Transparency
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The Truth About Being An Amputee
Not everyday is a picnic.
This is true for everyone around the world, but when you talk to amputees who lost their limb because of an accident, disease, war, or electively, the operation is just the beginning, not the finale.
Once we heal and begin to transition into a prosthetic- wearing person we are just then beginning to experience what amputee life is like.
I started this podcast, not because I wanted to hear myself speak (I hate hearing my own voice!), but because I wanted to be the voice of reality, and transparency for this community. I wanted to be real, no matter what that was going to look like.
The past 2 weeks have been very hard for me, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Even though I have enjoyed traveling with my family, skiing and walking the Vegas strip, my residual limb has been struggling to fit properly into my skin fit socket. When the fit isn’t right it swells and becomes hard and very sore. Then through the night it settles down a little but then the next day I try to put my prosthetic on only to have an ill fit again, making it worse throughout the day.
Mind you, I have had this socket for over a year and I haven’t experienced this, then after being at higher elevations, flying, skiing without it on, I find myself not fitting well.
There’s not much to do about it but hope that I “normalize” again, soon, before it gets any worse.
This is the life of an amputee.
Some of us look like it’s all roses, but were have our days and even weeks (and some struggle for months) but we can hide it well.
Transparency is important to me because so many amputees that I’ve talked to are so frustrated because the ones they see on social media are living life and doing so well (you know, only showing the best moments) and they are not. They, and maybe YOU are one of them, that can’t figure out how you will ever wear your prosthesis or walk in it. If you’ll ever be comfortable again or without pain.
It is not an easy journey, but you can succeed in this life.
You have to understand the reality of your new circumstance and what it entails, really, before you can just be running along in your prosthetic leg. it doesn’t happen over night. it takes practice, patience, and a lot of faith.
You will feel knocked down at times, but you must get up again and keep trying, keep pushing forward.
Don’t give up….
This too shall pass and you will find your way through the challenges and struggles.
I have a simple task and request for this week.
Next month, April, is Limb Loss/Limb Difference Awareness Month and I have a full month of interviews with AMAZING individuals who have spent time creating, inventing, and innovating designs and products to help our amputee community.
You really don’t want to miss out on an episode in April so my CTA is simple:
Subscribe to my podcast and my YouTube channel (BAWarrior360) so you don’t miss any of these special people and the work they are doing. Plus, please share my podcast with someone you care about who you think could benefit from some positivity and encouragement as they navigate amputation or even medical circumstances that they struggle with.
That’s it! Subscribe, Like, Share!
I hope to continue to grow my audience so I can help and motivate more and more people in the world.
Thank you, warriors, from the bottom of my heart!
Have a beautiful and blessed week until next time!
And as always,
‘Be Healthy,
Be Happy,
Be YOU!!
Much love,
