FREDDY'S CARDS

Hi, I'm Fred Schmerling, an 80 year old, Above-the-Knee amputee since 2004.

Before then I had difficulty walking and finally decided to have a total knee replacement. A piece of cake, they said...I'd be out running or playing tennis in 6 weeks. It didn't happen.

I developed a Staph infection in the hospital which couldn't be cured.

After more than a year of hospital food and over 20 surgical procedures, it ended in amputation.

The idea to make greeting cards using my prosthesis as a cartoon character came to me as I was lying awake in bed. I have a lot of fun making the cards and everyone that I know likes them.

Then, one night, I got the idea for Louie and Leggo. I hope children will enjoy the cartoons as much as I enjoy drawing them. From what I know of kids, I think they're much more able to learn to live with the loss of a limb than adults are. They'll adapt and get on with their lives and get to the point that they're as happy as they ever were.