on the beaches, and feel the complete exhaustion from a day filled with miles and miles of walking. Attitude is what allowed me to push forward and being prepared for all sorts of pitfalls gives me a better chance of enjoying my time as we traveled. 
Cruisin' the Bahamas
Beach time requires a beach leg
Savannah, Georgia
World of Golf Hall of Fame, St.Augustine, Florida
Staying the course even on the cruise
Make traveling a little bit easier by making a check list of all the items you would need for your journey. Make sure you include all the items you would need in case of an emergency. Plan for every situation you can foresee happening, and you'll be well prepared to enjoy your trip.
Once you create a complete list of items you'd need for any situation then you can print and laminate it. Place it where you can use it for each trip and use dry erase markers to check off the items as you pack them. Never leave home without your essentials again!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
What gets you moving in the morning? What lights a fire under you? What keeps you moving forward when you feel like giving up?
Our mindset and goal setting allows us to find success. They give us the direction and purpose we need to press forward and reach levels of success that might not have been possible otherwise.
I make sure that I have a clear image in my head of what the next day will look like, before I go to bed. I have a to-do list of things I need to do and another list of things I WANT to do. Make sure you mix it up otherwise you could face some burn out and then lose momentum. My dad always said I needed to work hard, then I could play hard; do things I must do and then enjoy the things I want to do.
Finding time to go to the gym is my play time, but somedays it's just hard to motivate myself to go. But I always feel good after I'm done.
You can find success each day if you know where you want to go. Like going on a trip, you plan out your travels so you get to where you want to go and so you know when you'll arrive. Same goes for being motivated. If you plan for success, you'll most often succeed. If you fail to plan then you will fail.
This week I want you to try this night time ritual;
Either in your mind or on paper think of all that you want and need to accomplish tomorrow. Understand your timeline, meaning when you will need to get up in the morning and when you'll want to go to bed, and then factor in each item you've listed. I have found that I now clump certain items together, for example, if I need to go see my prosthetist that is south 45 minutes, I also try to hit any stores down that way to be time efficient, that also feels like a victory. I also work backwards in thinking about my day. This gives me the opportunity to get up at the right time in the morning so I ultimately have the right amount of time to accomplish everything.
Now set that alarm and get some rest.
What if you wake up in a blah mood, a negative space? Now you build character by pushing forward at what you set out to do the night before. This won't be easy but I promise you it'll feel great when you accomplish what you set out to do, despite the vibe of your day.
Use music to help motivate you and keep you moving forward. And make sure you check out Fearless Motivation on Apple Music!
I wish you a week filled with smashed goals and positive vibes!
Stay motivated, my friends!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
much love,
Angie
Pity Party For 1, That Is.
Yep, it happens to us all and this past Monday I got myself into that mindset.
However, looking back now, and even that evening, I realized how lucky I am for all the good in my life. Then I had a good laugh at myself and moved on.
You could say that character building happened that day for me and I wanted to share with you what can happen in my life to show you that we all struggle. No one is exempt from struggles. No one is exempt from feeling sorry for themselves. It’s what we do with those moments that make or break us.
As an amputee we can easily fall into a “poor me" attitude and milk it for all it’s worth, mainly because our wounds are very visible to the world. But that is not a good way to live and quite frankly will only disable us further.
If we feed our brains negative images and comments then it’ll believe what we are saying and thinking. And if we fuel our brain with positivity and happy images it’ll believe that too.
What are you speaking to yourself? Are you in the middle of your own pity party of 1? If you are, only you can get yourself out of it. Start by finding things in your life you are grateful for and go from there. Once you realize all that is good in your life you will be able to step away from the moment and put your life back into perspective.
Learn from these moments. Be a warrior and conquer negativity, don’t let it consume you.
Pity parties are bound to happen, and that’s ok. It’s NOT ok to dwell there for days at a time. It won’t be good for you, your health, or the people around you.
Find what’s good, right, and what makes you happy in your life. Thinking of the people and things you are grateful for and move your negative mindset into positive.
Begin today or tonight. Each night before going to bed (or first thing when you wake) write down, in a journal, at least 5 things you are grateful for. It's as simple as that.
Sometimes we lose sight of the big picture and all that we have. When that happens we need to step back, stop looking at our life under the microscope, and realize all that is good in our life. When we can appreciate our life for what it's worth, we can handle the moments that test us, and push our buttons, a little bit better. Will that stop the pity parties? No, but you may find you are not dwelling in that headspace as much and you will also see the health benefits if you continually practice a positive way of thinking.
Give it a try for the next 7 days, until we meet again. Tell me how you feel after practicing positivity for a week, I'd love to hear how it made you feel, any benefits you saw from it, or what happened in your life that pushed you to that pity party breaking point.
Don't be ashamed that you went there. Own it and then move on. You'll be grateful you did!
And as always, Be healthy, Be happy, Be YOU!
Much love, Angie
Rising to a Challenge and Facing Your Fears
You just never know what's on the other side of fear. But I can tell you, from experience, that I have never regretted a moment that I have taken the chance and faced a fear. I feel empowered and alive! I feel like I could do anything I set my mind to, and it doesn't matter if I succeed or fail, what matters is that I try.
This past week I tried something new, as an amputee: waterskiing! I haven't been waterskiing since well before my injury, but it has been on my amputee bucket list. I was excited when the opportunity presented itself to me, but I also felt very anxious, and at one point in time thought I wouldn't go, and I could easily make an excuse why I couldn't make it.
My personality (and my pride) wouldn't allow me to make up an excuse and so I went, and you know what? Even though, I was a bit nervous, had no idea how it would all go down, who would be on my boat with me, or how it might have to be adapted for my circumstance, I tried. All in all, I had a great time and finally found my groove on the boom and got up and skied!! It was exhilarating and freeing. I felt alive and capable.
Every time I run into something I fear, once I give it a try, I am reassured that I can do anything I put my mind to. And like I said before, success or failure, the idea of trying and overcoming our fears is all that really matters. There is something so motivating about pushing our limits, real or imagined, facing fears and rising to a challenge. It's empowering, it's freeing, and makes you feel alive!
Each picture below shows me doing something that originally made me nervous or unsure of myself. Now I enjoy doing them and they make me feel whole, healthy, and bring joy to my life.
Now is the time! Your time to try. Your time to rise. Don't let fear control you or rule over your life and how you live it. Regret is an awful thing to have.
Choose something you've been curious about trying or something on your bucket list. Choose something that makes you nervous, anxious, or makes you feel fearful. Now go for it! Make sure you aren't doing something that your support system or doctors have told you not to do at this moment because of your condition, please know your medical boundaries.
Maybe start with baby steps to get to your goal of achieving something. Remember, life is a journey. It's meant to last and be enjoyed. Like my waterskiing. I got up on the boom but need to work on getting up on the long rope. Goals. It's ok to fail. Just get out there and try! Enjoy the journey and where you're at right now. Everything happens in due time.
You can do it! Believe in yourself and reach for the stars!
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
The past few weeks have been quite a ride and then just 2 days ago I realized we, as a family, were about to close another chapter in our lives.
Change happens. Life keeps moving forward, even when we are not ready, even if we don't want it to. It is inevitable.
We as humans don't really embrace change well, it takes some getting used to but, it is what helps us grow. When we are forced out of our comfort zone, a place we've become accustomed to, we can feel out of control, scared, and unsure of ourselves and our path. It can be disorienting and make us feel like we are failing.
What I have learned over the past 9 years is that within moments we feel chapters closing, and our life taking on a new direction, with acceptance and positive mindset, embrace these changes, we succeed and begin fly once again.
Don't get me wrong, it's not easy. As a matter of fact, changes that deeply affect us and make us stumble or strike fear in us, take time to grapple with before and accept. But the sooner you accept the change the sooner you'll find yourself flying once again, and you might even see how it's made you grow in certain aspects of your life.
New chapters happen often throughout our lifetime. If we could only remember that and enjoy the ride, then we can stop worrying and start really living our best life, a more deep and meaningful life, taking in the moments that we often take for granted. So often we get caught up in worry and stress, wondering what will happen next, and wondering if we can handle the curveballs life is throwing at us that we forget that life is happening, and life is about the ups and downs, the journey, the struggles, the triumphs and joys. We tend to lose sight of the big picture. New chapters open and old ones close. New adventures begin and we learn more about ourselves and our people we surround ourselves with by how we handle the situations in life. But it is in the small daily moments that we must remember to embrace, and cherish. they are fleeting moments and quickly become memories.
This young man is now a 20-year-old. We said good-bye to teen years this week!😢
My youngest! His team won State this past weekend and he graduates high school next week!😭
I am in a season of change, yet again, in my life. This momma's heart will weep and be sad for the change, but I know that new doors open, allowing us to grow some more, to build character and perseverance for the next step.
Enjoy today, for all its worth.
It may not be perfect or fun or pain-free, but find the joy. Embrace the moment. Love the challenges or triumphs you are in, right now.
Take mental pictures to store in your heart forever and love your life.
Every time you find yourself struggling with frustrations, anxiety, or fear stop and slow yourself down
Take 5-10 deep breathes in through your mouth, hold for 2 seconds and then exhale through your nose.
Next, write down:
5 things you love about your life,
or 5 things you are proud of,
or 5 things that were positives about your day.
Our minds are powerful and whatever we tell our brain, it believes!
Feed your mind positives and watch how your mindset and life change for the better.
As always, until next week:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
US Army Veteran, USA Sled Hockey Teammate, Therapy Dog Trainer, Special Olympics Coach, Bilateral Below Knee Amputee
Christy does it all! She is amazing, inspiring, and constantly pushing her limits to see what is possible!
As I wrap up my interviews for Limb Loss/Limb Difference Awareness month (April), I have to say I am renewed, Inspired, and ready to take on the world!
Christy was planning on serving our country for the maximum number of years, until one fateful day she was hit by a local strike in an undisclosed area she was serving as a MP Sergeant. She ended up with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and spinal cord damage which ultimately led to her double amputation. She was distraught and had been told that she would never talk or walk again and would never be able to live on her own.
What saved her? How did she go from that "diagnoses" to becoming an alternate to the US Paralympic Track and Field team, a member of the women's US Sled Hockey team, therapy/service dog trainer, and living alone? Well, you need to listen in to hear her tell her story. Hear how a friend at the VA kept inviting her to come see what sports were available, how a dog named Moxie changed her life forever for the best, and how her unrelenting desire to be better and achieve the impossible, made everything possible once again!
Don't miss this episode and an opportunity to find your own strength in Christy's story.
Thank you, Christy, for spending time with me and blessing us with your story of hardship and triumph, and how you were able to overcome such large obstacles. You are a true warrior and such an inspiration! Best wishes in all you do.
Competition is such a powerful motivator for Christy...
But then again, so was Moxie!🐾
Make sure you watch the YouTube episode of my interview with Christy, as well! You can find my YouTube channel by search BAWarrior360
And as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Range of Motion Project Global
What an amazing group of people creating opportunities for amputees who might never had the chance to enjoy freedom and independence that mobility brings.
Range of Motion Project Global is changing lives, one prosthetic at a time. I have had the honor of helping them fundraise and getting mobile for their cause the past 2 years as an amputee, because I know how my prosthetic has changed my life for the better.
I feel complete and know that I can do anything I put my mind to now that I have a leg to stand on (pun intended). I don't take this lightly or for granted because even with amazing insurance coverage we had as a family, I almost didn't receive a leg! There are so many people in the world that may never get one and that's tragic.
What you may not understand is that losing a limb and then experiencing the fear of not receiving a prosthetic not only effects the physical nature of a person, it also impacts their emotional and mental health as well! We need to change this. We, as a world and one family, need to reach out and help those who don't have a way of helping themselves.
This is what ROMP Global is all about. This is their mission. You can help!
Donate old parts from yours or your clients prosthetics.
Donate time and volunteer.
Get moving and participate in their events, like Mobility May, to bring awareness to this issue.
Donate money, any and all amounts are welcome!
We can all do something to help others feel the freedom that mobility brings. What can YOU do?
Check this podcast out, and make sure to listen until the end. The stories of the people they have helped will move you.
LP and David climbing their mountain
Want to get moving and help bring awareness to this project? Join my team today and get yourself moving for the month of May, bring awareness to this amazing cause, and really appreciate your ability to move how and when you want. It's a freedom we all take for granted, each and everyday.
Thank you for supporting ROMP Global and myself this Mobility May and all year long!
Join my team HERE
Donate to my team and ROMP HERE
ROMP Website
And as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
What's your mountain?
2x Paralympic Medalist, Father, and Cancer Survivor-Noah Elliott
Wow! Do you need some inspiration? Make sure you listen in today! Noah Elliott shares the journey he has been on since the age of 15, and how he went from becoming a teen father to cancer diagnoses to 2x Olympic medalist! I mean, WOW!!!
2022 Winter Olympics
Noah doing what he does!
Doing what he loves and his personality shines through the heaviest of winter clothing!😎
I am honored to call him a friend and am inspired beyond words at the grit and determination he has shown throughout his young life.
If you are struggling in your own journey and find it hard to be positive then consider this interview a huge dose of positivity made just for you.
Noah's story will inspire, empower and lift you up.
Remember, we all go through hard times and Noah is just a person, like you and me. Listen and see if you can hear what makes him stand out from the crowd. Listen and hear what took him from what could have been a life of impossibilities to him doing the impossible.
See what you can learn from this interview, and the others from the past month, that set these individuals with limb loss/limb difference apart from the crowd. What do they have that you can adopt and use to achieve your goals. Remember, anything is possible with the right mindset, attitude, and faith in yourself.
Remember to like, subscribe and share so you don't miss an episode!
I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.
And as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Come join us as we hear Dani tell her story. Born without a forearm and hand Dani's parents, although not expecting that, showed her that she could do anything and be anything she put her mind to.
Dani had always been into sports and her dream job is to be a GM to an NFL football team. She went off to college, got her degree in business and started working for the Indianapolis Colts and Pacer organizations, which led to, what she thought, was her dream job working for the Utah Jazz, however she grew impatient and felt something was missing. That's when a Paralympics came to her attention.
Growing up she always competed with "able-bodied" individuals and not until after college and working her first few jobs with elite athletic programs did she explore para-athletic events. And like a dream Dani found herself qualifying and competing in both the summer AND winter Olympics, for Team USA!
Dani's journey allows us to dream and contemplate the realization of our own dreams, and how we, too, can live them out at any given time, we just need to have our eyes open to the possibility and a mindset that says, "Yes, I can!" and "Why not me?"
What an incredible story of believing in oneself, pushing the limits, and going for it all! Don't miss this interview.
Dani, thank you again, for spending time with me and allowing more people to hear your story. I hope they all feel encouraged to reach for the stars and dare to dream. I know I am!
And as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Angie
Born with limb difference but having the drive and determination to become something more than her "disability". Being told she may never walk and having the will to prove everyone wrong.
Daring to dream big and pushing the boundaries of being an athlete with limb difference comes the story of Roni Sasaki, Gold medalist in Alpine Skiing, author, speaker, and entrepreneur. This lady has accomplished a lot, but it was a rough road as a child with limb difference.
Listen in as Roni tells us what it was like to look different as a child, overcoming the fears of fitting in, and then dreaming so big her dreams seemed out of reach and silly, back then. Be inspired by her story and how dreaming big and having faith, beyond measure, saved her and gave her purpose to push forward against the odds, accomplishing those dreams...and more!
Roni on the slopes using a normal ski and boot with outriggers Roni also has a podcast called, "A Leg Up On Life", which you can listen to HERE . And you can even hear me being interviewed by Roni in Episode #44 on her site as well!
What an incredible journey and story Roni has shared with us. I hope you find her as inspiring as I have to live your best life and to never give up on a dream.
Roni, thank you for spending time with me and giving my audience some amazing words to live by. You are a true warrior and a blessing to know.
As always and until next week,
BE Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!!
Much love,
Angie
Andrew Hauser: Athletic Trainer/Strength Coach to the MLB and NFL players
I am so excited to share amazing stories all month, interviewing people from all over, who have gone through losing a limb or have limb difference, and letting them share their story and how they have risen from and conquered the challenges in their lives.
This week's interview is with Andrew Hauser, athletic trainer/strength coach in the MLB and with NFL players, who lost his leg in a scary and tragic accident at 18 years old. He was a baseball player and getting ready to head off to college to a whole new world when this took place. Can you even imagine being 18 years old with whole world in your reach, only to have your life turned upside down in a heartbeat?!?!
Andrew's positive outlook, and his ability to be introspective and calm, was not only astonishing at such a young age, but it probably was the key to him bouncing back and living an amazing life, full of adventure and helping others strive to reach their highest potential in the field he works in.
Listen in as you hear Andrew talk about his journey, the hurdles he had to jump through, finding a wife to love and be loved by, and embarking on a career that he hadn't dreamed of as an 18 year old. Hear what took place, in his own words, and how he ended up reconnecting with his identity as an athlete and having an incredible job, doing what he loves.
Thank you, Andrew, for sharing your story, your journey, and the struggles and triumphs you experienced along the way!
As always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much Love,
Angie
Let's Take a Peek
Hi! My name is Angie and I am an above knee amputee and a skin fit socket wearer.
There are many struggles you might first think about when you see an amputee, the most obvious is walking (if they are a leg amputee), but there are so many daily, little (and big) struggles that you might never know about unless you are an amputee.
Did you know that most of us don't shower with our leg on? Just getting in and out of a shower is a chore in and of itself!
We don't sleep with it on, either, which means if and when we get up in the middle of the night we have to have other ways to get around, such as walker, crutches, wheelchairs.
And as a skin fit socket wearer, I have to be careful of my weight and what I consume. Lose too much weight and my socket won't stay on. Gain even 4 pounds and it won't even fit!
If I drink alcohol or consume too much salt the night before, I pay for it in the morning with a leg that won't fit properly in the socket!
With Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness month coming in April I decided to share with you this week what a day in the life of a skin fit socket wearer looks like. I hope my journey helps you embrace yours, help someone who is going through this too, or educates you on the inner workings of an above knee amputee.
Please make sure you stay tuned the next month as I have special guests all lined up during April that can share their stories of limb loss, limb difference, and how they traverse their life to find success. 2 of my guests are Paralympians who just competed in Bejing!! Trust me, you don't want to miss April!!
This week, reach out to someone going through amputation, preparing to go through amputation, or is struggling with their own journey.
If you really want to make a difference then check out ROMP Global, HERE, where you can donate and get involved in helping get prosthesis into the hands of people in desperate need of them. There is nothing more gratifying than helping someone find freedom of mobility through giving. This group of people at ROMP do amazing work!!
I wish you an amazing week, make sure you don't judge a book by the cover, and understand there is more to amputees than just learning to walk again.
As always, until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Me being me😁
"To live will be an awfully big adventure." -Peter Pan
And to live well, is even better.
Sometimes it might feel like the world is coming down all around you and you can barely breathe. We can get so wrapped up in our own journey, or life, that we forget that there are others out there hurting and dealing with their own struggles. There are people who don't know if they can make it one more day, are in so much pain, or ready to give up because they feel alone and unseen.
That's where I want to take you today. No matter what you may be going through there is someone out there who is in need and probably worse off than you. Maybe they feel they have no one to talk to or rely on. Maybe they are in so much pain that it has become unbearable to deal with. Maybe they got yet another piece of bad news that is pushing them to their limits.
This is where we can come in and help ourselves while helping others. I have said it before and I'll say it again, if I sit around thinking of everything that feels painful or uncomfortable in my own life or spend time dwelling on what I can't do then I am going to find myself throwing a pity party. This, no one wants to see. And I can't say that I'm truly living if I approach life like this. What I CAN do is reach out to friends, family, neighbors, who are in need of a friend or someone to talk to and let them know I care, and that I am there for them. I could send a note, a text, take them a coffee or lunch. Sometimes, just taking time out of our busy days, could be what saves someone that day.
You see, we have become a society that has become so busy in our own lives, wrapped up in our own problems, it has become every man/woman for themselves, and it's hurting us.
When I decided to amputate, sure I had my own goals about how I'd bounce back and become active, but I also wanted to make sure I was helping someone else along the way. I worked with St Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Range Of Motion Project these past 3 years. What I found by fundraising and being actively involved with these groups was that it lifted me up, too! I found a purpose outside of my own life, helping others. What an amazing feeling this was...so I continued to help. Then I started hearing from people that were struggling to wear their prosthesis, so I started calling and talking with them and making videos of what it's like to start a new activity, as an amputee, and being transparent about my own struggles.
People just want to be seen, to not feel alone in this life. Life is a big adventure, and to live it well is an even bigger adventure. One worth the journey, the heartache and the pain we sometimes feel.
"All the world is made of Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust." -Peter Pan
May you be someone's "pixie dust" this week. See how you can be, below.⬇️
This week, reach out to someone that may need a friend. Maybe it's a neighbor, an old friend, or a family member. Touch base with them. Send a text, and email, pick up the phone and call them, invite them for coffee or lunch. Try to connect with someone each day until we meet again next week. You may be surprised what this will also do for you.
Sometimes when we put aside our own struggles to help someone else, we benefit more than we can even imagine. Be someone's pixie dust this week, and watch how your life changes as you do.
As always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Angie
..... And They're Watching You, Too.
I know, that sounds creepy but it's not what you think. Did you know that you influence and impact more people daily than you realize?
As a parent I knew right away that my boys were watching me, my every move, even when it appeared that they were enthralled in a movie, game, or activity! They'd say something, or repeat me, or act the way I did. Wow! What an eye opener that was for me as a mom. Now as an amputee I am realizing that people are watching, every move feels like it's being monitored.
At first you might think they are just being rude and it makes you feel uncomfortable, almost paralyzing, afraid of stumbling or looking weak and incapable; at least that's how I felt. Then I decided to make eye contact and smile....and you know what? People started opening up! They'd ask if it was rude to ask what happened, if I was a vet, if I'm comfortable in a prosthetic. Some people would tell me about their journey and rough patches they were going through. Some even asked my thoughts on amputation because they were at that juncture in their own life. I mean, wow!
Connection. Comradery. Compassion.
People are curious, they have questions and want to understand what it's like to be an amputee and what makes us tick.
After my journey from injury to amputation, and now beyond, I feel it is my purpose, and obligation, to help others. If I have experiences that can help someone else through their trials then I need to share my experiences, good and bad. I have found that talking with others, sharing my story, my journey, not only gives them insight and a foundation to help them along their path, it also fills my bucket up, motivates me, and puts a spring in my step that day.
I love sharing my story with anyone who asks. I love showing curious children my leg and helping their parents understand that it's ok for their children to be curious and ask questions. I wished more amputees were so open, but the reality is that some are hurting inside, struggling to make sense of what they are going through, wondering if they can carry on. If that's you, I'm sorry you are going through that, but know you are not alone and you don't have to be stuck in that mental space.
Break free from those mental and physical confines by sharing your experience, you'll be surprised how healing that can be. When you share your story, you let go of some of those hard emotions by allowing others to absorb them, listening to you, and validating your feelings and struggles. And when they share their own struggles in reply you'll realize you AREN'T alone after all, which is such a load off your heart.
I'm telling you, it is an AMAZING feeling to share your journey, your struggles, your successes with people who are strangers that become invested and lift you up with their words.
Embrace that you are different. Share your story, you may help someone along the way. I know you'll be helping yourself when you do.
This week I challenge you to make eye contact, smile and see what relationships you create, and who's lives you'll touch with your story. It's time to face the fears you have about your circumstance. It won't be easy for some of you but I can tell you that I haven't met a person who hasn't made a difference in my life when I've made those connections. I love telling people what I went through. I'm proud of the courage it took me to get here. I'm proud of how hard I've worked to get over being self-conscience, and how hard I've worked to achieve things some people never thought I could do as an amputee. Be proud of your story and the scars you have, and share it with who ever is curious. You will feel liberated and find healing in opening up.
Get out there and be brave. Share your journey. You have so much to offer this world.
As always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Angie
Climbing That Hill Yet Again!
Want to be back on top? Then start now! No better time than the present.
Life is a journey, one meant to be enjoyed, but of course, not all parts of our journey are enjoyable. When we feel down on our luck, when we are hurting, or when things aren't going our way, we find very little to enjoy. But don't fret. That IS part of the journey, those moments are meant to help us, teach us about ourselves, and help us grow, build character and coping skills for the "next time", oh and there will be a next time, for sure. The question I have for you is, how will you attack your situation? Are you ready to unleash your inner warrior and fight for your life, fight to enjoy it once again? Or do you struggle to find a peace and struggle to breathe when things get hard?
You aren't alone when it comes to these struggles. We all have moments of weakness, moments that we want to give up or throw in the towel, but that's not living, right? And that can't be the end.
We need to persevere and rise up! You can do this, I know you can!
Even when you feel you have nothing left to give, you must learn to dig down deep and give it your all. After all, you are worth it!
I love this saying, it has truly been my realization after many years of surgeries and then amputation. As I look back I can see how everything I experienced over the years was building me up to handle what I'm going through today. And I also realized that "This too, shall pass" is an accurate description of life. This goes for the good times as well as the not so good times.
If you want to change, create better habits and drop bad habits then it's time to get to work....TODAY! No better time than the present.
Let's tackle life together. Let's discover the warrior within ourselves and let her lose!
I'm with you, I believe in you, and I know you have what it takes to accomplish your wildest dreams.
Start NOW, don't wait or postpone anymore.
Write down what you want to see change Decide when you'd like to, realistically, see this change happen by and write it down. Write down the steps you need to take to accomplish this task. Create a journal to write down the changes you see each day, good and bad (when you have steps forward and even backward) Take pictures of yourself on this journey (if you are trying to see physical changes), you'll be surprised at how they will help you push forward on hard days. Start today. Don't wait.
You've got this! If you've listened to my podcast and can relate to what I said then you are ready to begin fresh. Go after your goals. Reach for the stars and don't let anyone tell you that you "can't". I believe in you!
As Always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
In a Sink or Swim World, Become a Gold Medalist in the Breaststroke
Each one of us struggles at one time or another. No one goes through life without challenges, even those who look like they have it "all together", don't go unscathed, they have just figured it out how to swim. They tackle the situation, use positivity, and keep pushing forward until they make it through the other side of pain and tribulation. Through our challenges we are given the chance to grow and find ourselves. We build character and an appreciation of the good times.
Challenges don't pick and choose the time they come into our lives, we need to be ready to rock and roll with them when they show up. We need to be in our top form, mentally, emotionally, and physically, so we can handle them with strength, confidence, and grace.
In today's podcast I share my journey about the most recent physical challenge that turned mental and how I pushed through and rose to the occasion. As hard as today was, I made it! While I struggled, I got a glimpse of my character and my weakness in my armor. It was then that I had to dig deep to find myself and the power I held to compete, and win.
What are you struggling with right now? What has you on your knees, begging for help? Whatever it is, know that you are not alone and that you CAN swim.
Odd as it may seem, when you're struggling sometimes the best medicine is to redirect your attention elsewhere and do something that makes you feel good.
This week I want you to find something to challenge yourself with, something attainable but tough. Find a non-profit you believe in and go to work at helping them by raising funds and/or awareness while challenging yourself to get out and get active.
There's nothing better than exercise and fresh air to make you feel better and alive.
So, get after it. You are a rockstar and ready to shine!
As always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Angie
Everything you want in life is on the other side of fear. To be able to accomplish those goals you will have to face those things that scare you or stand down and not accomplish them. The choice is yours, every single time.
You may have also heard the saying that fear can either represent:
Forget Everything And Run
or
Face Everything And Rise
I understand fear, and the chance that I may not succeed. The fear of failure, or looking "stupid" trying and failing, is real. I hate NOT being able to do something that I set out to do and have really had to dig down deep to push through the fear of failing at it. Losing my leg has definitely made me face that fear every single day. It became a thrive and survive situation for me with no way out except through. I have learned a lot about me, learned to control my emotions as I face fearful situations, and grace when I don't succeed on the first try. I pick myself back up and try again, and again, and again, until I get it done, and done right.
The reality is that every day we all face something that can stop us in our tracks or push us to rise and conquer, and each day we have a choice on how we will handle the situations that confront us. What will you choose? How will you handle the fears that challenge you?
I know that each of our stories is different, but fear is fear. What I have realized from overcoming amputation is that when I choose to push through the challenges and fears in my life, I am richly rewarded with success, which then helps me drive through the next situation.
This can be your story too! Don't let fear take hold of you and dictate your life. Grab the bull by the horns and take charge. You only get this one life, you deserve to find happiness, live well, and be healthy.
I am still learning to function in my running blade. It isn't easy and I have a lot of fear associated with it, as I often trip and fall hard. The past few days I have worn it into the gym and gotten on the treadmill and worked out in it. I have been pushing past the fear that people are watching and if I fall and get hurt, I would be mortified, and yet I continue to wear it and work through it, at my own pace. My stress levels are a bit higher than if I went into the gym with my normal leg, but I wouldn't learn to rise from this fear and overcome it. The only way to winning this war is straight through. I must have patience and grace with myself as I learn to function with this leg, so I will continue on this path until I don't feel this way anymore.
Now it's your turn:
Start now. What are you most fearful of right now in your life? Start small, if you must, fear is fear. Your goal this week is to face your fear head on and push through. You may get burned, you may stumble and fall-metaphorically or literally like in my case, but work at it. Each day spend time facing it, dealing with it, instead of pushing it aside for "another day". This is the day to rise up and feel great about yourself. By completing something difficult or challenging yourself to something you fear you grow. You build character and come out a little stronger, and a little wiser, ready to take on the next roadblock that appears in your life.
Best of luck at kicking fear aside and rise from the situation this week. Attack and don't give up. Have grace with yourself if you fall down, pick yourself up by the bootstraps, and go at it again, until you find success. You can do it, I have faith in you!
And as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
The look of facing fear and coming out on top! 💪
Now is the time. You deserve it and you probably need it, too. It's time to slow down, breathe, and enjoy your life.
If you can spare 5-10 minutes each day to stop what's on your schedule, slow yourself down, and put aside your to-do list you can reap the benefits. Set down your phone, eliminate distractions, and make time for YOU!
It's not always easy to find the time, I get it, but start small and build on it.
I feel like I spend all day working on this thing or that. I don't slow down, and my list grows and grows on what needs to be done. I find myself always on the next step while doing the previous task, telling myself that if I get X, Y, Z done then I will sit down and rest for a moment.... but you know those times never come, right? Can you relate?
What I HAVE figured out is that it takes time to work out the schedule that fits your life. I know people who have set their routines up and have told me to just do it "first thing in the morning", like them. or at lunch break or right before bed, but the truth of the matter is, you need to figure out what works for you.
As a mom and wife, I have felt that even certain years in my life there was no time for me, and that's unfortunate, because those moments when I was a new wife or a mommy to my babies, I probably needed "me" time more than ever. I guess that's just part of the journey, better late than never.
I want you to know and learn to do this, spending time for yourself, earlier than I did, if you can. I want to help you make the most of your life, wherever you are at in it. There are so many benefits to slowing down and learning to breathe correctly, no matter how old you are, or what you are going through.
To my surprise this week, as I began taking my mornings to be still and outside in our Arizona sun, feeling the fresh air go deep in my lungs, quieting my thoughts, and shutting down my phone, my dogs let me know we had an unusual visitor. A large mule deer, a buck, was laying out in our backyard. He, too, was enjoying our warm sun. What a gift it was to watch him, photograph him and be present and enjoy his beauty. Any other day, I would have missed him, and that got me thinking. What else have I missed?
Well, no more! I plan to make a moment in my day, each day, all about disconnecting with my regularly scheduled programming, to connect with nature, breathe, silence my mind, and listen to the sounds of the world.... even if only for 5-10 minutes a day.
How about you? What do you have to lose? I challenge you to give it a try and see what benefits you see in your day to day thinking, emotions, and health.
This week I want you to figure out what works for you, make time for yourself, where can you afford to take a 5-10 minute break. I get it, it won't be easy to find the time, but YOU A WORTH IT! Make it happen. Leave your phone off, stop all actions. Find a place where you won't be tempted to do ANYTHING, a place, preferably outside. Even if it's still wintery cold where you live, poke your head or body outside for 5 minutes and breathe slow, dep breathes. Feel the air enter your lungs and clear your head. If you struggle letting go of your thoughts then practice counting while you breathe in, hold, breathe out, hold. Count to 10, slowly, as you breathe in. Hold your breathe for 4 seconds then breathe out, slowly, as you count to ten again, then hold.
Do this for at least 5-10 minutes a day for the next week. See what happens from it. How do you feel afterward? How productive are you this week because of that time you spent on yourself?
You might be surprised at the results, even if you are just a bit happier, isn't your mental well-being worth it? I think it is, and so are you!
Give it a try and let me know how it's going.
Have an amazing week,
And as always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Angie
Create Positive Change One Breathe at a Time
Things may not be the way you want them right now, but you can do a lot with what you do have and where you are at.
Just breathe!
I'm going to keep this week's post short and simple.
Learning to breathe the RIGHT way is so important for your body and mind. Diaphragmatic Breathing is when you allow long, deep breaths to come in and out of your diaphragm, not from your chest.
To illustrate this lay on your back and put one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Now breathe in through your nose and out of your mouth. You should feel the hand on your stomach rise and fall, NOT the one on your chest. If you are breathing correctly, you will be able to take nice, slow and deep breathes in and out of your diaphragm which will slow your heart rate down, allow you to call your nerves, push blood through your body more efficiently and, all around, make you feel better.
This week I want you to practice Diaphragmatic Breathing once a day, at least, for 1 minute. Take that time just for you.
If you want to really go for it, do this exercise whenever you feel yourself getting frustrated, angry, or afraid. Spend time just practicing this breathing and really slowing down your life in that moment, even for just a minute. Let me know how it goes and what changes you start to feel as the week progresses. You might be surprised at the mental and emotional benefits you feel from doing this just once a day!!
Oh, and enjoy some baby goat love, too!❤️
As always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
much love,
Angie
The time is now! Let's find the warrior within you. Let's dig deep and create the life you have always wanted to have.
After all that I went through these past several years with all the "down time" I had while I was healing from surgery after surgery, I realized that my life was shifting and changing, and I felt that God was giving me a new path and my future had so many possibilities.
My family had been there for me through so much, I learned a lot about myself through my trials, and I saw my relationship with my husband grow as I saw a man who supported me and my drive even in the midst of huge trials.
In this podcast I talk to you about what was happening to me, internally, as I struggled through 5 years of failed knee surgeries and the past 3 years after my choice to amputate my leg above the knee.
Today, I am a certified personal trainer with a specialization in corrective exercise and fitness nutrition. My goal is to help those who wish to live a healthier and more active lifestyle, no matter where they are at in their journey called life.
Take a listen to this week's podcast to hear where my journey has led me, what my thinking was behind the years of trials I endured, and how I can help you in the next step of your journey. I get it. I know what it is to rise from the ashes and reinvent myself.
Life is a journey:
Reach out to me if you need or want a change in your life and need someone who will guide and motivate you. Share this post and podcast with someone you know could use the help. Maybe you have a friend or a parent struggling with a medical issue, or finding a healthy lifestyle and you want the best for them. I'm here and ready to help.
I hope you are having an amazing start to 2022 and remember, no need for new year's resolutions, or feeling like it's already too late to start anew. Now is the time to start. No more excuses!
Let's get at it and unleash the warrior that I know is inside of you waiting to come out and attack life.
You owe it to yourself and your family to live your best, most healthy life...NOW!
Before my transformation anmd right after amputation Warrior unleashed with me!
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
much love,
Angie
To New Year's Resolutions....
...and YES to a new, healthier lifestyle.
Welcome back to my podcast and the start of season 2!!! I am beyond grateful for you!
If you are new to my site and haven't been following me then you can go back and listen to my first season here or, better yet, subscribe to my podcast on Apple, iHeart, Spotify, or any other site you see below so you never miss an episode!
This week I am back after a 3 week hiatus from the holidays and getting an new addition to our family! Introducing, Maggie Mae, our 4 month old Chihuahua!
So our "big girl", Bella, now has a sister to play with, torment, and protect! This has been an eye opener when it comes to my time. I actually had to delay my podcast an extra week as I was so busy following her around, potty training her, and being sleep deprived that I couldn't function. I may be getting too old for this! Ha ha!! She's lucky she's so cute.
This week's podcast is all about setting yourself up for success when it comes to creating a new and improved lifestyle, and it has NOTHING to do with making New Year's Resolutions! I do not like New Year's Resolutions because I feel like there's a stigma that you'll make them every January 1st and drop them within a month. It leaves you feeling like a failure and creates a bad habit of starting and giving up. Instead, what I implore you to do is to make small attainable goals with a deadline a month out, then another goal month out, and then again by summer. You want to create a healthy and positive habit with your goal setting. Baby steps, are still baby steps. With each baby step in the right direction it draws you closer to your small goal, which inevitably leads you to a bigger end result that you may or may not have perceived was even possible. Remember, hard work pays off and every little change in a healthy, positive way is worth doing...and you're worth it!
Remember to have grace with yourself and forgive yourself if you stumble. You're human and you will fall, every once in a while. It's what you do in that moment that shows what you're made of. Do you get back up and continue to move forward or do you give up?
As we enter mid January, don't tell yourself you're too late to start a positive lifestyle change this year. YOU CAN START ANY MONTH, ANY DAY of the week. Start today, do it for you! Do it for your family. When you eat well, get active, achieve goals you set for yourself, then you become a happier and healthier person to be around. When you feel good, your mental state also becomes healthy. Who doesn't want to feel good inside and out?
Don't know how to start? Check out the Call the Action below.
Let's get started, today!
*On paper write down your top 2-4 goals. Remember, they don't need to be huge and hard to attain. Think small baby steps. As you begin to create a positive trend of goal setting/goal attaining then you can start setting bigger goals.
*Next set deadlines next to each goal. This is very important. It's creating accountability. Make it tangible. Ex. I want to take a walk everyday. My plan: walk each evening. My hopes are that I will create a habit by the end of a month and then I won't have to make it a goal, it'll be a lifestyle. The benefits; I will be more active, fresh air in my lungs will help my emotional and mental state, I may even lose weight!
*You could also add your goals to your phone and set reminders to go off when you need a nudge. Whatever works for YOU.
*If you miss a day in your routine don't fret and most definitely don't give up. Just get back up and start again the next day. Your life is a journey and there are going to be days where it's almost impossible to hit a goal, that's ok. Just don't give up!
If you need help or someone to hold you accountable please feel free to reach out to me.
Check out my IG account @BAWarrior360 or Facebook: BAWarrior360
Just a quick podcast today as I am getting ready for the upcoming holiday season. Life is moving at warp speed and even the tiniest of kindnesses seem to get lost in our hurried lives. Stop, relax, look around you, and remember what this time of year is all about.
My 1st Christmas as an amputee
Smile! Bring joy into people's lives by simply spreading joy, with a free smile.
Patience. Patience allows us to breathe and take stock in the moment before we react, or worse, over-react!
Kindness. Go that extra mile and help someone through the holidays. Not everyone finds this time of year joyful or even tolerable. Showing someone you are thinking of them could change their whole life, for the better.
And best of all, when we exhibit kindness, exercise patience and smile at the people we encounter we, too, get the benefit of feeling a fulfillment in our own lives.
The above items ARE your Call to Action for the next couple of weeks as we enter the holiday season and get ready to say good-bye to 2021.
May you all find happiness, joy and good healthy this holiday season. And Cheers! to a wonderful New Year!
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Creating Positive Habits to Live a Healthy Life
The holidays are upon us and the hustle and bustle can really bring us down and out of our routine and comfort zone.
I don't know about you but when I think about the holidays I think about all the goodies, baked goods, alcohol and dinners out that will be happening with friends and family. Then I think how this happens every year and by January I hate how I feel. I have created bad habits, I'm not working out or getting exercise like I should, and I have gained a new and addictive desire for sweets.
NOW is the time to build strong, healthy habits and routines.
To be totally honest, I'm not happy where I am right now. I have recently let my normal routines go to the wayside, ever since moving homes this past summer. It amazes me that even though I have everything I need for working out right here in my home, a new home with items in different locations has made my habits drop. I'm use to my workouts being in the evenings in my bedroom, but now my exercise equipment is on the other side of the house. Something as simple as that has derailed me....I have ALLOWED it to derail me.
No more!
Listen in as I challenge you to approach your holiday gatherings, and the hustle and bustle of this season, with making positive, healthy habits NOW, without giving up indulging in some holiday spirits.
Don't depend on "New Years Resolutions" to dig you out of a unhealthy hole, stay on top, eat and drink in moderation, BUT start making healthy habits today to keep you strong, happy, and positive throughout the season and beyond. You'll be glad you did!
Pick a time of day to do a 20-30 minute workout. Commit to doing it everyday-Saturdays and Sundays, too. Decide what you need to do: sit ups, push ups, planks, wall sits. Those are some good basic exercises that require no equipment but can create a good feeling and kick start your new habits. Drink a full glass of water before every meal. Enjoy special holiday treats but remember: moderation is key! Take pictures along the way of your transformation. You'll be surprised at the changes you'll see AND it'll be good to see these pictures down the road a bit when you fail to keep up your routine-we all have those moments that disrupt our progress. I know I do, and am in one right now. I looked back a year ago and saw what I looked like and knew I needed to get back at it...so here I am preaching about it. We all need a kick in the pants every now and then.
You got this. Starting now will help you during this time of year when social eating and drinking is at the highest.
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Managing Expectations
Sometimes we just feel like nothing is going right, we can get down on ourselves, or worse, OTHERS, because of what we are going through. When we expect certain things to go a certain way we can be setting ourselves up for a let down of epic proportions. I'm not saying you shouldn't strive for your best, or to set those types of expectations/goals for yourselves. You should always work at achieving something greater than where you are at now, for example, if you want to walk to your mailbox, with your prosthetic, but have only gotten to the end of your driveway, then go for it. It's achievable but will take hard work, time, and positive attitude. What I am referring to is how you feel in your prosthetic or what you are expecting from your prosthetist.
My prosthetists: Randy and David The Limb Center
Teamwork!
The work room where Randy does all his magic! Be forewarned, you need to know the difference between a prosthetist who is giving his or her all to you and those who aren't. You also need to know if you are just expecting too much. Remember, you lost your limb, nothing can replace the real thing. What you ARE looking for is something that will be doable to get around on and is comfortable enough NOT to cause any other issues, such as: blisters, infection, bruising, etc. YOU have to know the difference between when you are expecting too much or when your prosthetist isn't giving enough. And that, my friends, takes time and listening to your gut.
You can best determine if you are getting the best care possible if your questions are being addressed, your concerns are being heard, and actions are being taken to assure your best interests are being met. If in your gut you feel you aren't being heard, or given proper time to address issues you are having, then you probably aren't in the right office. However, you also need to understand that no practitioner is going to be able to give you 'perfect'. There is no such thing, and you need to manage THOSE expectations and find a common ground, one where you feel good enough about your fit, and aren't in major pain. My leg I have right now, after almost three years, feels the best....but it's not perfect. I can deal with what I have to deal with because it's better than it's ever been. I have to know that this is a good thing, I lowered my expectations to an 80-90% pain free, versus looking for 100% pain free. And I'm ok with that. I am also a better, happier, thus healthier ME, because I have come to terms with not feeling perfect.
Catch my drift?
You don't need to settle, that's not what I am saying, but know the difference of getting good, quality health care versus high expectations that NO ONE could possibly supply you.
I'm the lucky one. I had an amazing doctor who directed me to two of the most kind, caring and talented prosthetists around. They care about me, my lifestyle, and making my life the best they can give. I ask questions, tell them my symptoms and they work with me to achieve that. I don't complain or blame them for ill-fitting sockets, I just ask for their help to make it better. I communicate clearly about what's going on and they do the rest. We work together and make it a "give and take" relationship that works. After all, it's going to be a long ride with these guys.
Work on journaling your feeling and where you are struggling. Try to keep track of and acknowledge the time of day, weather, and other factors that could be causing you issues. Is there a common thread? Can you work around that or fix it yourself? Is it your mindset holding you back or is it a true issue with your fit?
Practice being flexible and patient.
Understand and communicate with your practitioner about what you are going through, dealing with, and what you need. Pay attention to your body so you CAN communicate clearly. These small things will help you give them the best shot of actually hel...
A Grateful Heart Leads to a Happy Heart
It really has to be said that where our minds go, our hearts go, too. If you are stuck in a bad way, and can't seem to find happiness or joy in your life then check your thoughts. How do you speak to yourself? How do you speak to others?
Everyone goes through trials, that's just life. The way each of us deals with those trials, those valleys in our lives, determines how we come through them. I chose to amputate, and I choose to make the most of my life now. I try and choose happiness, joy, and a grateful heart everyday I wake up. Somedays it is harder than others, I get that, I have been there, but those moments do NOT dictate my overall mental state that day. Sometimes I need to practice speaking more positively towards myself, and giving myself some grace, on those days. Sometimes it's easy to see the positive, and sometimes it's the hardest thing EVER!
The point is, when you practice being grateful, and seeing all the good things in your life, in your circumstance, you will radiate joy, you will see the health benefits of a happy heart and mind. And they do go hand in hand.
Try it!
What are you happy about? What are you grateful for in your life?
In this podcast I share with you the people, and things, I am grateful for. I choose to practice gratefulness.
As you head into this Thanksgiving week, pay attention to the people and moments that are happening around you. Be grateful for even the smallest things. I guarantee you will feel so much better about yourself. I am Grateful for: My Guys My Hubby
My Pup, Bella Our New Home
My Family❤
This week write down the things you are thankful for and place them where you can see them everyday. Use a smooth, fabric table cloth and permanent markers and begin a new tradition of writing something you are thankful for over the past year. Do this as a Thanksgiving tradition and each year add something to it with your friends and family. Then each year that you pull it out you'll have a constant reminder of the things you've been thankful for over the years. Start a Thankfulness Jar. Have a big open jar or bowl sitting out for the holiday season with slips of paper, then each night have everyone write something they are thankful for that day, and then date them. On New Year's Day have everyone take turns pulling them out and reading them. *Begin a journal that is simply: I am thankful for:..... Write in it every night, going to bed with a full heart of gratitude. Have a very special, wonderful, and blessed Thanksgiving. Safe travels! As always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU! Much love and gratefulness, Angie
Staying Active Through the Hard times...and Making it FUN!
Me out hiking on a "good" day.... However, you may ask, "How about those bad days, Angie? How do you stay active and in a good place when you're struggling?"
I have found ways to alleviate the pain I feel in a socket that's not fitting properly (which happens every few months, the first couple of years after becoming an amputee, as your limb changes) or if I'm just bruised and sore from a hard workout the day before. I like to have fun and the activities I use get me out and active, but also allow me to forget, for however briefly, that I am an amputee and let's me play and enjoy time with my family or on my own.
These are just a few ideas I wanted to share, that I use often, and have found to be a great workout while having fun. Please know, that I didn't just accomplish doing some of these activities. Some took time and practice, practice, practice. That was where the fun, for me, came in. I found activities that I thought would be a challenge, or ones that people would tell me would be impossible for an above knee amputee. There is nothing more fun or rewarding, to me, than proving people wrong!
Listen in to my podcast and take a look at the list provided below of the company's I have used. All of these company's I am using are only because they are what I found, liked and pricing worked for me. IndoBoard is the only company that I am representing and I have a code you can use to get a discount when checking out.
Take a peek!⤵
Wavestorm Surfboards
IndoBoard
MagLock Bike Pedals
Kahuna Creations
**When you click on the IndoBoard link, above, it will take you to my affliate link where you will recieve a discount upon checkout.
I don't have a particular scooter I like or prefer but here's me enjoying myself on my scooter, too!
Enjoy this podcast whether you are an amputee looking for ways to stay active during hard times, or if you know someone who could use a fun way to get in shape.
Disclaimer: Please know that with any of these exercises you can get hurt. Please take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and always, start slowly and work your way up.
Best wishes and as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Positive mindset is your friend!
We all face struggles in life. Some people it's more obvious than with others but no one goes through life unscathed. It's how we deal with those struggles that define us and give us the opportunities to live a great life or struggle to make ends meet.
Which are you? Are you making the most of your life or struggling to move past your circumstances?
Our mindset is a powerful tool that allows us to cope, deal with, and eventually rise back up again when we have been knocked down. However, this is not an easy skill to obtain. As a matter of fact, it takes experience to learn how to deal with adversities in our lives.
One thing I have learned through all that I have been through is that each bout of pain, frustration or struggle is just a phase that helps me grow mentally, physically, and emotionally. It is with these experiences that I come to you today to tell you that you can do it. You can make it through whatever it is that is holding you back from living an amazing life.
It is just a phase. What you are going through is strengthening you, if you allow it. The struggles are real, no doubt about it, but they do not define you! They are strengthening you so that you can better handle what comes next.
You can be successful just by getting back up every time you are knocked down. You deserve that! You owe it to yourself to give life your best shot. Don't give up, GET UP!!! Again, and again, and again!!
Repeat after me:
This is just a phase.
This is just a phase.
This, too, shall pass.
Now, write down a positive affirmation for yourself that you can tape to your mirror and see every morning and every evening before you go to bed. Remind yourself that you deserve a great life. Remind yourself to have grace in the hard times. And never forget that what you are going through is just a phase. Take a deep breathe and step back for a moment. Find a positive in your life and then move forward again.
And as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
❤
What’s holding you back from achieving your goals?
What fears are keeping you from living your best life?
Today I talk about creating baby steps to reaching the goals you have and how I faced a fear of my own yesterday. Baby steps to reaching your goals are still steps toward your goals. They need to be celebrated and you should feel great when you do accomplish them. So much of my past few years you’ve seen me do big things: skiing, surfing, hiking large mountains, but sometimes it’s the small steps that mean the most. Yesterday was one of those days. Join me as I share how stressful yesterday was but how I chose to see the positive in the baby steps. #babysteps #keepmovingforward #runningblade #ottobock #wiggleyourtoes #adaptiveathlete #ampstrong #amputeelife #aka #facingfears #challenges #calltoaction
Gym time
My 1st race Starting line of the Phoenix Rock n Roll Marathon
2 parts to this week's CTA:
Figure out what is holding you back from achieving something you want, set small, baby step goals to get yourself there. Like I did yesterday on the treadmill, it was only for 10 minutes and I wasn't running, but I got myself out in public to attempt something I hadn't done in over a year. Have grace with those around you. We never know what battles people are facing, but assume they are if they aren't being nice, and remind yourself that it has nothing to do with you, and move on.
As always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Be Strong! You Can Get Through This!
Pain is a tricky thing. Each of us experiences pain multiple times in life. It comes and goes. It happens when we have an accident, when we've had surgery, and sometimes it is invisible to the people around us. It is always very real to the person dealing with it. Pain is different for each of us, too. Some of us have a low tolerance for pain while others may not even register it- I have a friend whose son fractured a bone in his foot and the pain never registered to him!
There is no normal to pain OR pain relief. Each person has to figure out what they can tolerate and how to handle their pain when it hits.
While this sounds like a bummer because no one else can truly help you through your specific circumstance there are ways to help yourself that works for most people. I'm talking about building up your mental game.
Being outside in the sunshine and fresh air has so many health benefits both physically and mentally. It's important that you find a way to navigate through your pain. Be patient with yourself, too, there will be good days and bad days. Sometimes just recognizing the fact that there will be bad days, days which you can't seem to handle the pain anymore, will help you have grace with yourself when you feel lost, stuck, or like throwing in the towel. Don't let those moments defeat you. Use them to fuel you to keep moving forward. Stay as positive as you can and distract yourself, do something you love, to push through those weaker moments, just remember that we are human and we will fall short, every now and then, from handling our situations. If you feel like you have been knocked down, that's ok, we all do at some point or another, but pull yourself up by the boot straps, and keep moving forward. Last week I wrote about the Chinese proverb: Get knocked down 7 times, get up 8. That's what it takes to become stronger. Change your thinking. Don't give in!
Dr. Roni Prucz, my amazing plastic surgeon who performed my TMR surgery in December 2020
This week I want you to write down your positive messages to yourself on post-it notes or notecards, and place them where you look everyday or in places where you struggle.
If you struggle getting out of bed in the morning then put them by your bedside. Statements such as:
"You can do this!"
"I will NOT quit!"
"Today is going to be great/better!"
"One step at a time"
Use these messages to yourself to motivate and not give up. You could even ask someone in your circle to write short affirmations for you to help as well. Just keep the positive vibes going. Send yourself messages of love and grace to yourself, and use them in times of weakness.
Attitude is Everything
Until next time, remember:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!!
Much love,
Angie
"Nana korobi, ya oki"-Japanese proverb Translation- "Fall down seven times, get up eight."
Are you struggling with getting up and getting active? Are you afraid to fail? To fall?
It happens. If you decide to try something new then be prepared to fail, and fail again, until you finally succeed. It takes trials and errors to make the necessary adjustments, in anything you do, to finally see success. If you didn't fail when trying something new then you didn't learn anything and didn't set your goal high enough.
A goal should be hard to achieve, but not unachievable. It should make you work, and often times fail or be so hard that when you do achieve it you feel amazing about how far you've come.
This past weekend I achieved a goal I set for myself over a year ago. Part of it, no, most of it, was about my mindset. I wanted to hike a specific trail that I knew would be demanding on my body, my residual limb, and socket. When I first attempted it I didn't have the necessary equipment, time, nor was the temperature conducive (100 degrees+). I really hadn't a clue why we even tried it but I knew how hard the first 1/4 mile was and the hike would be 5 miles round trip. I needed to prepare physically but also mentally. I knew I was going for it this past weekend a whole week beforehand so I had time to make necessary adjustments with materials and prepare my mind for the hardship this trek would have on me, but I WAS determined to achieve my goal!
I know this sounds more like a talk on goal setting but it's really about getting out and trying things you might not normally do...and quite frankly, that takes goal setting and a mind shift.
But if failure scares you then be prepared to stay right where you are and become stagnant. You cannot grow without goals. You cannot achieve goals without hardships and failure. And you cannot see change without trying something new pushing you out of your comfort zone.
So what are you waiting for???
Get out and try something new this week!
If you are struggling with pain, maybe shift your thinking to something different than sitting around and thinking about the pain. Maybe that means reading a book you've always wanted to read, going for a drive just to get out of the house, calling a friend and having a nice conversation about something totally unrelated to your circumstance or focusing on their life or their issues. Whatever you do, set a goal, small or large, write it down and then set the necessary steps it takes to achieve it....and then go for it!!!
If you try something new you might find that you have found a new passion, whether it's reading an certain author or helping others with their situations or a specific exercise or activity. It might put you on the path of a healthier lifestyle and better habits. Who knows, you might actually, for a moment, forget about your own pain and problems!
Now wouldn't that be something!?
I hope you found something useful here,
And as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Almost to the top of the Granite Mountain Hot Shots Memorial hike, Yarnell, AZ. 2.5 miles to observation point. 1,990 feet elevation change. Rocky as all get out!💪🏼
Much love,
Angie
What You Wear Makes a Difference
Did you know that as an amputee the type of shoe we wear can make all the difference in our performance and outcome of wearing a prosthetic? When I was learning to walk for the first time I needed a shoe that was stable and would help me be more balanced. Now, 2 1/2 years later, I need a shoe that is rugged and can take me to mountain tops.
Depending on your newness of being an amputee and your level, or desired level, of activity, the shoe you wear can help you or hurt you.
I realized that last week when I just didn’t feel good in my newest socket…then I looked down and realized I wasn’t wearing a normal athlete shoe. Once I changed what I was wearing I literally felt so much better and my socket wasn’t hurting me like it had been!
I don't like changing my shoes out very often, it's hard to reach my foot, and some shoes are stiffer than others which makes putting them on a two person job.
Below are my typical shoes I wear weekly.
My Adidas! ❤ These are incredible for stability and balance!
Saucony Trail. Great for road walking and being active.
Oboz. Awesome hiking boots... and waterproof!
I live in these three shoes throughout the week. They are great for a variety of activities.
Are you having issues with your knee(s), hip, back? Check your shoes. What are you wearing? Are they old and worn out? Are you using the wrong type of shoe for the wrong activity?
Are you an amputee and feel unstable? Your shoe might have something to do with that. Look into Adidas or Van Shoes, you might be surprised the difference they will make.
Make changes to the type of shoes you are wearing this week and see if that simple change helps your situation.
You may be pleasantly surprised, I know I was!
And as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love, Angie
Set 'Em, and Slam Dunk 'Em!
No better time than the present! It doesn't need to be a Monday or the first of the month or, even worse, January 1st to set and achieve any goal you set for yourself. Now is the time to get started on the path you want and desire for yourself. What do you want from your life? Do you want to be healthier? Eat better? Quit smoking/drinking? Get moving and exercise daily? Are you, like me, trying to walk better and more smoothly in your prosthetic or use your running blade for running?
What are you waiting for? Let's crush your goals....NOW!
You can do anything you set your mind to and setting goals is the most powerful way to get there. To make sure you're successful in achieving your goals you need to make sure you follow a few steps.
Set a goal you really want to achieve. Set a DATE to achieve it by. Tell people who care about you. They will hold you accountable when you struggle to stay the course. Forgive yourself when you take a step backward, and pick yourself back up and continue forward. Write it down!! Celebrate the small victories and be proud of yourself when you achieve your goal.
These simple steps will help you meet your goals and push you forward. When you start achieving your goals you will find that you will feel better about yourself, be physically healthier, and your mental game will be stronger.
A happier and healthier you will be greeting on the other side of your goals.
It's all up to you and what you really want in life.
This is how I got motivated to move in my prosthetic from the start.
I use a little extrinsic reward to stay motivated to move. For me, after many years of knee surgeries before amputation, I couldn't get out and move. Even a small walk to the mailbox was too painful for me. I gained weight and felt awful about myself. Once I got my prosthetic I couldn't wait to be mobile, but it wasn't that easy. Learning how to manipulate the knee joint and getting use to wearing a 12 lb leg was more than I bargained for but I was determined, after all I decided to amputate so I could be mobile once again. The only way I knew how to get use to something was to use it, and use it daily, no matter what. Enter virtual races, before they became a pandemic thing.
I loved that I could do it on my own time, the way I could do it, and at my pace. I was hooked after receiving my first medal, and as you can see I have gained a few.... and some aren't even in this picture! All of these I completed in the past 2 years, as an amputee! If I can do this then so can you. You just need to follow those basic steps above, to help you succeed.
You guessed it!
This week I want you to set a realistic, yet challenging goal for yourself.
What have you been putting off but really want to achieve?
WRITE IT DOWN! Put it somewhere you can see every morning to remind yourself and remember you ARE worth achieving it!
Tell your friend or family member, or join a social group that'll support you, cheer you on, and pick you up when you fall.
Remember, it's a journey. You'll have good days and bad. There will be days you fail, but you must pick yourself back up and press on. Don't quit!
You will thank yourself when you meet your goal, and then you'll be wanting to set a new one.
Talk to me! Tell me what you're planning on doing and how you'll go about achieving it. I'm here and listening.
As always,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy, Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Me, right after amputation. I actually had my surgery right before Christmas.
Me now. Happier, healthier, and moving! Just like I wanted, and everything I'd hoped for! What are YOUR goals?
Finding Joy in the Hard Moments
My joy and why I do what I do. So not everyday is roses. It may seem like that if you check out some people's social media. Don't buy it! We all struggle, and we all go through valleys. I'm smiling in the photo above because I am surrounded by the people I love, doing something we love- together. Today, however, as I put on my prosthetic, I realized it didn't feel right. As I started walking on it I was noticing that I was already hitting the bone at the end of my residual limb on the inside of my socket. I tried to "walk it off" by literally grabbing my backpack and heading out for a walk, only to realize I just couldn't make it to the end of my block!
DEFEAT!
That's what was going through my head. Then, "what if I never get back the level of activity I had last year!?"
ENOUGH! This talk was helping no one. That's when I decided to share my journey with you. To put it all out there and show that even when it appears all is going well, that sometimes it's just not. And for me to give up on an activity is really saying something....especially me sharing that I gave up.
It has to be known, that all of us fall victim to self-doubt, or giving up, or fears. We are all human, after all. What makes each one of us different is what we do after we fall. Do you sit and wallow in self-pity, looking for external things and people to give you strength and value? Or do you pick yourself back up and try again when you're ready?
How we approach the hard times will inevitably be what helps us succeed on our journey called life, or fall short and make us struggle every time things don't go our way.
I want to see you all rise up, challenge yourself, and succeed! You need to believe in yourself. Believe you ARE strong enough, and make life what you want it to be.
You can do it! Rise up! Here I am on a great day. This is where I want to be, this is my goal!
This week stay positive! I know, easier said than done at times. Find something that you CAN do and go do it. Be outside, let the sunshine and Fall weather bring you joy, energy, and some inner peace. Do something that makes you laugh, and release those positive chemicals in your body. Don't sit back and ponder all the negatives, that won't do you, or anyone around you, any good. You deserve more! You deserve better!!
I'm here for you! Let me know how you're doing.
And remember, as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie Sometimes how I feel about my leg!🤣
What drives you forward when you hit hard times?
When days get hard we look to find purpose, I think that's human nature. Somedays we fall short of finding what gets us up and motivated. Today, after a very hard hike in the heat and my prosthetic rubbing my leg raw, I pushed myself to a point that I wasn't sure I'd make it back to the car but when I did, I sat there and looked at my husband and right then, in midst of my pain and exhaustion, I saw my purpose very clearly.
My husband, and my 'Why', up at Young Life camp serving with me.
For me, I need to see my purpose, daily. I know that it is what drives me forward, to work through the pain, to try new things- even if I fail. My two sons, they are my purpose, as well. They have seen me go through hard times, seen me struggle, and seen my victories. They were there for it all and were 2 amazing supports, even at a young age. They kept me going and striving for more.
My 'Why' My boys, supporting one another, as well. Life is better when you figure out your purpose. And when hard times come, and they will, knowing your purpose, the "why" in your life, then you'll be prepared and ready to fight the battles. You are not alone, you are loved. Find your 'why' and watch your circumstances and attitude shift.
Simply put: your call to action this week is to soul search and figure out what you're living for, what you get up in the morning for, what puts a smile on your face and a spring in your step.
Spend time in a quiet location and really search your heart. Once you figure out what your purpose is, write it down and place it somewhere you can see it everyday. If it's someone in your life, put a picture near your bedside and remember what you're doing this all for. When I decided to amputate, I made a vision board to show me things I wanted to get back to or do again after I healed. I also had pictures of my boys, my husband and my siblings on my board... my why's were there watching me and helping remember why I chose to go through this.
It's motivating to find your purpose. You can do this and you will figure it out. Do it now! Don't wait until you are searching and feel like you're drowning in pain and turmoil. Have your 'Why' ready for when those moments strike. You'll be prepared and ready to tackle the valleys when they arise.
This is what I live for!
He is my future.
What is YOUR 'Why'?
As always;
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Angie
Dealing with Phantom Pains, Part 2
As a continuation to last week's podcast on Phantom Pain, and how my faith has helped me through, I thought I would add in other ways you can try to deal with these inevitable pains we go through, as amputees.
If you experience phantom pains you know how unpleasant and downright horrible they can be. They can mess with your head, bring you down, and keep you from sleep. They don't discriminate, and if you've never had them, be forewarned, you could still have them rear up even years down the road. My prosthetist, who is also an above knee amputee, has been an amputee for 20+ years, and just last week experienced them for the first time, and the full blown kind. It amazes me that no one is safe from experiencing them, in one form or another, and at any given time in their amputee life.
Which brings me to the point I tried to make in the last podcast, and will, again, reiterate it here:
You need to learn to deal with these pains, realizing that they come and go, no one is safe from them, and your mindset about them will ultimately determine how you push through (or not), to rise up and continue on with your life. They may knock you down, but they don't have to destroy you.
In this podcast I discuss many different ways you can help yourself deal with them, but ultimately, I believe you need to become really strong, mentally and emotionally, to win each battle, when they come.
Listen in to this week's podcast and see what might be able help you the next time phantom pains strike. And they will..... will you be ready to take on the battle?
Do some research. Understand your options. Research neurotransmitters. Understand that what works for one person may not work for you so be open to that possibility and don't be afraid to keep trying different options. And remember, the more you understand that phantom pains are a part of your journey, the more capable you will be with overcoming them, and not being defeated by them, when they do arise.
Put on your big girl boots and push through! I'm a "Mind over Matter" kinda girl.
I believe being outside and staying active helps me push through bouts of phantom pain. How about you?
Remember, you are not alone. and you CAN and WILL make it through it.
As always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Phantoms and Serving Others: How do they fit together?
Ok, so maybe it's not THAT easy to rid yourself of phantom pains, but it does help.
SERVING.
When we distract our minds then we can free ourselves, even temporarily, from pain. So why not help others while you help yourself? I can't think of anything better than serving where I'm needed, helping someone else out, while I get an opportunity to keep so busy that I don't think about my own problems.
Six years ago my oldest son started to go part-time to a Christian school here in the valley. I found out that they go up to Williams, AZ to Lost Canyon Young Life camp every Fall and always need parent volunteers and I thought I could help. I knew no one and I was actually already struggling with knee pain and surgeries, but I thought what better way to meet new people and distract myself from my own misery.
To say that this was life-changing for me would be an understatement! I meant fantastic new people, made great friends, grew in my Faith (which proved to be invaluable as amputation time came), and I helped the school fill a need. Did my knee hurt? You betcha! Did I notice it while I served? Not as much as if I had sat around and felt sorry for myself.
You see, when we sit around with an idle mind we, as humans, tend to dwell on our hardships. We let that inner voice go from positive to negative in a heartbeat. Who needs that? It doesn't help your situation or circumstance and actually makes you miserable to be around.
As the years passed, and so did my years of being at this retreat, I learned something about myself. I use activity to take my mind off my own problems, pains, and worries. Retreat became more of a saving grace for me, while I blessed our students. Who would've know? And then that became the key to me pushing through pain, and eventually phantom pain. You see, phantom pain is not "real, physical" pain but nerves that don't know what to do with the signals being sent out. In this case there isn't a lot we can do to "physically" curb those feelings, we must dig deeper and address them through our mind. Training our brain to function differently now that we are missing a limb.
If I find myself being active, in a new place with beautiful surroundings, I am more apt to move past my pains and focus on the good around me. Take a look at where I was this past week in the pictures below:
Iron Horse Worship Center
The grounds are so clean and beautiful, and the weather is so much cooler than Phoenix.
The magnificent dining hall I have served in for the past 6 years. This year was my last as my youngest is a senior. It was hard to say good-bye.😥 In a world were there is so much need for servers, and volunteers, why not get out and do something good while you reap the benefits of distracting yourself from your own pain AND doing good? Also, whenever I spend time serving others I notice that I am riding on a cloud for weeks following my serving. There is something so magical about helping others through our own valleys. Try it! You may be pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
Oh, by the way, did I mention the night skies? Awe-inspiring is all I can say!
It's simple, like magic and a slight of the hand:
Serve others before yourself.
Give of yourself and watch how God work in and through you.
Abracadabra, let your pain go, use distraction, and like magic, you can have some peace from your pain.
Find a way to get involved in your community. Give to someone else that's hurting or worse of then you, believe me, there is always someone who is struggling with more than what you are. Find what's good about your life, your circumstance, and then use that fuel to help others. You will be glad you did.
And as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Angie
How do you deal when hard times come a knockin'?
Do you throw your hands up in defeat or do you reach deep down and find the strength to carry on?
Do you belittle yourself into an out of control spin or do you use words of affirmation and pull yourself up by the bootstraps?
I have been realizing, of late, that I am struggling with motivation. I think the move did me in and I'm still recuperating from the physical battles I had to overcome with packing and unpacking a home. My body has been aching more and my residual limb, well, let's just say we are trying to come to terms with what I want to do and what it is capable of doing.
I have pushing myself to get out the door and put my walks and exercise time in, only to find that my physical game is struggling, which then plays into my mental game. This past weekend I went for a long walk with my husband, only to find that my limb really didn't have it in it to walk as long as I wanted to... but I pushed myself and my mind won. However, that wasn't the only win that day. I walked the longest I had walked in my new socket- 2 miles, but I also pushed myself into an opportunity to see where my mental fortitude lay. This is how this podcast came about. I realized how much I talk to myself in the "heat of the battle". My mind was speaking to my heart and my leg. I then asked myself why I go through this pain and hurt. What was I getting out of doing this to myself?
I learned a lot about myself as I walked in the 98 degree Arizona summer sun, pushing myself to go farther, to not turn around, and not to give up. I find that this is beneficial for me to see what I am made of, to work out the kinks in my prosthesis, and build my character and create positive moments in my life. Is it easy? Was it easy? Absolutely NOT! But as the saying goes, nothing worth earning comes from "easy". We benefit more from a situation that is hard to get through because when we rise out on the other side we claim victory, and this is great for self motivation and helps us deal with the next hard moment, which is sure to come.
This was a moment of finding out what I was made of. A 10K race just 1 year after amputation.
The question is, how are you handling those tough moments? Do you want to do better? Feel better? Look better? Then it comes down to your mindset and the way you talk to yourself. Positive self-talk is so important. We tell our kids to not put themselves down, when they screw up, but are we beating ourselves up when we fall short? It's easy to say this to people when you realize what they are doing to themselves, but to practice what you preach can be tough and a hard pill to swallow. I realized the day after I did this walk that I had a really hard time with the pain and my usual exercise, and I started to get angry with myself, using negative words and being frustrated.... so easy to fall into that pattern. I saw that I was doing exactly what I said NOT to do and instantly changed my inner voice to a positive tone. Did it make it easier to finish, not necessarily, but I was better for it, and learned a lot about myself that day. I know that I can be physically strong but mentally weak and will struggle. These two go hand in hand. It's time to change how you treat yourself and how you talk to yourself.
Listen in to this week's podcast to hear how that day went for me, as I recorded in the midst of that moment. It's raw emotion and the reality of that struggle and hear what you can do to help yourself the next time doubt and fear creep in to your mind.
This week I want you to really listen to your inner voice.
Are you speaking negatively to yourself? Putting yourself down and beating yourself up? Be honest. Nothing good will come from lying to yourself or being in denial.
Listen to your mind when you realize you're battling something. What do you hear? More than likely you are negative.
How about that fit, though?
Randy, my prosthetist, with the cast of my residual limb
This is the first step, for some prosthetists, when it comes to making their patient's next socket. There are many steps, and it can be frustrating with how long it can take, only to realize you may need to make a bunch of corrections to the final socket over the course of the following weeks of receiving it. It is a process, like everything in life, and can test your resolve and patience. But stay the course, my friend! If you have an amazing prosthetist, like I do, then let them work their magic and make the adjustments. It'll be a better fit in the long run and you'll be a better, well-adjusted person conquering the world once again.
Adjustments need to be made, over and over again! Thanks, Randy!
But what if you don't feel like you're being heard or, better yet, being blamed for the fit not working for you? That's when you may need to seek outside help and opinions....and NOT from strangers on social media but from practicing professionals. It may take some time and effort on your part but it's ok to shop around and talk with other prosthetists. Having a new set of eyes on the issues you may be having with your fitting is your prerogative and your right. This is YOUR life after all.
Teamwork makes the dream work! And even professionals will ask for a new set of eyes to help them make it right for you...or at least they should-It's called humility.
Communication and listening are two qualities you should look for in a prosthetist. they should be willing to take the time that is needed, not allotted, to talk with you and understand your pains, concerns and issues with your fit. If they can't do that, listen to your gut and find someplace else to go.
Listen in to today's podcast where I talk with my prosthetist about the types of sockets, how to handle office visits and reassuring you that it's ok to move on if the relationship isn't working out. We also jump into what you can do to help yourself and getting out of your own way when working with your professional.
He makes some really good points that you really should hear especially if you're struggling right now with your fit and/or your prosthetist.
You can also find the interview on my YouTube channel: Angie Heuser-BAWarrior360
Time to get real.
I believe there are 3 components to your success with fitting and then succeeding as an amputee:
Physical, Emotional, Mental
First, get past the amputation-or with whatever you are struggling. This is the mental component and it might be taking you in the wrong direction. If you are still struggling with being an amputee then you need to figure out how to right this or you won't be able to move on. Stop looking into the past, at what you had, or how you were wronged. To be successful at anything, not just being an amputee, you need to embrace where you are NOW. Find someone to talk to, create a journal, add to your vision board, do something to get you to look forward and not in the past.
Make time for you and embrace the journey YOU are on.
Second, it's ok to be sad, angry, disappointed at where you are. Express that emotion and then move on. It's not ok to dwell in that negativity, it will only lead to other issues such as health issues. Your body isn't designed to stay in a stressed, angry phase for long periods of time and it will eventually start to react to the negativity. You don't need more issues on top of what you are already dealing with, so deal with your emotions- now! Use the above ideas to help you get started.
Finally, the physical aspect. As amputees we need to get a great fitting socket or life can get harder than it already is. You need to be in the right office, with the right prosthetist, who listens to you and takes your scenario to heart. But you are responsible for communicating well, and giving him/her your best.
I love my leg, what can I say. But it's a love/hate relationship the first week of having a new socket put on. Like a new pair of shoes that need to broken in before you run a marathon, a new socket- even made perfectly for your limb- has it's own personality that you need to get use to. It will hit your thigh differently, rub your groin raw, bump the end of your limb til it bruises, and then.... after some perseverance, patience and a glass of wine (or two), you hit your stride with your new friend and all is right with the world!😉
But at first you may be reluctant to change, frustrated to tears, because yet again, you must endure what you thought you were done with. It's hard to face the music when you know what's going to happen...AGAIN. There's just no escaping that reality, but you must push through, because the gains to be made and the reward to getting through that first week, or so, is amazing!
You CAN do it.
Pick your chin up, put your leg on, and dance!!!
Dance like no one is looking,
Sing like no one is listening,
Live like each day is your last!
Will it be easy, no! But nothing ever great came easy.
Strive for greatness each day. Each day, make your mark, set a goal, live your life.
If you must, do things that will distract you from the moments of pain, I do. I stay really busy! Sitting down and reading a book does not distract me, activity does. Shopping, cleaning, working out, playing with my dog, asking a friend out for coffee. Somedays we just need a distraction while we break in the new fit. That's ok. Your goal is to get comfortable in it and the only way to find comfort is by wearing it and pushing through some pain of newness.
Please, though, know your body. What works for me may not work for you. Listen to your doctor, prosthetist, or PT-whom you trust. Let them guide you when you don't feel confident or strong enough.
Today's Call to Action was brought on by the tragedy of the loss of a friend.
*Embrace someone you love today, and tell them you love them!
*Be gracious and kind to those around you, even the ones who are mean or angry, we are all fighting a battle.
*Reach out to a long lost friend or relative, or someone who you sense has withdrawn and become distant. It isn't about you, they may be fighting a battle you have no idea about and they could probably use a friend. Someone willing to see them for who they are in their heart and not how they have been acting.
Above all else, love one another. We each have our moments, our battles, our valleys. Love always wins!
Please don't forget to subscribe to my website and podcast so you don't miss an episode! Next week I will have my prosthetist, Randy West, on the show talking about how to know what's working and when to move on!
Until next time,
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!
Much love and admiration,
Angie
Prosthetics 101-Part 2 Fitting
Getting my fitting checked with Randy. (@limbmaster)
No matter how many questions I asked and how many people I talked to prior to amputation, no one can help you understand the things you don't even know to ask in the first place.... for example, I knew it would take time, about 2 years, for my residual limb to shrink, change, and mature. What I didn't know was that what I ate the day before may make my socket not fit the next morning, or that losing weight and gaining weight can be detrimental to a good fitting socket! Oh, I'm learning that now, boy am I ever!! But it's these moments that I hope my journey will help someone else navigate their own. It's not something I would have even thought about asking someone before my amputation, but it's definitely a factor in why so many amputees are struggling to fit well into their sockets.
My newest socket that's almost ready for pick up! No more excuses!💪🏼
This socket is one of the many I have had made for me and my ever-changing limb. It truly is a journey, and one that you need to embrace and wrap your head around. Once you go through an amputation you won't be problem or pain free. You will have ups and downs, good days and bad. It's how you handle them that counts, and understanding your own body is vitally important for you to get the best fit for your socket. Being able to accurately communicate what is going on with your fit, to your prosthetist, will help him or her make the best socket, and adjustments, for you. Also, if you know where you want your body weight to be, and hold yourself accountable, that will also help eliminate issues with fitting into your leg as well.
I wish I had known that in the beginning, but I'm glad I understand that now. I am more aware of changes to my body and therefore able to comprehend what's going on with my fit. Sometimes it's just what it is, and my limb is changing and maturing the further out from surgery I get. Other times, it's on me and whether I'm eating well, or exercising too much or not enough. Self-awareness is vital to your fit, and your fit is vital to your overall health. If you aren't fitting well into your socket then you'll be more apt to give up and not wear it, thus causing you to become more unhealthy and that in turn can really bring you down, emotionally. See how your fit can effect the other areas of your life?
Check out this podcast as I delve into some issues I've been having and how I am correcting them. Also, you can check out my You Tube channel for my video podcasts and other videos on exercise,
Before you go, subscribe to my site so you won't miss an episode!
This week I want you to start making goals and sticking to them.
*Set a specific day AND time to weigh yourself, weekly.
*Decide where you want to be with your weight and start working towards that.
*Baby steps- start making good habits with exercise. Maybe start with simple pushups and do what you can. The next day do the same if not one more, and so on. Also, don't forget about your core! A strong core will make walking easier and help you avoid other issues like a bad back or sore hip.
*Track what you eat! work on having a calorie deficit, if you want to lose weight, or set a calorie intake for the day and stick to it. It's ok to have something you love, once in a while. Total restriction isn't fun nor beneficial. This is NOT a diet but a change in your thinking. Accountability is key to seeing this through. Use an app for calorie counting, it's so much easier that way. I use the app Lose It! and have for several years now.
*Remember, it's a journey. It won't happen over night and give yourself some grace when you fall down. Get back up and continue to move forward. You can do this!!
Reach out to me if you have any questions. I'm happy to help and here for you.
Follow me on Instagram at @BAWarrior360
As always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
In the beginning....
This is me, with Randy West, in my first prosthetic and 50 lbs heavier! Yikes!!
This picture is hard for me to look at. I had been through years of surgeries and being laid up. I wasn't active at all because I couldn't. I was either in surgery, elevating my knee from surgery, in PT, or in just too much pain. Sadly, my mental game took as big of a hit as my physical game. I was starting to worry that my physical health was going to continue to decline and never be good again, but my prosthetist, Randy, knew that I wanted more out of life and so he and I worked so very hard to get the best fitting socket I could get so I could get out and become active once again...after all, I hurt myself going for my 2nd degree black belt. I was actually in great shape when I got hurt.
Deciding on amputation wasn't an easy decision but I am so glad I did it. Not only did it save me from becoming even heavier and more unhealthy, it saved my mental and emotional life, as well. I am so very happy now, even when my days are long and hard, even when my socket isn't fitting just right, and even through phantom pain, I can say, without a doubt I made the right choice, for me, and I am stronger, healthier and happier then I had been.
Me now. What a huge difference, and I was able to achieve a healthier physique as an amputee!
I want that for you, too! And you can have that kind of life. You can find happiness and joy, peace and health, laughter and activity. It really does come down to just a few key things to get you on your way. Attitude, perseverance, choices. These key elements can turn a lot around for you and me. No, it won't take away your challenges and struggles, but it WILL help you cope and rise above them.
Listen in today as I talk about the first 2 years of my amputation journey and what you might not expect to happen and how I've dealt with those low moments so I can continue to rise everyday and make my life worth living.
You can also watch my podcasts on my YouTube channel HERE.
This week I want you to LAUGH! Find ways to make laughter part of your healthy routine. Watch a funny movie, hang out with fun friends, read cartoons or watch silly, short animal videos on your phone with your family. I know you'll feel better about yourself and your situation if you make time to relax and enjoy life. Give yourself that. Allow yourself to be happy.
Have an amazing week... and on that note,
This was the very first day I brought my leg home! My boys have such great sense of humor!🤣
Until next week:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love and happiness,
Angie
Have Grace With Yourself Through Life's Ups and Downs
The valleys in life allow us to see the beauty of the mountain tops
Moving has been the focus of my every moment this past 3-4 weeks and it has been exhausting. I have pushed myself to the max to get things unpacked and to make our new house look like a home. I have rubbed my residual limb raw, created some serious pains that have taken my breathe away, and made my "good leg" ache with all the work it has done to compensate for the lack of not having another limb. With all the craziness of life I have ignored the fit of my socket, until now. I am finally getting fit for a new socket and am excited with the idea of a closer fit, but anxious with having to cope with a new fit that will inevitably cause pains as I adapt to it.
With the good comes the bad. With the highs come the lows, and life is a journey. We must always remember that life isn't a sprint but a marathon. I need to remember that. I can get impatient at times, and frustrated by the problems and set backs I encounter on a day to day/week to week basis.
I need to remember to stop and smell the roses( or in my case, today, sunflowers), and enjoy the journey. Today was one of those days when everything just came to a head for me, emotionally, and I got so angry and frustrated. You know, the kind of emotion that makes you want to give up and take a nap.... or stress eat!
I'm proud of myself, I did neither! Instead I went through with recording my podcast. Take a listen to hear what happened today that put me in a tail spin. As I spoke to you all about it, I realized that I am truly blessed with my life and that "this too, shall pass". I must learn to have grace with the world, the people around me, and myself. I believe we have these moments to remind ourselves of all the good that is in our life. Without the valleys how can we appreciate the mountain tops? I sometimes forget how good my life is and how blessed I am. I need to remind myself to be grateful, even through the problems.
I hope you can see how blessed you are with who and what you have in your life, even when things aren't so perfect. If we can just see the positives we can eliminate stressors that can harm our health. Our attitude and outlook on our life can create a healthy life or make us sick. Being unhappy, grouchy, and angry can really harm our health and destroy our recovery from sickness or surgery. Try positivity. You might be surprised on how great you'll start feeling AND you'll also see the world change, for the better, all around you, all because of how you carry yourself. I don't see myself as disabled or handicapped. I like to smile at people who look at me, staring at my leg. When I smile and they smile back then I know they see me for ME, then a chain reaction occurs, of happy vibes.... at least in my life and at my house. Try it!! The world needs more positive vibes- why not be the person who starts it? Be the change!
Today's Call to Action: Write down 5 things that you are grateful for. Maybe it's people in your life, or your pet. Maybe its the health you DO enjoy, or a memory. Maybe it's simply that cup of coffee with a friend or that moment you had to watch the sunset. Just be thankful! Then post your list somewhere that you can see it everyday. Maybe on your mirror in your bathroom, or next to your bed at night.
Better yet, can you write 5 things for which you are grateful for 7 days in a row?
Send me a message and tell me what you are grateful for. Our gratefulness is contagious!
I am grateful for each of you!! Thank you for reading, listening, and following my journey!
And as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
A little bit of sunshine to make me smile
Much love and admiration,
Angie
Moving is Tough Work!
Even my dog is exhausted!!
I am BACK!!! I have missed being here and recording my podcast. So sorry for the temporary interruption in the broadcast but my family has been in the midst of a big move! I never thought we'd leave the amazing house we had but times change and new chapters begin.
Our old house held so many memories for me and my family with family visiting, college students spending weekends, our Chocolate lab passing away during the pandemic, to years of homeschooling. So many good (and hard) memories to let go of but change is inevitable. The perfect house caught our attention, and then WHAM! we were in the middle of 4 weeks of purging, packing, showing, closing, and unpacking. To say that June was a blur and a whirlwind is an understatement!
While we did all that we also had a trip to Chicago planned...not knowing we were going to be buying a house. Chicago was amazing, we celebrated my husband's birthday with all of our family and went downtown to watch our Cubbies play and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city we grew up in. Oh how I had missed that this past year and a half.
Downtown Chicago, Michigan Avenue😍
Cubbies for the win!!!
As an amputee I have had concerns about a big move, after all, I am a packrat and 12 years in a home means there was a LOT of stuff to go through that wasn't needed. Also, I have to say that unpacking was so very hard on my good leg, especially my hip. There was a lot of bending over to get stuff off the ground or out of boxes. After a while my hip would just ache as I laid in bed every night. My suggestion for anyone moving, who is an amputee, get some help. Even if a few friends can come over and pull stuff out of boxes and place them up on a counter, it'll save you from overworking your good joints. I say this but I didn't elicit any help that was offered....I'm stubborn that way, and I paid the price. I'm still unpacking and making this place "home", and my hip is sore.
My Podcast/Craft room: Before
My Podcast/Craft room: After (And Bella, my shadow, hanging out with me)
As you can see, I've come a long way. It's not complete but getting there. So grateful that I'm totally unboxed.
Moving is hard to do, physically and emotionally. We closed on our home yesterday so the night before we headed over one last time. It's so hard to say good-bye to a place you've raised your family and made amazing memories in, but as my friends have said, there are new memories to be made, and thankfully you can take memories wherever you go. I loved our home. It served us well, and it will be missed.
Our final good-bye to our home I hope you know that finding a home that will suit your life and your journey is very important, I mean, that's why we moved after all. A ranch home will allow me to preserve my good knee and hip for many more years. A new chapter has begun for The Heusers. If you are thinking of moving or need a change due to your circumstance make sure you do your due diligence and find the right home for you and your family. I know for a fact that I don't ever want to move again.
And on that note.....
I'm so sorry that I forgot to do a Call to Action 2 weeks ago. It was crazy and I was recording in an empty house while I should've been prepping it for move in. This week, however, I have something for you to do.
This week I want you to stop and take time for YOU! Recharge your battery, do something for yourself, maybe that means doing nothing at all. Give yourself a break and let go. Enjoy some downtime. Go do something you love or do nothing at all. Watch a good movie, enjoy a glass of wine, take a dip in a pool, read a good book. Whatever you need to do to rest your body. I know I have needed some downtime. My body was quitting on me. I literally couldn't pick up any more boxes, or unwrap any more glassware. I ended up taking about four days off for myself and my mental heal...
Changing Our Environment To Aid in Self-Preservation We're moving!!
It's so real now!!! No turning back!
The end of another chapter. 😢
Well, this is it! I have been not been able to discuss this until now. As of 2 days ago we are officially new home owners, and of a ranch home. No more stairs for this amputee!! Laundry on the same level as my bedroom! Woo hoo! I am not writing a lot here this week as I am currently standing in my new home, no furniture and people working around the house to get it ready for our official move next Tuesday, but I will tell you that moving as an amputee has been on our minds for 2 years (plus the years prior to amputation while I was dealing with multiple knee surgeries) but we just never felt it was the right time. Then out of nowhere, BAM! we found this beautiful home, perfect for all of us. The pieces all fell where they needed to and now a dream has become a reality. I am so blessed with a husband always working so hard and watching out for my needs. Our hope is that this will be the home we can retire in, have family visit, and watch grandbabies (a long ways off😉) grow up and play.
Below are some sneak peeks of the new home.
Also, check out my You Tube channel
I made a video of my podcast in our new home. Please forgive my lack of editing and the echo as all of my office equipment has been packed-I'm in limbo!
Enjoy and as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
The new kitchen!
Long hallways in ranch homes! I'll probably make my steps just by going back and forth in here!
My new and improved podcasting and crafting space!! Soooo excited!!
Out backyard is truly a desert oasis!🥰
Run The Race Set Before You
It's time to get off that couch and put your leg on. Let's do this! If not today, then when?
I will tell you that the amputation wasn't the end of a journey but the very beginning of another. Life is a journey so I don't know why I thought any different with amputation. Now the real work comes in. You need to heal, and then get your socket fitted and THEN learn to walk all over again! No one can truly prepare you for what's to come with amputation but I will tell you that no matter what you are facing with yours, you CAN do anything! You just need to press on and learn to adapt.
For me it was about perseverance, distraction and goal setting. You will have good days and bad days, and knowing this will allow you to "bounce back" when the going gets tough. I didn't realize this, at first, and when I began to struggle I thought it was going to be down, down, down, with no recovery.... that's how my last 7 years had gone with surgeries, so why would this be any different? But then over the course of these past two years I realized that my residual limb changes size and shape and that will dictate how my socket fits, which, in turn, dictated some of my struggles and pains. But those bad moments, or struggles, were short lived and then good times would return. NOW that I know this I can take those "bad" days in stride, and not lose sleep over them (although, sometimes I do because of the phantom pain ;-) Haha! Humor is good medicine, by the way.
Humor helps get through hard days. Don't be afraid to laugh at yourself.
I started my journey, back to walking, by deciding to give virtual races a try. I am highly competitive with myself so when I set a goal, I will succeed. My 1st race was 175 miles in 3 months. I started this one just a couple months after getting my prosthetic! I figured, what's the best way to get use to your new leg- use it, and use it A LOT! I would need to put in 2 miles everyday to catch up since I registered a little late. You know what? It was hard! But I stuck with it, logged all my miles and made the goal of 175 miles! And the pure joy of receiving my finisher's medal stuck with me...so I registered for the next one, which was 150 miles! and then the next one- 150 miles! I finished all of those and then began smaller more condensed goals of completing 5k walks/runs, virtually. The idea of doing a race within a day put more pressure on me to compete at my highest level. I had to complete 3.1 miles all at once and some days that was really hard. Some of them I raced for better and faster times, other times I had to be content with just finishing. You need to know your body well enough not to do harm but also to know when and how hard to push.
My first medal as an amputee! I'm very proud of this one!
These are all that I have completed since July 2019!! Each one of them I picked with purpose.
I have enjoyed all the races I've completed. There's a sense of pride and accomplishment seeing all of my medals I've earned over the past 2 years as an amputee. These races have given me a purpose, goals, and independence as an amputee. I look and feel better then I have in a long time, and my mental health is at its peak. Listen in to my podcast to hear more about how to get moving and what hurdles I overcame to finish all those medals these past 2 years.
Now it's YOUR turn!
Check out these virtual races and register for one of them. Take baby steps to get there but get there! Challenge yourself to do and be something more. You'll be surprised what you can accomplish when you set a goal and get moving. I guarantee you will feel better about yourself, and you'll start making strides in your physical, mental and emotional state, plus you and your prosthetic will become friends! ;-)
Check these out:
Virtual Strides
Virtual Pace Series
Gone For A Run
Will Run For Bling and Charity
Traveling Home Once Again
Me and Dad traveling back to Chicago after his stay with us.
Coming in for a landing, Chitown. City lights, oh how I've missed you!
O'Hare Airport doing it up right! Love this airport. God Bless America and the Veterans who fought for our freedom.
I am HOME! Chicago will always be my home, no matter how long we may be apart. Every year my family travels back to Chicago, where most of our family lives, for visits; one in the summertime, and one near Christmas. The pandemic made other plans for us this past year. We were very overdue for this trip.
Since I haven't traveled much for almost 2 years- no flights, at least, I was a little rusty on packing. I hate packing for trips as it is, but when you are an amputee or have other medical issues, then packing becomes a bit more time consuming and anxiety building. There are so many things to remember to bring, then having to make sure it all fits. Whew! What a task.
This podcast is very unique as it is the first one I have done away from my home setup. This one may sound a bit different because I used different equipment and actually recorded outside on the deck at my parent's house-you may hear cars and wind in the background. But keeping with my "keeping it real" vibe, this shouldn't surprise you, and actually I am pretty impressed with the quality of this episode, all things considered.
I hope you can feel the love I put into this one, as I was recording in a place my Mom and I use to sit and chat when I'd come visit. I recorded on the deck that holds many memories of BBQ's with my whole family over, moments where my mom was standing and smiling down at me while I played with my boys in the grass below (grass was always fun to play in since we have none in Arizona!), watching her watch her hummingbirds flit in and out of the deck's feeders, and so many more. I have laughed, listened, cried, and hugged the people I love on this very deck, it only seems fitting to have an episode done here, too, to add to the memories.
Being here in Chicago has been such a blessing, even through the pains I have been feeling in my residual limb. As I discuss in this episode, though, we need to see past these painful moments and live for the positive things going on around us, or we will miss the good in life. What I feel today, may be gone tomorrow and I don't want to miss any more moments with my family, so I resolve to buck up and push through, knowing less painful moments are on the horizon. I pray you do the same. We are all on a journey, and this journey will be filled with endless ups and downs. We need to take the good with the bad and know that with every hard episode we go through, a better, more joyful one will be right behind it.
Don't fret. Don't think negative thoughts. Chin up, Warrior, life will get better.
Find the positive when it seems like it's not there. Surround yourself with positive people and keep your chin up in the hard moments, realizing that this will pass and it's just one moment in your life. Your attitude will dictate your outcomes, so stay positive, happy, upbeat. Even when you're hurting, find the strength to smile. You've got this, Warrior, you've got this!!!
As always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Chitown 2021- We Are BACK!!
Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win!!
Water Tower- Michigan Avenue
Much love,
Angie
...and ROMP: Helping Others Gain Freedom of Mobility One Prosthetic at a Time
This is me, July 2020 climbing Mt. Humphreys in Flagstaff, AZ. My highest and most challenging terrain thus far. I did this for ROMP's #We Still Climb campaign.
OK all, I am here to tell you that if you haven't heard of ROMP: Range of Motion Project Global yet you need to check them out!! Do you feel the need to give back, or help others? Do you want to get in shape for yourself but need motivation? Then this is the group for you to get involved with. ROMP is a non-profit group that helps get prosthetics to underserved communities here in the U.S. and abroad. Since their creation in 2005 they have been able to deliver 3,345 devices and visited 9, 249 patients! I became involved last year through Living With Amplitude magazine's team for the We Still Climb initiative. We raised money as a team and went out and climbed our own mountains (usually they have teams go to Cotopaxi, in Ecuador, to climb the highest glacier covered volcano there to bring awareness and raise funds-but even though a pandemic stopped that travel it didn't stop them from recreating the challenge to fit the times).
Today, I am now a team leader for the 2021 Challenge AND Mobility May. I have an amazing team working with me to raise funds but also to log miles, anyway they can and want to, to bring awareness to the lack of mobility that some people have in the world. Everyone deserves to have the freedom that comes from mobility, and shouldn't be stopped from having that opportunity just because of where they live.
If you'd like to join my team (No, it's not too late!) or donate to my team: Romping Warriors, please click HERE
We will be charging forward to raise $2021 and log 2021 miles, as a team, by December 31, 2021. Join us!!
This Friday I am traveling back home to Chicago!!! I can't wait. I miss my family and my husband's family, and it's been too long! However, if you're an amputee, you know that traveling can produce stress and anxiety. Trying to remember all the things you'll need, and what you MIGHT need, if case of an emergency, can make traveling hard.
Listen in as I discuss the things I bring with me, how I get through security at the airport and make everything run smoothly so I can enjoy the trip. I sometimes need to remind myself that I need to enjoy the journey not just the destination, but that can be hard when there is so much to remember to bring. Don't fret the small stuff, and know that you'll be fine no matter what.
Enjoying my hike up one of our Arizona mountains. My happy place!
Today's Call to Action is a simple one:
Check out ROMP's website, Instagram and/or Facebook Page!
Range of Motion Project Global
IG: @ROMPGLOBAL
Facebook: Range of Motion Project
Get involved if you feel led. Join my team, donate. I promise you, that helping others gain their freedom of mobility and their independence will fill your bucket, making you feel great and wanting to do more. You can also take on the challenges, like joining my team, and getting out and active for yourself (which will produce endorphins-that will make you happy), and you'll be a better person for it. It's a Win-Win, in my book.
Join me! Take on a challenge! Change someone's life for the better.
Mobility is not to be taken for granted.
Mobility means freedom
Mobility means independence.
As always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!
Much love,
Angie
Kauai beaches and my first time snorkeling as an amputee... ..actually the first time to get in the ocean since my injury 8 years ago!!! FREEDOM!!!
How My Faith Saved Me and Made Me Who I Am Today..... HIS!
Faith: the assurance of what is hoped for, with the conviction of what is unseen.
This podcast goes deep as I share the other half of my story, the side of my story that I have only just recently shared with people outside my circle. This story that gives you a glimpse into my Faith and belief system that has been in place all my life but really grounded me the most the past several years.... especially the months right before my amputation.
I don't want to go into much detail here as I hope you listen because the raw emotion that spilled out during my recording I don't share lightly, and am sort of embarrassed by as I don't lose it like that when I record my episodes.
This side of my journey is special and a sacred part of my journey that I have decided was time to tell, in hopes it may help someone else. Please listen, please share, please subscribe to my emails so you don't miss an episode.
This past week I was blessed to go speak to a women's Bible study group and share my faith journey. This stirred in me that people want and need to hear these type of stories, if only to build hope in this world we are living in.
Thank you to my good friend, Laurie Porter, for inviting me to speak, and to the ladies of the Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church, here in Arizona, for allowing me the time to speak and share my story with you. I am truly blessed to have met each of you and call you friends.
Grateful to these ladies for opening up their study group to me so I could share my story and to my Dad who is in visiting from Illinois. What a trooper being surrounded by all these women!
My first socket-I chose a saying that helped me get through those hard firsts of prosthetic wearing.
Today's is simple;
If you believe then really BELIEVE. God has got you no matter the circumstance, no matter the fight or battle you are in. Let go and stop trying to control the situation. Listen, be quiet, see what He is trying to say to you.
If you aren't a believer then ask questions. If you are intrigued by my story and the words I spoke then please reach out to me. I'd love to share more with you and answer your questions. You are never too late to find this unique relationship I spoke of.
And as Always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
Angie
My support team through it all
My Support group This family!! I have been so blessed by each one of them!
The people you surround yourself with is a very important component to your success, I'd say it's number 2 just behind your ATTITTUDE and MINDSET.
Surround yourself with people who know you, can support you physically and emotionally, and know when to give and when to step back. Communicate with them, let them know exactly what you need so help is relevant and helpful.
Likewise, if you are someone's support person, make sure you listen and hear what they need. Sometimes you'll see struggles, but they need to have that to become stronger. It's ok to have to fight to make change happen, just know when the fight becomes too hard or the battle is being lost, that you step in before defeat is felt.
This podcast I am dedicating to those 3 amazing people you see in the photo above, my husband and best friend for 32 years-Erik, and my two sons-Colby and Peyton. Without them by my side I don't think I would've gotten this far. Between making meals, going to PT sessions with me, picking up the house and doing laundry, to motivating me (without even knowing it) to be better, to heal, and to get back on my feet at all costs was a priceless gift these past 8 years. But I'm a lucky one, my support came from within my home, I had access to it everyday, all day. Some people aren't so lucky. Do you know someone in your neighborhood, or in your friend circle who is living life alone and in need of support? A lot of times they won't ask for help, you just have to take the first step and go talk to them. Bring them a coffee, bake cookies or bread, maybe run to the store and bring them something cheerful like a bouquet of flowers. These steps will open doors to allowing them to ask for help. I promise you, that filling someone's bucket will also fill yours, two-fold!
Today, there are 2 separate call to actions:
If you have been GETTING SUPPORT from someone as you heal or get through whatever it is that you've been dealing with, here's what I have for you today:
**Say thank you! Let them know you see them and appreciate those who have been helping you. Send them a quick note, email, or phone call. Maybe send them flowers or better yet, take them flowers, if you're able to do so. These small gestures will make them feel amazing and loved and seen for all they've done for you and "fill their bucket".
A simple Thank You goes a long ways.
If you have been SUPPORTING someone:
**Take time for yourself! Yep, you heard me right, stop helping for a little while and escape! If you like to read go spend quality "you" time reading a magazine or a book you've been wanting to read, dedicate a little time everyday to rest and recharge yourself. You'll be a better caretaker if you do. If you like to get out and grab a coffee with a friend, go do it! If you can, go get a massage, a facial, or get your nails done. If you feel recharged and beautiful you'll be a better person and ready for anything thrown your way. But you need "YOU" time, without a doubt.
Don't feel guilty. Don't ignore your own wants and needs. If you are in a really needy situation with the person who you are helping, then you need to be at your best, and you can't be at your best if you get burnt out.
Please check in with me, tell me how your Call to Action is going this week and what you did for the person helping you, or for yourself if you are a helper.
And as always, until next time:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!
Much Love,
Angie
Me and my guy doing what we love. Grateful to be here after the journey I've been on. Couldn't have done it without him.
A little R & R for the one who has helped me through all this "stuff".
Again, and Again, and Again.....
Starting Line to my 1st race as an amputee, and as a St Jude Hero.
If someone asked you where your life began, or where you started out, you might answer, when you were born. Others may answer where they started their career or life as an adult, when they had to be responsible for themselves and maybe a spouse or significant other.
For me, my starting point is always changing, and comes around...OFTEN!
Of course we all start life at birth, then we grow, move out and start our own life.
If we get married and have kids, those are all new points, starting once again.
At 40 something years old, I thought most of my starting points were behind me but in December 2018 my life shifted greatly. I elected to amputate my left leg above the knee, and start over. This was a huge discussion and was quite tough to make. Many questions came to me, like- Would I die during surgery? Would I get an infection? Will I really learn to walk again, or hike or ski, for that matter? Did I have the energy and strength to begin again and learn to do everything I knew how to do (with 2 legs) now with just one?
When I woke after surgery I started over. A clean slate. A new beginning. As scary as that was, it was also a moment of new hope. I could dictate the outcome of my decision, to some degree, with my attitude, mindset, and fight. And that's just what I did!
In this podcast I discuss what it's like starting over. And how as an amputee we "start over" A LOT! Every new socket, the change in weather, a new pair of shoes, a change in prosthetics, from walking leg to running blade, etc.
Another new socket fitting by Randy West 5/3/2021
Stop and rest now and then. Life is a marathon NOT a sprint!
All of that feels new, and changes our perspective and outcomes of that moment, day or week.
This was my 3rd ski trip as an amputee-the first one without instructors!
Starting over isn't for the weak or faint of heart.❤
And sometimes we succumb to the constant newness of our circumstance. I discuss options you have on how, as an amputee, you deal with these obstacles, and how your support system can help you navigate day to day living.
Remember, it's all about your mindset, but even the most optimistic people hit roadblocks they struggle to get around. Give yourself a break. Have grace with yourself and don't hold on to those struggles. They are inevitable, and we all deal with them. Take a step back, breathe, then move forward-head held high!
Roadblocks are a part of life. Embrace the challenge and ATTACK! Smiling's my favorite! 😁
You are a warrior! Press on, good and faithful soldier, press on.⚔
This week, I want you to look in the mirror, and look deep within yourself. Praise yourself for how far you've come. Recognize your successes, let go of fears. Press onward. If you haven't made a vision board yet, give that a go this week. Check out my own vision board HERE for an example.
If you have a vision board already made, then maybe now is a good time to refresh and renew your dreams, goals, thoughts and mantras. Good big!! Aim for the stars and realize that you can achieve what you put your mind and heart in to.
As always, I would love to hear how you are doing. Reach out to me. Follow me on Instagram at @angie_heuser and/or @bawarrior360. DM me our email me. Leave a comment here and let me know how your goals are coming along, if you need help, or if your are struggling.
I'm here for you!
And as always:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!!
Much love,
Angie
Plastic Surgeons and TMR Surgery: Tackling Phantom Limb Pain
Everyone deals with pain at some point in their life, but when you have an amputation you know that there is a possibility of living with a pain you can't even touch! When the missing limb is burning, itching, throbbing, or sending sharp pains with every movement it can be unnerving -pun intended- and hard to get past.
I, like so many other amputees, have dealt with phantom limb pain since day one. Most of the time I can handle it, sometimes in the quiet of night it can be hard to fall asleep, but I have been able to deal with it. The point when I could no longer take the pain was when I couldn't even walk into my kitchen without the pain being so sharp and unpredictable that I stopped moving! It takes A LOT to stop me! I have a high tolerance for pain, and this was just too much for me. I have to say, this freaked me out and made me worry that maybe this was going to be like this for the rest of my life.... and then I stepped back and gave myself a pep talk. I cannot allow myself to participate in defeatist talk. Negativity cannot reside in me, I won't allow it. So, what did I do? I had an appointment with my prosthetist and my surgeon who performed my amputation.
I was scheduled for an MRI to see if there was a neuroma, sure enough, there was one, exactly where I felt the pain. Symptomatic, great!
Next step? My orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Judd Cummings, told me that I needed to see a plastic surgeon, and the one he suggested, who knows how to perform a surgery called TMR (Targeted Muscle Reinnervation), Dr. Roni Prucz. He put his confidence, and my future, into this doctor's hands... and I believed in him, so I went.
Dr. Roni Prucz Phoenix Plastic Surgery
Now, I didn't have ANY desire for yet another surgery, but I promised I'd go talk to him. What harm could that do?
....And before I knew it, I was scheduled for surgery! Dang it!
Dr. Prucz seemed confident that he could successfully help me with the pain on the back of my residual limb, where the neuroma was, but the sharp pain that I felt ripping down my non-existent shin, he couldn't promise that. I couldn't pinpoint where the pain was originating from and so he would just have to do exploratory surgery in that area, and hope for the best.
Without the neuroma, my gait has become so much better, there was no more pain there. However, the sharp pain, in the other area of my limb, returned about 6 weeks after surgery, not as often and not as intense, but it reared its ugly head and my fears of life-long pain returned.
No matter what, I will rise!
This is where I needed to advocate for myself and not just say, "Oh well, we tried." That wasn't good enough for me. I needed answers and I needed this to be fixed, or at least feel better. I saw my prosthetist, then Dr. Prucz, and then over to Dr. Cummings, just trying to figure this out, gain perspective, and to see if anyone had any ideas. I would NOT rest until I had direction.
Yesterday I took my next step in helping myself, I tried a sympathetic nerve block in my L3 and..... so far, so good!!!
I needed something that didn't require another surgery and this was a good next step, and quick. If it works then I may be looking at having that nerve bundle ablated. I've been moving around for 24 hours now and not feeling that pain. This is a good sign, but I hesitate to get too excited, too soon. I will do my thing, I will beat on my leg through my high level of activities, like hiking, and really push the limits of my leg and socket. For me that's the best way to really test out what I've had done.
I really test my leg and socket whenever something new has been done to either of them
I hope this podcast gives you some insight to TMR surgery, if you're a candidate, and how to go about finding the right person to perform this on you. As always, I'm here for you! Send me an email or leave a comment.
Physical Therapy After Amputation is Vitally Important to Your Success as an Amputee
My Tribe
Everyone needs a tribe. A group of people who are there for you, care about you, make you laugh when you want to cry and support all of your crazy ideas. These are my people and I am so fortunate to have each and everyone of them in my life. Some of them have been in my life since I was a teenager (my husband), others for the last few years, and others have been my medical team that have helped me through my journey into amputation. They have become friends, confidents, and the people I care about in my life. They've seen me at my worst, and they have watched me rise and been there watching and helping me achieve my goals. These people are priceless!
How many people can say that about their physical therapists? Some people curse those who put us through pain so we can heal, not me, they have only wanted to see me succeed...whatever it took. They never said it would be easy, but they never left my side. They worked with me, helping me get to where I wanted to go and, only then, began to let go, so I could soar.
I am excited for you to hear my interview with Dan and Kelly, the two PTs that got me up and walking in a prosthetic and running in my blade. They continued to work with me even when I got that crazed look in my eye and said, "Could we try....?" You name it, they did it. They stopped being surprised when I'd walk in saying I have something I'd like to do and just started asking what the new goal was. They continued to build my confidence and never backed down to my challenges I'd present to them. They were my support system, and if they thought I could do it, then I could do it.
Relationships. It's truly all about relationships. You see, I'm a relationship kinda girl. I love being around people, talking with people, and getting to know someone new. My medical team is no different. The way they listen to me, hear my goals, dreams, and fears brings us closer, and we begin to work together and create a bond like no other. They have all seen me through some seriously hard times, but also the best of times. They have watched me shed tears of frustration and doubt, and laughter after accomplishing something big.
In this interview I talk with Dan and Kelly, from Touchstone Rehabilitation, about the importance of physical therapy, pre and post, amputation and how to find the right therapist for you. Not all therapist are the same, just like I said about prosthetists. Your therapist should have a ton of experience with amputees and listen to you and what's important to you, never making you feel like what you want to accomplish is impossible- You want the therapist who wants to help you reach your goals, no matter the size.
Take a listen and take notes. Know that you have control over who you see and that you should feel confident and comfortable in their presence. Go with your gut and don't settle. You deserve to find your tribe, too!
My "Surf Crew"- Mark, Mariah and Jovanni
Stopping by to say hi to the people who got you on track-it's all about relationships!
This week I want you to get out and get active everyday! It doesn't matter how long, just that you set a goal, and do it!
If you struggle walking in your prosthetic for more than a block then set a goal of walking a block. Once you do that then add another block, and continue to get out and move EVERYDAY! Don't quit! Give yourself one week, to push yourself just a little bit more each day. At the end of the week you'll be surprised how far you've come. It takes time to build a positive habit, give yourself time to do just that. Even after the week is up, continue, just use this week as your starting point. The sky's the limit and you can do anything you put your mind to.
Reach out to me. Tell me how it's going. Share your accomplishments, tell me your setback. We can do this together!!
I'm here for you!
Not All Sockets (or Prosthetists) Are Made the Same
Randy West, myself, and David Banks
I consider myself so fortunate to have been directed to The Limb Center by my doctor, Dr. Judd Cummings, as I was planning for my amputation. And I think I am a good judge of character, so when I went in to meet Randy West and David Banks for the first time, pre-amputation, I knew I was getting the best care out there!
Fitting my running blade and trying it out for the first time
When I told Randy I wanted to surf and I brought him some surf leg plans he graciously went to work and built it for me, just because he knew it was my dream!
Cheesy, but priceless, photo op with Randy, the Blue guy and my new surf leg!😎
They listened to me. They actually HEARD what I was telling them about my dreams, goals and aspirations....as well as my fears and doubts about going through with this surgery.
Not often, but in my situation, I was able to take my test socket out for a "test drive"
...and test drive it I did!! A 5K hike! It ended up being a great fit.
I had visited another prosthetist's office before I knew of The Limb Center, and I had a pretty good experience there, too. I also met an amazing young lady who was an above knee amputee and a fighter, while I was there. However, three major factors first swayed me to Randy and David, before I really knew them. 1) They took my insurance- this is VERY important and the other office did not! 2) My doctor was very familiar with them and worked with them directly and, quite frankly, I trusted my surgeon and his opinion in this matter, and 3) David was an above knee amputee with 20+ years of experience being one. He could see things and understand an amputee better just by living it.
Amazing attention to detail, and always teaching me how to be independent, by showing me how my prosthetic works and fits.
Then once I got to meet them and talk through my decision to amputate, I knew that we had a connection far greater than me being an office visit here and there. I had their cell phone numbers, could call or text whenever there was a problem, and time and again, they showed me that I mattered to them.
This is the type of relationship you should have and that you deserve with your prosthetist.
Randy and David join me in this podcast as we discuss the right "fit" in your relationship with your prosthetist, insurance and getting the right coverage, steps to getting your first socket, and when to turn around and walk out of that office and find the right relationship you need to be a healthy, happy amputee. It can happen, but you need to push that for yourself and know when to do it.
Knowledge is power, and I want to arm you with as much knowledge as I can so you can feel confident and ready to advocate for yourself in the medical field, in your doctor appointments and when finding and working with your prosthetist. When we have knowledge, confidence, and opportunity we can access limitless possibilities in our lives.
People don't realize that who you see for your prosthetics is so very important-it can make or break your desire and ability to really live your life after amputation, and it's a relationship, like family. You'll be working with them for years to come so you'll want to make sure you trust and enjoy working with them.
As always, if you have comments or questions, for me or our guests, please feel free to reach out to me. I'd be happy to help.
Time to do the research and leg work- no pun intended. Talk to people, find social media groups that work with amputees, reach out to the Amputee Coalition and your doctor to see who they recommend as a prosthetist for you.
Once you have found a couple, make an appointment to go talk with them. Read their body language and how they talk with you. Do they want to hear your history, problems, dreams and aspirations? If not,
Advocating For Yourself When You Reach That Moment
-My First steps as an amputee -This was pure joy: a new life had been opened up to me -The possibilities were endless
-My amazing nurses that saw me through several days of recovery -This was just before being discharged -Excitement mixed with nerves
-Dr Judd Cummings, my amazing orthopedic surgeon
That moment had come, in my mind. I had done everything to make my knee work the way it was suppose to. I spent years in PT. I tried medication, pain management, dry needling, cryotherapy, holistic/Eastern medicine, blocks, non-invasive surgeries, and allergy testing. NOTHING helped. When I came home from Europe only to find out I had a blood clot and could've died in flight was it then that I realized that was it, the end of my pursuits to regaining mobility with the knee I was born with.
Enter Dr. Judd Cummings.
He listened to my concerns, had a real grasp of my years of trying to make things better and let me know that I was in the right place, checked off all the boxes, and that amputation was definitely a route he could help me take.
Was this an easy thing to talk about? No way! For a while I couldn't even say the "A" word. If I did, it became real and I wasn't emotionally there yet. I got several other opinions before heading back to Dr. Cummings office. One opinion even told me that I'd never walk again if I amputated!! Can you believe that!?!?
The reality is, you need to be in the right state of mind to accept it and go forward with this surgery. How did I know it was right for me? I knew I had exhausted all my options. I had started talking to people in that world who had success with their amputation, and I knew that I was NOT living my life. I was defeated. I was tired of working so hard for something that wasn't working. I missed doing things with my family, my boys, who were growing up so quickly before my eyes while I watched from the sidelines.
I once had a doctor tell me that I would be a good candidate for amputation however I wasn't there, yet. I had no idea what he meant by that....until my blood clot. It was like a final slap in the face. The final straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. At that moment, in the ER, when the doctor told me I had a blood clot, I knew right then and there that I was physically ready for amputation.
I spent over a month getting second opinions, even though I knew I wanted Dr. Cummings to do the surgery, but I was doing my due diligence. Making sure I heard everything loud and clear from several medical professionals, asking a lot of questions, and sometimes hearing things I didn't want to hear. Each one of those appointments lead me to the final decision, with conviction.
After I set the date for December 18, 2018 I had 3 months to mull it over, ask more questions, worry, get confused, doubt my decision and have nightmares. It was not an easy road leading up to that fateful date. But in those months I gained mental strength that was needed to rise above and succeed in my endeavor. By the time I woke, the morning of my surgery, I was in the best spirits, the weight of my decision was in God's hands and I was ready! My Faith drove me forward, gave me confidence and conviction.
-I did it for them❤ When I woke after surgery, the moment I actually feared the most, I never felt better. Even my family was shocked by my recovery (I usually am very groggy and sick to my stomach when I come to), and my chirper behavior surprised them.
As I speak with Dr. Cummings in my interview you'll hear some things that can help you succeed, if this is the path laid out for you. We discuss advocating for yourself in the doctor appoints, gaining perspective through talking to others who have been there, and knowing when to seek another opinion. Dr. Cummings also tells us what things he, as a professional, looks for when deciding if amputation is the best avenue for his patients.
What's Holding You Back?What if I told you that you can overcome your fears. What if I told you that you could rise above your circumstances and that they do NOT define you? You need to hear Mike's story, but not just what happened to him, listen to how he speaks about it. Listen to his message of the hope, and how he looked toward his future and NOT his past. Hear his heart and about the faith he had that this was all part of a bigger plan. We could all learn a thing or two from his approach to living a full and rewarding life and how his positivity and mindset might be just what you need to be inspired to make the most of your circumstances.
I met Mike while we were in Kauai on vacation a couple of years ago. I didn't know his story before meeting him but was intrigued to hear that he lost his leg in a shark attack and went right back to surfing. Talk about facing fears! Wow! I find his story inspiring, not just because he went back to surfing but because he took a life changing event and made the most of it. To become a shark advocate and to be face to face with them so he could photograph them and show the world what beauty lies within these ancient creatures is, to me, the ultimate sign of courage and strength.
What I realized after talking with Mike, in depth, is that we ALL have that capability inside of us. We can all make the choice to see the positive in any situation. We can get knocked down a hundred times but rise 101 times. We control the power within ourselves to be great and live a full and meaningful life, no matter what hand we are dealt.
Mike and I meeting for the first time in Kilauea, Kauai
I really hope you hear the message Mike presents in our interview, and understand that it's possible to find happiness in tragedy, hope when you feel hopeless, and success in overcoming fear. You can do this! You are strong enough and you have a story to share with others. Through your fight and your journey, you, too, can and will inspire.
Call to Action:
Decide if you are playing the victim and throwing a pity party because life didn't deal you the hand you think you deserve or are you looking at that circumstances as a way to rise to the challenge and going to make the best of it.
Then decide if you want to make a change and start living your life.
If you are choosing to take back control of your life, what do you need to make this happen?
Do you need to change your thinking? Then start by seeing the positive- I try to remember that I am lucky to be alive and healthy and can now do the things I couldn't do just 2 years ago. I also realize that there are people in worse situations than I am and that I should have a a heart of gratitude.
Do you need help? Reach out to a family member, a friend, a close co-worker or find a support group. Sometimes it's just plain tough to go it alone and a healthy, open relationship is just what you need. Be honest with yourself and your family about how you're feeling. Sometimes just talking through your feelings will release your anxiety and allow you to grow.
Once you figure out what's holding you back you can begin to move forward and make the necessary changes to improve your outlook on your life, and begin to have a positive, healthy mindset that will translate to a more profitable lifestyle for you and those around you.
This week I want you to work on your thinking and how you perceive your life. Be positive, upbeat, lose the negativity and smile. The simple act of smiling increases the release of endorphins and serotonin- a pain reliever and antidepressant, respectively. Try it!
I want to see you soar! I want to see you live a healthy, full and wonderful life. It's there for the making.
Next week join me as I speak with Dr. Judd Cummings, the Orthopedic surgeon who performed my amputation and helped me get my life back.
Until next time:
Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!
Using Fear to Grow and Overcome Obstacles
What holds you back from accomplishing your goals, your dreams?
What stops you from moving forward, creating anxiety within you?
If you are crippled by fear and can't seem to move forward in pursuing your goals just know you are not alone. Everyone has some sort of fear: fear of failure, fear of acceptance, fear of being alone or in pain. The issue is never about whether you have a fear or not, it's about how much it controls your life.
I use to tell my sons, when they were little, that it was ok to have fears, as long as it doesn't control you or stop you from being healthy, happy and living your life. Fear is defined by Merriam-Webster as an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger; anxious concern. Fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually a loss of courage. Sometimes fear is defined as a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger or pain, whether the threat is real or imagined.
For most of us, we experience fear based on past, unpleasant experiences. It makes sense. If I went rock climbing a year ago and my foot slipped and I went sliding down the face of the rock, scrapping up my body, I might instantly feel anxiety well up inside of me when a friend suggests we go rock climbing today. As adults, we tend to hold onto past experiences, good and bad, and file those moments away, only to have them resurface when we perceive that we are walking into a similar situation.
However, this only becomes a problem when it creates a roadblock in our living. If we allow that fear, that anxiety, to stop us from experiencing life, then we've allowed it to define us.
Once we realize that fear is just a part of human nature then we can learn from it, and dare I say, use it as a tool to help us grow and actually enjoy new experiences. We don't grow in our comfort zones, we grow when we get pushed into uncomfortable situations. It forces us to improvise, it heightens our alertness and makes us aware of our limits, helping us to push our minds and bodies into new, unchartered territories.
This is how I have felt since becoming an amputee. Each day I feel that there is something that makes me become more alert, anxious, or even fearful. When I first learned to walk in my prosthetic I worried about falling and hurting myself, or making myself look foolish in public. Then as I got better at walking I tried to run. I'd put on my running blade, but would only go out at night so no one could see me stumble, look awkward, or stare at me. Fear of not being good enough stopped me from getting out in daylight, when it was safer and easier to see the road. I eventually got past that enough to go out earlier, but I still felt uncomfortable. Each day would bring it's own set of issues, anxiety and discomfort. I tried a lot of new things like sled hockey and surfing, for the first time as an amputee. And each one of these was a test of my fortitude on pushing past my own insecurities. I am a perfectionist and very competitive with myself and others.
If you can do it, so can I.
If you tell me I can't because I'm missing a leg, I'll show you that I can. (That might actually be the stubbornness in me).
Skiing in Colorado March 2021 In today's podcast I share with you my journey at getting back to skiing and how fear of falling takes away from the experience. I want to enjoy skiing again. To be outside, breathing in the fresh air, getting exercise and making a connection with my family.
So what do you do when fear takes hold? How do you push past discomfort and really start living your life? It's a mindset. It's positive self-talk, your own personal pep-talks. It's about goal setting.
This goes back to the vision boards I talked about in the last episode. If you didn't hear that podcast you can take a listen here
My vision board A vision board is a place to put your dreams, goals,
Creating a vision board when times get toughLife is a journey. Embrace it. It has ups and downs. Be prepared for it.
"Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight"-Chinese Proverb You are not alone in these two certain facts but we need to be able to cope and heal and thrive when times get hard. That's when your mental and emotional game need to prove their worth. Like strength training, or the runner training for a marathon, learning to cope with adversity is something you need to prepare for and train for. Training comes when you are in the midst of it and what mindset and attitude you take into your storm. If you prepare for it and acknowledge what could come your way then you are helping yourself by preparing your mindset to thrive through the hard times and even come out on top. I'm not saying you won't get beat up, battered and bruised through some of these valleys, even trained runners can get cramps and blisters, right? The difference is when you understand that life works with highs and lows then you won't feel like you've been punched in the gut when it happens and you'll also have a healthier train of thought that assists you when you get knocked down.
And when you get knocked down you will be able to fight to stand again, and again, and again!
Will there be harder days? Days where you struggle to get back up? Of course, everyone has those moments, so we rely on the people in our circle to help, and we learn about ourselves, and make adjustments for the next moment.
I don't live on those harder days, I don't dwell on them, but I don't ignore them and pretend they won't happen or, even worse, pretend that I've never had any hard days. That would be fake, ingenuine and that is unhealthy for me.
I own every circumstance I've been through. I tell people about them so they don't feel alone. My goal isn't to be perfect, just to be transparent, in the hopes it will help someone overcome their own struggles.
Listen to today's episode to see where my journey has gone the past week to see a struggle I'm in the midst of right now and what I'm doing to cope and come out on top again. Call to Action Make your own Vision Board. I have pictures of mine above and below. I discuss how to create one in this episode as well. Please feel free to reach out to me with questions or to share the vision board you created. I'd love to see them and hear how they have helped you.
Enjoy the journey-the highs and lows, because without the lows we cannot appreciate the highs.
Until next time;
Be Healthy
Be Happy
Be YOU!
About 2 weeks ago I reached out to Levitate on Instagram searching for someone who appeared to have mastered using a running blade. I had been out of my blade for over a year between socket adjustments, nerve pain and surgery. I was ready to try again now that the stars had all aligned but I knew that I need some tips and tricks to start moving again.
Enter Levitate.
I reached out to them in a DM on Instagram and they wrote back with 30 minutes! I just asked if they had some wisdom on getting me to trust my blade once again and how I could strengthen my residual limb. They sent me a video of a few exercises to start with and we got into a discussion about their company. Their mission was simple yet profound. They strive to create quality sports blades that the average person could afford, while empowering them to become active and healthy in a community that supports one another!!
WOW!!! I knew, right then and there, that they had to be a guest on my podcast and soon! I have heard from so many amputees about how they would love to get a running blade (or sports blade) but just couldn't afford one. I felt that this company would be the answer to so many prayers and wanted to help them grow. They are located in Copenhagen, Denmark and wanted to get more following in the United States so getting their name out there was important, but making sure their mission was heard, by as many people as possible, was vital. I think they have something great and I want everyone to have a chance to be a part of this, empowering the amputee community to have the lifestyle they would like to have, to have a choice NOT dictated by price.
I hope you feel as excited and inspired as I am by what they are doing and what they are about.
Now is the time to live your best life.
The choice is yours, thanks to Levitate!!
Check them out on Instagram: @Levitate.sport or at www.letslevitate.com
Wow! What an experience I had! To think that I felt totally at peace and right with my amputation, yet coming to terms with it, through a horse, and finding that I had some deeper fears that I wasn't allowing myself to show-like it was a sign of weakness instead of courage! It was such a profound moment for me, one that I won't be forgetting any time soon.
I am in awe of the grace and yet strength and connectiveness of horses to the people around them. It's like they have a 6th sense to detect what we would otherwise ignore or try to hide. They live in the moment and expect the people they come in contact with to do the same. I will be forever changed because of this experience and I am grateful that Cherokee taught me a hard, but valuable lesson, about myself.
Listen in the hear my story of the time a horse taught me to let go.
Me with Cherokee- The horse that forced me to open up and be honest with myself
No matter what I went through those 3+ years prior to amputation, Dr. Shaun Palmer never gave up on me or my hope...nor did I! I was going to walk again! I was going to get better, whatever it took! In this episode I chat with my PT that I saw from my knee revision surgery through amputation. You'll get to hear his side of my journey and how he adapted my therapy to fit where I was physically and mentally. I want to show you what is possible when you advocate for yourself in the medical world, and what kind of relationships you can build with the right mindset. Unleash the warrior inside of you! Fight for your health! Bring your hopes, dreams and positivity to your provider so they can best serve you.
Dr. Palmer is also a co-host on the Doc Doc Goose Podcast (DDG Podcast) that you should check out for great information and entertainment.
Be sure to subscribe to Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior Podcast so you don't miss an episode. I have big things in the works and some very special guests lined up. Check my Instagram account for updates as well: @BAWarrior360 and @angie_heuser and some upcoming Live Interviews with some amazing people.
Until next time, Be healthy, Be happy, Be YOU!
It won't grow back so it's time to change your thinking!
The road I've taken to get where I am and to be the person you see here has been long and filled with bumps and bruises along the way. I got knocked down-over and over again but I chose to get back up. Today, I share my journey with you for the first time. From injury to amputation, this is my personal story.
To be transparent is to show the world your weakest side, your weakest moments in hopes of inspiring and motivating others. I hope my story gives you hope, makes you laugh, and maybe even shed a tear because you know this story all too well, as it mirrors your own.
Mine started in taekwondo. That's when I felt like my train derailed. Little did I know what the next several years would bring, who I'd meet along the way, and the lessons I would learn.
Know their is hope in your story. That journeys serve a purpose, and that your perception and attitude will help you rise up and conquer whatever is in your way.
It's time to unleash the warrior within you! Listen to my new podcast episode here! You can also click the link to your favorite podcast platform (Apple, Spotify, iHeart Radio) on this page.
After you listen, add your Call To Action comments here so I can see where you're at in your journey and respond.
Thanks for listening and please subscribe and don't forget to share my link with someone you know that needs encouragement today!!
Welcome to my trailer of Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior. This is a quick introduction to what you will be hearing about throughout my episodes. My journey through healing and living my best life, and how I can help you achieve that same success.
For more information please contact Angie at: BAWarrior360@gmail.com