Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior

Playing To Win; Playing For Your Future   Dealing with insurance can be tricky and often frustrating. I speak from experience. It’s unfortunate that insurance companies make it so hard to understand the ins and outs of their policies as well as getting approvals especially since those who are trying to get covered are often going through really tough emotional times. As I got myself pre...

Finding Hope after Amputation   No one really tells you what to expect after amputation, and quite frankly, even if they did, each journey is different. The reality is that the first couple of years are filled with bumps, bruises, ups and downs. You will have highs and some of your lowest lows. There will be enormous changes, in your life, and in your body. And even when you finally get throu...

Stay the Course and Press On   This is the year. Embrace the journey and get your mindset right! We started our year with a new puppy. I had forgotten how hard potty training was as an amputee. What does that mean, you might ask?  Night time wake up calls are very difficult when you don’t have a leg on, grabbing an energetic puppy, and crutching outside and down a step…all before...

The Power of Words, Mightier Than Resolutions     Happy New Year!! A New Year’s upon us, a fresh start is here There’s a feeling of renewal and excitement for what’s to come and an urgency to make changes in our lives and in our habits as a new year begins, however, we know how setting New Year’s resolutions can fall short after just a month of setting those goals. Every year I share how...

Cheers to the End of Another Year!   As 2023 comes to a close and the holidays are now upon I want to wish you all a blessed and happy new year! As I celebrate my 5th year anniversary of my amputation today I am realizing how blessed I have been with how much I have experienced, accomplished, and the people I have met through this journey. I also know that the vibes you put out into the world...

Winter Wonders and Woes for Amputees   Wintertime brings colder weather, holidays and family time, ice and snow, along with new outdoor activities. It also brings with it challenges for getting around if you are an amputee (or anyone who struggles with balance). Crutching on snow and ice should be an Olympic Sport   I am fortunate enough to live in Arizona but as a family, we love to get...

Change Is in the Air     I had the distinct honor of being a part of a gait study at MIT in their Media Lab in Boston. It was the final project of a PhD student’s program and it was amazing! To see what the future of prosthetics is heading toward and being able to test something that is still a ways out from being on the commercial market was such a blast and a lot of work. Testing...

  There are many facets to being an amputee, a lot revolves around the fit of prosthetics, dealing with phantom pains, and relearning to walk. However there are other obstacles to overcome, goals to achieve, finding your independence is usually on the top of the list! This was a huge goal for me (and also for others I have talked to over the past few years). Independence looks different for e...

Staying Healthy in the Hustle and Bustle of the Holidays   I had the distinct pleasure of getting sick recently. I haven’t been sick in so long, and not once since becoming an amputee. I was on a vacation and burning the candle at both ends. I’m sure, between being around a lot of people and lack of sleep my immune system became compromised, leading me to having tingly skin, sore...

Creating Positive Momentum Through Challenges   This week let’s challenge ourselves! Let’s face the mountain head on and not veer out of fear. It’s time to unleash the warrior within you, are you ready?? Well it doesn’t matter, now is the time! If you wait until you are “ready” then the time will never come.   SO how did I start my amputee journey, you...

Learning To Listen To Your Gut When you are going through something have you noticed how many people have advice? The questions of: Have you tried this? Did you see Dr. So and So? This is the only prosthetic that works…. etc, etc. I have had the opportunity to see many doctors throughout my injury, been to an amazing plastic surgeon, and have great prosthetists. I tell new amputees all about...

How Grief Plays a Role In Your Health   Today’s podcast I will let speak for itself. I am dealing with grief and last several weeks the stressors in my life were so high that my phantom pains were intense.   Taking care of yourself in the midst of pain, sorrow, grief, and anxiety ridden situations is very important for your overall health. Listen in as I tell you about my past week...

  You have made it through a HUGE surgery. Maybe because of an accident or a sickness. Maybe you made the decision to amputate so you could live a better, healthier life. Whatever the reason, you have made it through that emotional decision, and come to terms with your new reality. Unfortunately, your journey has just begun, but have no fear, you can shine and move forward with your new lifes...

Mindset Matters   So you’re an amputee now. You’ve gotten through your surgery, and you’re home. Now what? The road is long, my friend, but doable. You can and will survive, dare I say, you can even thrive as an amputee. How you see your circumstance and adapt to your new way of living is up to you and based on your own mindset. After I elected to amputate my leg, above knee...

Persistency and Continuity Lead to Success   Trying something new, or being thrust into a new situation, can be tricky, difficult, frustrating, and downright terrifying. As an amputee, I can truly understand and appreciate that. However, with the right mindset, the setting of goals, and the willingness to be persistent, even when experiencing failure, we can master what we want to achieve. Ov...

For Growth and Overall Happiness   Take it from me when I say that it can be really difficult to drop the ego and allow yourself to be vulnerable. I have always prided myself in being a high achiever, a perfectionist, a go-getter, and so highly competitive that I have built up walls and a tough exterior when I am trying new things or in a competitive environment. The very last thing I would e...

Fear of Letting Go   As we come to the end of this three part series on overcoming fear I feel that today’s podcast of Letting Go to be a big one, especially for amputees. Not that we all don’t struggle with letting go of: the past, what we can’t control, and toxic relationships, but because as an amputee myself I have seen and heard of so many amputees struggling with these...

Fear of Failure   A big fear of mine has always been failing, especially in front of a lot of people. How about you? After becoming an amputee this became the daily fear that would well up inside of me. Every day I put on my leg I had to deal with idea that, as I was learning to walk in it, I just my wipe out.  Then after I got good at walking, I added in the fear of falling with a running bl...

Fear of the Unknown   We all face challenges in life and more than that we all struggle with how uncomfortable it is to not know what’s going to happen.   We get fixated on the “what ifs” and begin a dangerous road of fearing the future, the outcomes, the unknown. This isn’t living, and this isn’t healthy. As I navigated 4 months from deciding to amputate my leg above the knee until the...

The Reality of Phantom Pain     It’s real! It does exist, and it can come out of nowhere and attack you when you least expect it. Phantom pain is an equal opportunity offender with no regard for who it targets. Phantom sensation is similar but constant. It’s not about the excruciating pain it inflicts, like phantom PAIN, as much as it’s the never ending, always present...

It’s Time to Wake and Seize the Day     As I approached my surgery date for my amputation I began to dream. I dreamt of all the things that could be a challenge and how I was going to conquer each challenge.  I created a vision board, set goals, and dared to dream of rising above my circumstance.   My Vision Board   Once that surgery happened, I began to set my sights on...

Finding Patience Amidst Trials   Today, I want to share with you an important lesson I’ve been learning lately: the power of patience in the face of trials. Life has a funny way of throwing obstacles our way, testing our resilience and pushing us outside our comfort zones. But through it all, I’m discovering that cultivating patience can be a game-changer. As an amputee, trials an...

Seeing Your Life with Renewed Positivity   What grounds you and wakes you up to the moment you’re living in? What lights a fire and gives you strength and clarity? I realize that all too often, that I am wishing away a moment, a day, even a month, just to get to the next thing on my list, like nothing else matters. Have you ever been guilty of that? After my amputation I just remember w...

When You Least Expect It Just when you think you are in the clear. Or when you feel like you got it all together….Wham!!! Yep, life sends you into a new challenge. I am 4 1/2 years out from my amputation and into my 15th socket I go. However, even though it should have been a simple change as it was just a remake of the socket I was in (the plastic was giving away but still fit) we encounter...

Reinventing Yourself     What would you do if you have a second chance? How would you spend your days if you received a new lease on life? This is how I felt after my amputation. I realized that the choice was mine and I could do and try anything I wanted and reinvent myself and enjoy new hobbies, sports, and activities. I wasn’t going to allow my amputation to define me or limit me, it...