#WeTHRIVE Stories
These articles are featured in Amputee Coalition’s #WeTHRIVE story campaign to help raise awareness of the resilience, strength, and courage that people living with limb loss and limb difference have to transform their ordinary into extraordinary.
Gloria Letona
LETZGLOWBRITE. Four years and four months into my journey adapting as a Quadruple amputee. Without the support of my loved ones, motivating me and encouraging me to listen to my body.
Shannon Allen
SURVIVOR OF SORTS! :). Obstacles are opportunities for growth and perseverance! In 2007 I tried to take my life by chainsaw cutting my left hand off full of chemicals, no hope and begging to die thankfully I was sparred! I struggled an additional 14 years with...
Lance Colie
CHANGED, BUT NOT DIMINISHED. April 15, 2024 - It was a sunny day in August, 2006 when I discovered a sizeable lump in my upper left thigh, along my groin. I was 50 years old. Biopsy surgery in late November revealed a rare Liposarcoma (cancer), stage 3. I then...
Mitchell Lee Kantor
A LONG JOURNEY. My name is Molly Kantor. I’m the daughter of an amputee. My father Mitchell Lee Kantor became an amputee on October 3, 2023. He lost his right leg due to sepsis and infection and also diabetes. He’s in the middle of waiting to hear about virtual visits...
Rachel Handler
THRIVING WITH EVEN MORE TO GIVE. Happy limb loss/limb difference awareness month! I’m so proud to be part of this resilient community. The day of my accident was the worst day of my life, but losing my leg was not the worst thing to happen to me. The worst thing is...
Scott Martin
SOCCER RATS. At the age of 12 and playing Little League baseball, our coach invited a friend and former major league baseball player to one of our practices. In the days leading up to the player’s arrival, our coach only told us that the man had played in the outfield...
Raphael Nassim
RAPHAEL NASSIM THE SUPERHERO. Something little I would like to share…. At our 21-week ultrasound, we were told that our little courageous warrior would have a limb difference. It will be to his right arm, this occurs in 1-100,000 pregnancies with no real diagnosis....
Niki Crandall
DETERMINATION. I had to have my left leg amputated above the knee due to Covid. My left knee became infected because of bacteria from having Covid. Leading up to the amputation I had 4 surgeries to try to remove the infection from my knee. I had to have a T-Pick line...
John Duarte
46 YEAR OLD BKA. I lost my right foot in a major vehicle collision. I wore my first prosthetic for 12 years. They had to remove the fractured plate and I had volume issues with the socket. I have a traditional socket with a mechanical vacuum pump suspension system. I...
David Coen
SNOWBOARDING. Lost my leg 8 years ago. Went back to snowboarding, skydiving, biking, and swimming. Started a support group and also volunteer for kids. I am only 77. There is much more. 🏂🏂🏂🏂
Donald Every
THRIVE FOR VICTORY. I am 61 years old. I have been an Occupational Therapy Assistant for 25 years. April is also Occupational Therapy Awareness Month. I am. both a COTA and an RBKA. I lost my right leg due to a blood clot. September 5, 2018. I still do OT work PRN....
Randy Bash
UPPER LIMB LOSS. Our son Randal lost his right arm in a motorcycle accident in December 2023. He was a truck driver. Randy also played many instruments. Now he sings for the band Rebel Shakedown. You can hear them on Instagram, Spotify, Facebook etc. God, music,...