Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior

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,

MIT Dan Levine   As 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 ...

University of Michigan Mira Mutnik, Jake Kanetis, and Marty Kilbane     Amazing 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 Month UCLA: 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 Month 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 2025 Colorado 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

The Reality of the Numbers and What We Can Do About It   The 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! (

Knowing Your Identity and Accepting It   We, 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,

Faith and Connections   Just 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.

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.

Building Strength For a Better Future     If 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. 1. 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. 2. 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.

Making Mobility Great Again, One Prosthesis at a Time   When 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.  

Morning Routines to Get Motivated   Life 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 Ask When 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 Purpose   This 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.

Getting Through the Tough Times   Oh 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 times   Don'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 Yourself     As 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!

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 Season     As 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 Holiday   As 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 Fit We 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 Expect     Here 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-Amputation   Anger, 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 Horse Horse Therapy-the horse who started it all: Cherokee   What 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 Everything Have a beautiful week and as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!! Much love,      

Live in the Moment and Experience Your Best Life     Take 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 Season   How 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,

Freedom and Joy in Movement   What 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!  

Finding Peace in These Moments   These 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 Alone   The 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 Journey   Enjoy 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 Fully   I 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 Pain   No 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 Out   Sometimes 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 top   The 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 Amputee   As 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 a...

How to Challenge Yourself Through Life's Storms   What 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,

The Real Mental Side of Phantom Pain   Ok, 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 Motivation     You 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 Asset   When 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 Bionics     What 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 Time   An 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 Foot     The 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 Radovic We 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,