Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior

Are you seeing amputees doing all the things you could only dream of doing? Thinking you are so far behind that you could never get there? Or see them doing amazing things, “pain-free”? Well, in the spirit of complete transparency, and shedding light of the realities of being an amputee, I have had a hard couple of days. Yep! Even 4 1/2 years out. Do they happen often, no, but phantom pains, poor...

A Fishing Analogy for New Amputees   From experience, I KNOW, without a doubt, that there are fish in our lake. Just yesterday I caught a huge northern pike and released him….. he is in there, waiting for the next lure to tempt him. How does this relate to amputees and our journey? Great question. Patience, for one. And knowing how to keep moving forward, even when you feel like giving...

Where You’re At   Ever felt alone, even though you are surrounded by your support, your family, your friends? As an amputee, it can be hard for anyone to really grasp what we are feeling when it comes to nerve or “phantom” pains. To explain it, doesn’t do justice, yet we can deal with it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I know I do. There are many times that, even though we are surrounded...

Let’s Talk About Sockets       This week we begin a new series called Prosthetic Parley with Randy and David. My prosthetist will come on once every other month to discuss hot topics that you, the viewers are interested in and talking about. This week we discuss what types of sockets there are and what fit might be right for you and why. Please keep in mind that these are the...

Navigating Friendships Through Life’s Trials Friends come and go in our lives. Sometimes it’s because of geographical change, and sometimes we outgrow each other. Other times we part ways because there is a fall out, or even a misunderstanding that goes unattended and left to grow. On the flip side, as our stages in life change so do the people who come into it, and a new friendship bl...

Night time visit with my girl Do you struggle with pain? Is stress always knocking at your door and trying take over? Maybe now is the time to try something that can help you through the pain…. How about some breathing? I spend a lot of time around my horse. Every morning to be exact. She brings me to a peaceful place, a place I can forget my problems, schedules, to-do lists, and phantom pains. I...

Cleaning Out Your Mind and Heart to Have a Body Worth Living In     The sun is shining, and the days are growing longer, it must be spring! That also means it’s time for Spring cleaning…. no not of your home, but of your mind and heart. If you’ve been feeling down, and unproductive, or frustrated and frazzled, then it’s probably time to clean out your thoughts and...

Shark Attack Survivor to Shark Advocate: A True Bounce Back Story Pictures in the Deep   Facing the creature who turned his life upside down… head on and with love and respect. Truly inspiring!   This is one story of bouncing back that has always stood out to me. Since I first met Mike, on Kauai, to our first interview in 2021, and watching his path widen, deepen, and become more p...

Prosthetics, Trauma, and Giving Back Meet my prosthetists and friends, Randy West and David Banks (left and right in blue). We met and began discussing my future as an amputee months before my surgery. During that time, I told them of my past activity levels, my current life as a wife and homeschool mom, and my dreams and aspirations for my future. They used that information to fit me and help me...

A Bright Soul and A Sweet Pup   War torn and separated from family, Maja’s story is a great comeback story and includes a sweet Great Dane, Rosie, who is also an amputee. It looks to be a story of who saved who, and you’d be correct in assuming that. As you listen in this week, you’ll hear a story that begins with tragedy, suffering, separation, uncertainty, and fear. Howeve...

During Your Bounce Back? Me in my very bouncy running blade   April is Limb Loss/Limb Difference Month and I am excited to share with you several guest speakers throughout the month and into May, however, we had a major setback yesterday and will have to reschedule them for another week. Turning my setback into a setup, I spent most of last night frustrated and upset that my plans, well-thoug...

  We all have roadblocks and circumstances that come out of nowhere and try to derail our lives. These moments, or set backs, can do one of two things to us: They can disable us, or they can challenge us to grow. Set backs can become set ups for the next big thing in your life! Are you feeling stuck, frustrated, alone, or defeated? Today I am excited for you all to join in my interview with C...

  My bouncy running blade     You can do it! It’s time to bounce back! April is Limb Loss/Limb Difference Awareness month and I have a packed line up of some incredible people for you to hear from, feel motivated by, and relate to!! Next week I am starting off this amazing event with someone who has just published her first book, who hasn’t lost a limb but was dealt a rough hand, wh...

Your Mind is Your Only Limit     Your Mind is Your Only Limit Today I’m getting ready to ski. I’m an above knee amputee and won’t let that stop me. I decided to amputate so I could get back to skiing with my family. It was a choice, it was my fate, and I am embracing it. You can decide what kind of life you have, no matter your circumstances. You can roll over and succumb to it or you ca...

The Leg is Fake   “Humor can alter any situation and help us cope at the very instant we are laughing.” -Allen Klein If I didn’t laugh I would cry… Oh wait, I did cry! Yep, it was that kind of week for me. It happens, and I wanted you to hear what it’s like for me when I fall on hard times, because it does happen. I began doing some treadmill work last week and b...

Finding Your Path Through the Challenges Do you have a challenging road ahead? Do you struggle with fears of what’s to come and if you are strong enough to manage your circumstance? We all face challenges, every day, yet some are so huge we struggle to see past them. We may cave to fear and shrink back from the challenge that lies in front of us. Through my personal journey with 5 years of surgery...

A Mindfulness Journey to Healing Taking time to stop and hit the pause button. Taking time to sit quietly and reflect. Being present and mindful, living in the moment. This is how a horse lives, and this is what we can do to help ourselves heal and live healthy, full, and rich lives. Quiet, mindfulness time with my sweet girl😍     How often do you find yourself saying, “Where has...

Picking a Prosthetist You Can Grow Old With…It’s YOUR Choice! Today’s topic is one of those decisions we must all make if we decide to, or get thrusted into, becoming an amputee. We know that it won’t grow back, and we know our bodies change as we get older, so it only makes sense to find a prosthetist that you can rely on, trust, and connect with, after all, he (or she) wi...

Walking a Mile in My Leg     You never really know what people are going through, and the idea of “walking a mile in someone else’s shoes” is how we best “try” to understand and empathize or learn from their journey. Join me today as I walk you through a typical day of being an amputee (pun intended), from what my mornings look like to midnight runs to the b...

Just Be YOU!!   If you are like so many people, you spend time looking at social media. It’s where we turn to for updates on old friends and what’s happening in the world, it can bring us closer together…or make us feel insignificant. From IG posts, to Facebook groups, to Tweets. The problem comes when we start seeing things and situations that we wished we had or were in. We see others havin...

An Everyday Love Story Filled With Healing     Have you ever been around someone who just made you feel so comfortable and you were able to be your true self? What about someone who makes you uneasy and on edge? We each carry ourselves differently based on who we are AND how we are on any particular day. What I found out about myself on this given day was astonishing! How I thought I was...

You are Special and Deserve It!   What do you do when you’re struggling? Maybe you are like me and lost a limb. Maybe you have a plethora of other medical issues and have been wheelchair bound. Or maybe you just can’t get out of your own way and headspace. Is this you? I know you want more from life. You may have even questioned, “Is this all there is for me?” Don’t give up! Dream! Chase answ...

New Year, New Season: Welcome to Season 3! Wow! It’s 2023 and we are on to season 3 for Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior! Welcome back, and a special welcome to first timers! I hope you take a listen to some of my old episodes and find some help or comfort in my words on the journey you are on. I am an above knee amputee trying my best to empower others to live their best lives, despite their circums...

  It’s that time of year again. Everyone is out shopping and preparing for the holidays season of giving. If you’re like me, you can sometimes struggle with what to give some people in your life, and worse, not sure what others can get for you, especially if you are struggling with mobility, pain, or lack of strength. I decided to let you in on my all-time FAVORITE gifts that I ha...

Serve and Be Served   What we put out into the world is what we get back. Have you ever noticed people who seem to have it all together, are happy, productive, and have good things happen to them? …have you ever REALLY looked at them? Ever notice their attitude? Even though no one goes without troubles and hard knocks, in life, these people keep their chin up, hunker down and weather the stor...