A Leg Up On Life

In this final episode of A Leg Up On Life, Jake French shares how he lives life to the fullest from a wheelchair. Jake is a professional speaker, inventor,  hunter, and fisherman. Fourteen years ago, in a freak accident, Jake broke his neck and became paralyzed from his collarbone down. His life has turned out differently than planned, but he continues to look ahead and set goals. The title of his book sums up Jake's attitude, "Life Happens - Live It!"    

Four years ago, on September 18, 2018, Laurie Hayn lost her left arm and leg in a farming accident. Up to then, she was an active outdoors person, having hiked 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail three years in a row. Laurie's positive attitude and the loving support of her husband and family helped her quickly recover and adapt.

Nicole Ver Kuilen & Dee Palagi led a team of adaptive athletes in the 2022 Hood to Coast relay, a 200-mile journey in Oregon from the base of Mt. Hood to the Pacific Ocean. Both women are below-the-knee amputees and outspoken advocates for individuals with disabilities, particularly children, to have full access to athletic-quality prosthetics and orthotics. In this episode of "A Leg Up On Life," you will hear about their historic Hood to Coast team and their passion for anyone with a disability to be able to live an active lifestyle.

Mary Riddell-Bowman was born without her right lower leg and began skiing on her prosthetic leg at age four. Mary qualified for the U.S. Disabled Ski Team when she was fourteen. She raced with the national team from 1994 - 2003, competing in two Paralympics and World Championships. Along the way, she racked up numerous medals, winning two gold, two silver, and two bronze at both the Paralympics and the World Championships. Mary's impressive racing career will inspire you to achieve your goals.

Michael Belew broke his neck after diving into a wave while taking a break from his intense military training. He is currently paralyzed from the chest down but hopes to one day regain the use of his body. Two years after his accident, Michael keeps a positive outlook on life by surrounding himself with supportive friends and family and focusing on all that is good. He will inspire you to overcome and adapt to life's challenges.

Mark Mohammadpour lost 150 pounds and has kept it off for 15 years. He went from a public relations executive to the Chief Well-Being Officer of Chasing the Sun. He transformed his negative mindset into one of positivity and possibility. Mark now coaches individuals and corporations to take small incremental steps to create sustainable changes over time. Mark's numerous certifications give him the credibility to help others get A Leg Up on Life.    

Colleen Young knows how to adapt. She was born with Albinism, a condition that affects her eyesight and makes her legally blind. Colleen tried numerous sports as a youngster but thrived at competitive swimming. Colleen is a 3-time Paralympic swimming champion, winning silver and bronze medals at the 2022 Paralympics in Tokyo. At her first Paralympics in 2012, Colleen was only 14, the youngest competitor at that event. Since then, she has set numerous records and won many medals. At age 23, she has achieved more than she once thought possible.

Paralympic Gold Medalist, Andrew Kurka, is making his second appearance on "A Leg Up On Life." In this episode, Andrew recaps his experience at the 2022 Beijing Paralympics, emphasizing his philosophy of "No Regrets!" He also talks about his new marriage, business, and life as a professional ski racer. Andrew's story will inspire you to live with tenacity, determination, and hard work.

Mimo Pearl nearly broke off her foot when a ladder collapsed underneath her. She has undergone numerous surgeries and treatments for almost a year to save her foot. Before her accident, Mimo was a healer and a Footzone Practitioner. She is a positive force of love and laughter to those who have given her care. She will impress upon you the importance of mindset and staying grounded for recovery and resiliency.  

Kendra Herber was born missing part of her foot. Her parents decided to amputate the foot when she was two years old. It was a decision that worked in Kendra's favor, allowing her to be a "normal" kid. In this episode, she shares living life as an amputee and feeling "WHOLE."  

Kellie Delabitoria is a full-time caretaker for her adult son, who is autistic. She lives by faith and prayer and takes one day at a time. She is a "behind-the-scene" hero who often goes without recognition for her efforts. In this interview, Kellie candidly shares her daily struggles and successes. Her positivity is contagious, and she will inspire listeners to trust and have faith in God.  

Michelle Kuei is an international speaker, certified visibility coach, and author who empowers others to build resiliency, overcome tragedy, and find purpose in every challenge. When she was an 11-year old student in Taiwan, a car ran a red light and hit her as she crossed the street. Michelle's desire to be "normal" prompted her to complete a 4-day hike to Machu Picchu in Peru. Through her company, Elevate LifeCoaching, she inspires others to be brave.

Vasu Sojitra is an extreme back-country skier. When he was only nine months old, he had one of his legs amputated because of a blood infection. Vasu's passion is to spread the message that having a disability is not a bad thing. His motto is "ninjasticking through the woods to bring intersectionality to the outdoors."

Candice Caesar is an Army veteran, and it was during her service that she became paralyzed. She learned to walk despite the doctor's prediction that she would never walk again. At that time, she set a goal to walk a marathon someday. Since then, Candice has completed a half marathon in nearly all 50 states (with only two remaining as of this podcast). She is also a contender for the U.S. Para Archery team and is preparing for the World Championships in Dubai.

Maureen Manley is a world-class cyclist. She is a former member of the U.S. Cycling Team, where she won a National Championship. Manley also set a national record and won numerous medals at both international and national racing events. At the peak of her career, Maureen was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and gave up her dream of being a world champion. Now years later, she is back on her bike and a creative force for herself and others. Maureen leads the battle to build resilience, cultivate courage, and triumph over adversity.

Jesse Fay has faced life-threatening illnesses twice in his life. When he was only 3, he was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. After an aggressive treatment regime, including a bone marrow transplant, Jesse kicked cancer. Then again when he was a teenager, he began to experience problems with his kidneys and discovered that he had Polycystic Kidney Disease. The condition escalated until Jesse needed a transplant. His dad, Joe Fay, turned out to be the ideal donor. In this episode of A Leg Up On Life, father and son share their story of faith and recovery.

Angie Heuser injured her knee during a Taekwondo belt test. Her routine MCL tear led to numerous surgeries and crippling pain. Her knee refused to heal, and after years of medical procedures, Angie realized that her life had become severely impaired by her limitations. She chose to have the leg amputated so that she could regain mobility and reclaim her life. Angie is the host of Be-You-Tiful Adaptive Warrior podcast, where she inspires, educates, and empowers others to live powerful lives as warriors.

Chris Waddell is one of the fastest mono-skiers of all time, and he impacted his sport profoundly. Chris won 13 Paralympic medals in both the summer and winter events. He is a member of the Paralympic Hall of Fame and the US Ski and Snow Bard Hall of Fame. His many accomplishments include climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and being one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People."

When Alvin Law looks in the mirror, he sees a fully competent and confident man, but he doesn't see any arms. Alvin's list of accomplishments is impressive and includes being a member of the Canadian Speaker's Hall of Fame, accomplished musician, and author. Alvin believes that the best thing that ever happened to him was being born without arms. In this episode of A Leg Up On Life, Alvin shares his no-nonsense philosophy of life and those beliefs that have shaped his success.

Jessi Machnik is an equestrian who specializes in show jumping. She began riding horses as a young child, and it has been her passion ever since. A few years ago, Jessi lost her leg below the knee due to severe car wreck injuries. She has resumed riding and jumping and believes that show jumping will become an event in the Paralympics one day. Jessi's daily choices to move forward and pursue her dreams will inspire you.

Dave Rotter, owner of David Rotter Prosthetics in Joliet, Illinois, is a world-class prosthetist who builds artificial limbs for many Paralympic athletes who travel far and wide to benefit from his services. In this episode, Dave shares how he became a prosthetist. He also talks about his philosophy of enhancing his clients' lives by matching the best device to their lifestyle. Recently David Rotter and his team built a new leg for our host, Roni Sasaki.

Tony Drees is a powerhouse of positivity. He is a Desert Storm Purple Heart Amputee. Tony miraculously survived a scud missile attack, but his right leg was severely damaged. He endured over 70 surgeries to save his leg, and finally, in 2018, the leg was amputated at the hip. Tony is an advocate for veterans and an ambassador for diversity and inclusion. He lives by his mantra, "No lies. No Excuses. Never Quit."

Michael Belew is a young man with a vision. While taking a much-deserved break from intense military training, he dove into a wave and broke his neck. Now he only has sensation from his chest upward and partial feeling in his arms. His accident was only six months ago, and his positive attitude and competitive determination have put him on a new training path to heal and recover.

Bill Mayo battled a cancerous tumor (named Stanley by his grandchildren) for eight years. When cancer reappeared for the third time, he decided to have his leg amputated to get rid of it once and for all. In this episode of A Leg Up On Life, Bill shares his story, faith in God, and his life philosophy. He is the author of numerous books including Howard, Stanley, & Me.

Before Thanksgiving 2019, Mike diPenna was a healthy and athletic man. No one could have imagined that he would fall ill with a bacterial infection in his blood and meningitis. This rare combination created numerous mini-strokes in many regions of his brain. Mike woke up after being in a coma and has been rebuilding his life ever since. During the past year, Mike has been relearning how to walk and use his body. In this episode, he and his wife Jodi share their story of determination, faith, and strength.

Emily Purry is an expert in accessibility, intersectionality, technology, and the world of ADA. Legally blind herself and the parent of a child with autism, she brings personal and professional experiences to help move companies forward. Emily delivers presentations and training on disability and equity topics relevant to today's business environment. She is the founder of RAPID, Rehabilitation & Athletic Performance Intersecting Disability. She is also the host of the podcast, "Human Is My Label."

Nicholas Hinrichsen, has never considered himself a person with a disability. Nicholas lost his hair when he was only 11 years old. For six years, he hid his alopecia under a baseball cap and nursed his young self-esteem. Twenty years later, he graduated from Stanford Business School and started an online car sales platform that became "The Amazon for used cars!" Nicholas has just started a new venture called WithClutch.com, a digital platform to refinance auto loans. He is the picture of success and attributes his hair loss to building character and developing his authenticity.

Gail Hamilton will inspire you to live a life of vision, purpose, and action. She is a professional speaker and author of the book, Soaring Into Greatness. Gail has also earned two Masters degrees, sang a leading role in two operas, and won Ms. Colorado Senior America. She is a blind person who knows how to live life to the fullest! https://soaringintogreatness.com/

John Register won the silver medal in the long jump at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia. He had never heard of the Paralympics while he was a member of the U.S. Army and training to become a member of the 1996 Olympic Team. But on May 17, 1994, John landed wrong while going over a hurdle and severely hyperextended his knee. After numerous surgeries, John chose to have his damaged leg amputated to move forward with his life wearing a prosthetic leg. John overcame his fear, and the limits placed upon him. Now he teaches others to do the same.

Melanie Ausmus was struck ill and hospitalized with COVID-19. The entire world is experiencing the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Yet many of us do not know anyone who has been sick from the virus. Melanie openly talks about what it felt like to be ill and admitted to the hospital on two separate occasions. Her story will help assuage the overriding fear in our community and teach us that kindness is one of the essential qualities to practice through this pandemic.

Chris Madison lost his foot in a boating accident when he was only ten years old. At that time, he gave up his dream to be a fighter pilot but continued to set goals that have since shaped his life. Chris is an attorney for the state of Arkansas. Before getting his law degree, he served as a police officer for seven years. He has participated in numerous endurance events, including the Boston Marathon. Chris recently fulfilled his life-long goal by getting his pilot's license.

Katie is the granddaughter of Paul Leimkuehler, a World War II Veteran who invented the outriggers used by adaptive skiers throughout the world. Paul was a ski legend, orthotics and prosthetics leader, and war hero. Katie is the Executive Director of a documentary film called "Fresh Tracks" that brings her grandfather's legacy to the forefront as a pioneer in adaptive sports and the "Father of 3-Track Skiing."

Greg Mannino is one of the top one-legged ski racers of our time. He lost his leg at age seventeen and found skiing to be an ideal outlet for going fast and being competitive. He raced in 5 Paralympic Events and 3 World Championships for the disabled. He's won numerous medals over the years. Greg now skis on two skis, using a specialized prosthetic leg. He is paying it forward by teaching and coaching, focusing on disabled veterans.

Bob Meserve was a member of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team from 1989 - 1993, skiing in a monoski. In 1992, he began to serve as the Winter Athlete Representative of the National Board of Directors for Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA). Since then, he has served on numerous boards and worked behind the scenes to provide funding and promote disabled sports and the Paralympics. In 2009, Bob was inducted into the National Disabled Snow Sports Hall of Fame for his work to grow the respected movement that the Paralympics and disabled sports have become today.

A Leg Up On Life welcomes back Prateek Dujari, who was our guest in Episode #21. During the interview, he shared about his upcoming 10-day bike expedition in the Himalayan Mountains in India. In this interview, you'll hear all about his journey back to India and the adventure of a lifetime. Prateek talks about the challenge of riding a tandem bicycle over some of the highest passes in the world.

"My wheelchair will only take me so far, but that's not as far as I can go!" At age 12, Christina Chambers became a paraplegic when her immune system attacked her spinal cord. A manual wheelchair became part of her identity, and she has used it to touch the lives of hundreds of adaptive athletes across the county. In this episode of "A Leg Up On Life," you'll recognize the incredible spirit that has pushed Christina to accomplish feats that most of us wouldn't even consider.

John Furniss, also known as the Blind Woodsman, is a blind woodworker. His wife, Anni, is a painter. The two artists form a partnership that is the stuff movies are made of. John lost his sight when he was 16. After many struggles, he took on the challenge of living life as a blind man. He learned to work on pianos, learned to turn wood to create beautiful pieces of art, and he met the love of his life, Anni. This episode of A Leg Up On Life is the remarkable story of finding one's purpose after tragedy. furnissstudios.com or theblindwoodsman.com

On an icy and snowy February night, Elisa Hays got hit by a semi-truck as she and her coworkers attempted to run for safety after their pickup and trailer slid on black ice. In this episode of "A Leg Up On Life," Elisa shares her compelling story of resilience in the face of a horrific accident and how it drove her to become an expert at leadership. www.elisahays.com

Leave your disability at the dock, is the motto of Footloose Sailing Association. In this interview, you will meet Bob Ewing, one of the founders of the sailing club specifically for individuals with disabilities. Bob is a quadriplegic and has dedicated his time and efforts to help others find the freedom and enjoy the sport as much as he does.

In this episode of A Leg Up On Life, Roni Sasaki chats with Prateek Dujari, an engineer from Intel and avid outdoorsman who lost his sight in a climbing incident. Prateek found healing and purpose in doing the sports he loves, such as hiking, snowboarding, running, and biking. He is currently training for a bike expedition in the Himalayas.

Shaun Williams is blind. He lost his vision gradually from retinitis pigmentosa (RP). In this episode, Shaun openly talks about what it's like to be blind. Shaun lives life to the fullest. First and foremost, he is a husband and father to two sons. Shaun is also a counselor for other disabled individuals, helping them to cope and adapt so that they may experience more independence. He enjoys Dragon Boat Racing, music, and spending time outdoors with his family.

Ron Heagy dove into a wave on the day before his 18th birthday and broke his neck. Since then, he has been a quadriplegic, unable to feel anything from the chest down. Ron chooses to focus on what he can do instead of what he cannot do. By changing his perspective, Ron has earned his Master's Degree, become a speaker, published his book, created beautiful oil paintings with his mouth, founded a special needs camp, and fathered a daughter. For over 25 years, he has captivated audiences by inspiring them to overcome any obstacle. His story is a must hear! www.rollonron.com https://www.facebook.com/ronheagymouthpaintedart/  

Dave Carl is a motivational speaker, author, blogger, and social worker. He was born with spina bifida, a condition where the spinal cord is not fully developed. Because of this, Dave is paralyzed from the waist down and has been in a wheel chair his entire life. He wrote the children's book, Super Cyclist. He has a bachelor's degree in Social Work and gives back to his community in huge ways. Dave is a certified ADA (American with Disabilities Act) Coordinator and he uses his knowledge to teach independent living classes to other physically and developmentally disabled adults. http://www.supercyclist.com/ http://shareindependentliving.blogspot.com

Shandy Welch was a clinical nurse practitioner in orthopedic medicine when she discovered that she had breast cancer. As part of her treatment, Shandy experienced a double mastectomy. She chose to see her cancer as a new experience that she could learn from and embrace. Now she inspires others to do the same and view life through fresh eyes. Shandy's story is positive and uplifting. www.fresheyes.solutions

Jim Lagerstrom is a five-time Paralympian, winning numerous medals during a ski racing career that spanned 20 years. Jim lost his leg below the knee when he was five years old. Lagerstrom now works at a prosthetic company, designing and creating artificial limbs so that others can live active lives. He uses the ingenuity that he applied to develop his own legs to enhance the lives of others.

In this episode of A Leg Up On Life, Roni Sasaki interviews Brenda Tyrrell. Brenda is the mother of "Little Bob," who was born with Down Syndrome. Brenda candidly shares some of the frustrations and many of the joys that she experiences while raising a child with a developmental disability. Most importantly, she closes the gap between our fear of being around someone who is "different," and our understanding that they just want to be "normal."

In January of 2003, Clackamas County Sheriff's Seargent Damon Coates was shot in the face by a mentally disturbed 15-year-old boy. The incident devastated Damon's family and left him partially paralyzed. His wife, Tammy stepped into the role of caretaker and decision maker. In this podcast, Tammy Coates shares about how her strong faith in God has enabled her to forgive that teenager and remain faithful to her severely disabled husband.

When Corina Muntean was 29 years old, she began to experience numbness in her legs. Her condition quickly escalated until she was completely paralyzed from the chest down. Her triumphant story of recovery and determination will encourage you to push toward your goals. Corina never gave up on her vision of getting out of a wheelchair and walking once again. Today she is a structural engineer, wife, and mother of three - and she walks without assistance.

On October 18th, 2017, Ana Wakefield was in a devastating head-on collision that changed her life. She suffered a severe brain injury and multiple broken bones in her legs. The doctors were unsure that she would live. But her family's faith and the prayers of many offered a ray of hope. Now, one year later, Ana is on the rough road to recovery. Her relationship with God and her sheer determination keep her going every day. In this podcast, she and her dad share about their journey and the strength that they find in their relationship with Jesus.

In this episode of A Leg Up On Life, Roni Sasaki interviews Don "Garce" Garcia. Garce grew up with Cerebral Palsy and used it as an asset to create a life of adventure and achievement. Along with participating in many extreme sports, Garce is a former member of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team. He won a Gold Medal in the Downhill at the 1986 World Disabled Ski Championships in Sälen, Sweden. Just before the 1992 Paralympics, Garce chose to retire from ski racing so that he could produce the televised version of the event to be shown in the United States. He went on to build a career in film and production and currently owns Garce Works Video Productions. He has filmed presidential debates, the Olympics, and many other extreme sporting events. Video From NBC Olympics www.garceworks.com  

Gordon and Jill Viggiano's story is one of determination and triumph. On Gordon's 51st birthday, he suffered a massive stroke that paralyzed the right side of his body, stole his memory, impaired his cognitive processing, and drastically reduced his ability to speak. With an intense drive and the will to succeed, they created a new life for their family. Their story proclaims that we should never settle for less than we want to be.