"Life Is Worth Living": Lessons I've Learned as a Triple Amputee

There’s this really cool thing that happens when you become an amputee. It’s like you have become a member of a club and feel this automatic connection with others who are in it. Usually, there are some questions that go along with your first chance meeting; like, “How long ago was your amputation?” Or, “How did you lose your limb?” And, “Do you have a prosthetic arm or what kind of prosthetic legs do you wear?” I have never met another amputee who isn’t willing to talk about their story and to help another amputee out.

Right before I went on stage for my first TOFW event in Layton, I met with fellow amputee, Ryan, and his lovely wife. Right away I wanted to make Ryan feel like he belonged to this cool kids club of amputees. There are a lot of challenges amputees face and I didn't want him to face them alone. I wanted to be there to support Ryan in any way I could, sharing the lessons I've learned along my journey as a triple amputee.

As I talked with Ryan, one challenge I knew he needed to overcome was trying to be the person he was before. I told him to remember to be kind and patient with himself during his recovery. These changes can be hard and feel overwhelming, but I told him he will be able to do all the things he wants to in his life as an amputee.

Though I had only known Ryan a short while, I could already tell that he was willing and able to progress in his life despite his new limitation. I knew Ryan was willing to work hard because he put himself out there and he took the initiative to talk to me, a fellow amputee. He had just left the hospital a few days earlier after doctors amputated his arm when he arrived at the TOFW event. It took me a long time to reach out to someone and ask questions about my experience as a triple amputee.

In fact, the first time I met another amputee was at an amputee support group at Harborview Medical Center where I did inpatient rehab. I listened to other people’s stories and their advice. I knew that I wanted to be an amputee that was active and try everything. I didn’t want my physical limitations to cause me to miss out on all the things I wanted to do in my life. 

Fortunately, there are so many amazing tools and prosthetics that can help make this possible for amputees. I have tried out several prosthetic arms that have a micro-processor, which is kind of like a smart phone but in smart prosthetic arm form. There are small electrodes that attach to your muscles on your arm that help you to open and close the hand. This technology is so cool!

However, I don’t wear a prosthetic arm because it covers my skin. As a blind person, I rely so much on touch and I use my left arm to feel things, since I don’t have a lot of feeling in my right hand. I have learned to adapt my life so that anything is possible with a little time and a positive perspective. This is the whole reason I share my story so I get to have those opportunities of meeting other people with challenges like myself.

As an amputee, It can be hard to maintain a positive perspective, but I tell other amputees like Ryan to continue setting lots of goals and not let any physical limitation cause him to miss out on life. I also tell them to let go of fear and embrace the moment with gratitude by realizing what they do have and, of course, have fun. Life is worth living.

One of the main reasons why I feel that I have been successful in my journey is because of my support system. I want to be a support to others and let them know that they are not alone and that we are here to help each other get through hard times. I’m really not sure if I was able to give Ryan any good advice, but I hope he can see that there is joy and happiness after tragedy.

Having a disability doesn’t mean you can’t do things you want to in life, you just have to find a different way of doing them. I know that Ryan will be successful as well with a little patience, hard work, and the right motivation. Thank you so much to Ryan and all of the other attendees at TOFW for having the courage to come up and chat with me for a few minutes. It is wonderful to feel your encouragement and hear your positive thoughts. You have helped me have a new experience and I will always remember that.

Forever grateful,

Carol