Amplifying Our Voice
The stories we tell help connect all of us, help us understand each other’s experiences, and touch each other’s hearts. Thanks to everyone who shared their story! Click here if you would like to share your own story.

David Begaudeau
Hi! I'm David, I'm 40 and I live in France. In 1997 I was hit by a car when I was on my motorcycle. My leg was too damaged, so it had to be amputated. Before this accident, I was a young man without ... Read More

Vincent Cinelli
I’m an above-knee amputee, due to a traumatic accident in 2008. I maintain a very active lifestyle, and from time to time experience issues with my prosthesis, fitment, etc ... Read More

Priscilla Satyamurthy
In dreams, as in life, the unexpected comes from out of nowhere. I found myself depending on them to take me back in time to a more carefree and peaceful place ... Read More

Yvonne Glines
The diagnosis was synovial sarcoma of the right ankle. Very rare for a female senior adult. The surgery option was knowingly 85 percent clean margins at best versus amputation ... Read More

Nelda Falknor
It gives me great pleasure to share our photos and story. The members of our support group recently celebrate April as Limb Loss Awareness month ... Read More

Delano Wegener
My name is Delano (Del) Wegener. I am a bilateral above-knee amputee. I would like to describe my experience of living with limb loss ... Read More

Crystal Gibt
The doctor said amniotic band syndrome was the cause for me to be born with only one arm. When I was a fetus, my arm was tangled in fibrous strings called amniotic bands inside the womb ... Read More

Dema Amein
I was an active girl. I got second place in a running contest, and I went to another city and got first place. I challenged myself to run about one hour from my house to the cemetery to visit my father. Then the war ... Read More

Ron Witkowski
In 2016 I began living life as an amputee. At first, I thought the devil tried to turn it into a setback, but God said, “Oh no you don't, it's a setup.” I began to live life differently, feeling blessed that I could do ... Read More

Sydney Learning
I became a right above-knee amputee in June 2016. I had to have a knee replacement and developed many different infections within the knee. So, after 13 surgeries, the leg had to be amputated due to a rare infection without a cure ... Read More

Jenny Deatherage
My name is Jenny, and I am a 45-year-old wife and mother. In June 2017 I was admitted to the hospital because I had lost circulation in my left foot ... Read More

Catherine Uhles
I have been a left below-knee amputee for six and a half years. I have extra skin on the underside of my residual limb, which has caused multiple problems with fits on all of my various prostheses. The last several suction prostheses would not ... Read More

Riley Toll
I just wanted to share what happens when you speak up for what you believe in ... Read More

Jodi Centers
My name is Jodi and I recently underwent surgery for bilateral amputations below the knee. I lost my right leg in January and then, without warning, lost my left leg as well ... Read More

Heidi Temple
Hello, my name is Heidi. For three years my surgeon and I tried multiple surgeries to save my right leg. Due to constant infections, I was faced with amputation. I had a below-knee amputation on December 3, 2018 ... Read More

Christina Macillus
My life suddenly changed forever on November 11, 2016. I was a passenger on the back of a Harley. We were struck head-on. I got the worst of it, with 26 broken bones, five compound fractures in both legs, and missing bone in my ... Read More

Bayley Yates
Before I was born, my parents knew something was wrong. The doctor thought I would have club foot. Not long after my birth we had moved from Arkansas to Colorado ... Read More

John Bowman
I got into a motorcycle wreck three days after turning 18 on August 14, 2013. My injuries included compound fractures in my left arm and right ankle, a fractured skull, and losing my left leg above the knee ... Read More

Jeremy Affeldt
Hi, my name is Jeremy and I’m a bilateral below-knee amputee. I lost my left leg 8 years ago and my right leg in May 2017. I'm an active amputee – I'm currently in a men's bowling league after relearning how to bowl ... Read More

Wendy Wallace
My name is Wendy Wallace. I am a wife, a mother and a quadruple amputee. In 2011, I developed necrotizing fasciitis ... Read More

Norma Trujillo
This is my story. It begins with a simple act of kindness. On April 19, 2017, a single moment changed everything. I got out of my car to help someone push their car off the road because I was worried about their safety ... Read More

Michael Procop
In 2011, at the age of 61, I developed Charcots disease. This is a disease where the bones in the foot crumble. Between 2011 and 2014, I underwent four foot surgeries ... Read More

Robert (Bob) Bliss
All my life I have been teaching. As an assistant day camp counselor, a summer camp counselor, and from running a swim school to teaching math. That is one of the many reasons I became a “Certified Peer Visitor”. To help others in this ... Read More

Belma Islamovic
I am original come from Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1993 I lost both of my arms from actions by the Croat (Catholic) people ... Read More

Cydni Simmons
My name is Cydni and I’m a 21 year old above-elbow upper limb amputee. This January I lost my dominant arm due to a Rottweiler attack at home ... Read More

Todd Hammond
I became a quadruple amputee in 2014, at the age of 42, from bacterial meningitis. Over 80% of my skin blistered from sepsis and I had four amputations ... Read More

John Register
I won the Paralympic silver medal just 6 years after having my left leg amputated. A world class athlete who qualified for two Olympic Trials, and a prospect for Army Officer School, I was on the success career path ... Read More

Wesley Palka
Born missing my right hand, I was blessed to have amazing parents who always supported my ambitions to adapt to any activity I wanted to participate in ... Read More

Mike Pumphrey
My name is Mike Pumphrey. I had a below-knee amputation in December 2017, due to a bad infection in my left foot resulting from diabetes ... Read More

Remington Bloch
I am a 25 year old, below-knee amputee. I lost most of my right leg in a motorcycle accident two years ago ... Read More

Robert Madsen
My name is Robert Madsen. I was T-boned by a 19-year-old female on my motorcycle on September 5, 2017 ... Read More

Joel Ellen
My name is Joel Ellen, and I am an above-knee amputee. In 2010, upon graduating college, I began experiencing chronic pain in my hip ... Read More

John Holman
There was that day in my life; That day when I woke to find all I had went to sleep with was now gone ... Read More

Brian De Herrera
Born with a rare form of congenital bone fusion, Todd Logan was faced with a life-altering reality in late 2014 ... Read More

Richard Slusher
I was born in 1993 in the small town of Chardon, Ohio. I was as healthy as could be, weighing in at 6.5 oz. However, I was born without a right forearm directly below the elbow ... Read More

Allison Miller
I lost my left leg above the knee in 2014 due to influenza-related bacterial pneumonia and septic shock ... Read More

Julia Soares
My name is Julia and on August 7, 2017 at 10:32 a.m. my life totally changed ... Read More

Todd Logan
Born with a rare form of congenital bone fusion, Todd Logan was faced with a life-altering reality in late 2014 ... Read More

Linda Shaw
Having a below-knee amputation was a choice; really, it was the only choice I had. Born with one leg three inches shorter than the other, and with a smaller foot, I went through many surgeries with no success and osteomyelitis for 30 years ... Read More

Robert Crotty
I am a 37yr old, very active, BKA (below knee amputee). I am MORE than thankful that I have switched to a clinician that looks out for the patient, and not the bottom line of the company ... Read More

Jeff Bryan
In 1991 I was in a ski accident and suffered a commuted fracture of my tibia and fibula. They said I would never ski again. The next 21 years I spent the majority of my free time hiking, Telemark skiing kayaking and rock/ice climbing ... Read More

David Coen
I lost my right leg below the knee two years ago and became an amputee. My left ankle was also frozen. Before that, I snowboarded for 20 years ... Read More

Chris Provenzano
“Next year’s the year I’m going to be out there running.” I had told myself this annually while watching the New York City Marathon since moving to the city five years ago ... Read More

Melvin Blakely Jr.
When former policeman Melvin T. Blakely Jr. lost one leg, one foot, some finger tips, and a hand to a bad blood infection, the prospect of ever enjoying a happy family life seemed remote ... Read More

Katie Wells
I never would have thought that Fred Rogers in his blue sweater behind the screen would be the one, the only one, who taught me that being different is good, and that if you are different or have a disability, be proud of it ... Read More

Brian Bishop
I want to share a bit of an ongoing success story with you. I would like to start out by saying I have been sober six years now. Approximately four years ago I had what I thought was minor bunion surgery on my left ... Read More

Herb Kolodny
My story begins while being self-employed. I was a computer technician for small offices and home offices. I repaired, maintained and installed new computers and networks for my clients when I was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 ... Read More

Jamie Gane
I am an adaptive athlete from Basingstoke, Hampshire, England and I am currently working toward the Paralympics for discus, javelin and shot put ... Read More

Patrick Scoles
Childhood setbacks didn’t slow down career aspirations for public service as deputy sheriff, EMT, Texas Guard, church leader ... Read More

Wendy Thomson
I have been an AK (above-knee) amputee for over sixty years - that's far too long to capture "my story" in a few pages. There's an entire book on that (published.) ... Read More

Gerry and Denice Kinney
7200 volts, eight surgeries and nine months left Gerry without his arms. Read his story of “never giving up” ... Read More

Michael Crowe
Six months after amputation this police officer was able to return to active duty ... Read More

Angelina Boulicault
A young Russian girl is adopted in the U.S. ultimately founds Live Without Limbs and becomes a biomedical engineer ... Read More

Louise Magno
Wheelchairs are like prosthesis: they provide independence. Make sure you ask for yours to travel with you if you are transported in an ambulance! ... Read More

Adrienne Walker-Pittman
How I recovered from a life-threatening brain injury. My name is Adrienne Walker-Pittman, and I currently work for MTA Mobility. I have a very inspiring story that I would like to share ... Read More

Jackie Riggs
Jackie’s story talks about amputation as a choice and a surprise, and the strength of community ... Read More

Jennifer Maldonado
This is an article Driscoll Children's Hospital wrote about our amazing warrior son named Julian. Julian was 10 years old when he became ill in January 2017 with Necrotizing Fasciitis a flesh/tissue eating bacteria ... Read More

Jenny Donelson
My journey started when I was 18 months old. My dad was in the Navy, fighting the Vietnam War. Mom was home caring for 8 kids, me being the baby at that time ... Read More

Emily Burleson
Hello! My name is Emily. In March 2016, I was in an almost fatal wreck. Fortunately, all I lost was my leg (above the knee) ... Read More

Joshua Karczewski
A bit of my story, to hopfully lift your spirits. Four years! Wow! four years since that night I laid at the side of the road, bleeding, broken bones, and dying ... Read More

Jim Simpson
I’ve never met the individual, “Author Unknown”, but there are certainly a lot of profound statements from this person ... Read More

Dana Pounds
My story of living with limb loss wasn't a choice – it was mandatory in order to live. I've lost over half of my body, bit by bit. Yes, it's been hard but overall I've adjusted to this situation ... Read More

Donivan Leslie
Hello, my name is Donivan Leslie. I lost both of my legs on August 5, 2016 in a motorcycle accident ... Read More

Darryl Dickey
My honest opinion is, within almost two years of being an amputee, I've learned that people who are amputees aren't respected ... Read More

Frances Osorio Rivera
My name is Frances. I am a below-knee amputee, a U.S. Army veteran, and a kiteboarder ... Read More

Linda Walls
In April 2015, I went walking a couple of miles with a friend and experienced some discomfort in one of my legs. By October, I had had one of my legs amputated from the knee down ... Read More

Brenda Roundy
Amputees need a higher level of coverage in obtaining their prosthetic needs because the cost of prosthetic devices has inflated so much that without more coverage, amputees are not able to purchase a new device ... Read More

Amy Harris
My name is Amy, I am 28 years old, and I am a left leg below-knee amputee. On March 2, 2012, I was in a very tragic tornado accident. I was in a friend’s mobile home and a tornado came through and completely demolished ... Read More

James McCarthy
I am writing to tell the story of my wife, Alice. Alice and I will be married 59 years this June. Alice had to have both legs amputated below the knee eight years ago, one week apart ... Read More

Ceres Torres
Hi! My name is Ceres Torres, I am a cancer survivor (1996) and right below-knee amputee. After years and years of working in advertising, I felt my life was incomplete and felt very sad and unmotivated ... Read More

Jonathan Meola
On May 18, 2013, I was riding the subway home from working selling lemonade at a concert in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Witnesses said I got up, and foggily (traumatic brain injury or TBI) walked out the door leading from one subway car to ... Read More

Darwin Eckert
Where to begin! My story is just that, my story. I lost my leg from complications with attempting a total ankle replacement. The Doctor ordered the "smallest" ankle prosthetic that they made ... Read More

Alicia Arrington
My story of living with limb loss wasn't a choice – it was mandatory in order to live. I've lost over half of my body, bit by bit. Yes, it's been hard but overall I've adjusted to this situation ... Read More

Douglas Dahlke
I've put to bed more motorcycles than most people get cars. I should have learned when one damaged me the first time ... Read More

Susan Cotten
On November 20, 2008, at the age of 53, I was on my bicycle enjoying a crisp day. An uninsured driver of an SUV hit me, resulting in a broken neck (C2) and a leg injury. I was rushed to the ER where the ... Read More

Lori Abramson
Synovial Sarcoma took my leg, above my knee, at age 44. A young man's cancer, hmmmm. Anyway, I got through the chemo and I think I am most the way through the detox. I am starting to think more clearly and my hair is ... Read More

Peter Rahaman
After months of chemotherapy I went to a new doctor in NYC . The first thing she asked was whether I accept that I needed to lose my right foot as the cancerous tumor was in my ankle . I said no. Then she ... Read More

Patricia Ofori
I became an amputee due to vascular disease in 2010 and stayed in the hospital for about three months. I had great staff that was dedicated and took the time to assist, help, encourage and support me. Also, I had calls from Certified Peer ... Read More

Peggy Preston
Two years ago, my leg was hurting so I went to the doctor and was diagnosed at age 44 with PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease. I had no clue I was severely anemic and had an AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm) as well as a blood ... Read More

Lawrence Shapiro
In 2016, I was awarded a grant from the Ontario Arts Council's 'Deaf and Disability Arts Projects' Program here in Canada. I am an integrated dancer and received training through AXIS Dance in California several years ago ... Read More

Amy Dolphin
My name is Amy Dolphin. I am a below knee amputee. I have three children, and two of my children are also amputees. We have what is classified as "congenital absence of the tibia”. My grandfather suffered from this genetic defect. My mother was ... Read More

Patti Valero
I was riding my Harley just loving life and was hit by a pickup truck. My left leg took the brunt of the incident. I had a traumatic amputation below the knee. I work for fire rescue so it was my brothers that responded ... Read More

Vicki Brown
My name is Vicki. I am 56, and have always had a job and been very active with family. I am a mom and a grandmother, and I have always been one to take care of everyone. My life changed very dramatically a year ... Read More

Debra DePina
Friday evening, December 2, 2016, I fell asleep on the sofa, something that I have done numerous times before. I was expecting family for the weekend so when they arrived late, they rang the doorbell and called my cell phone simultaneously ... Read More

Jacky Hunt-Broersma
I am Jacky and I had my left leg amputated due to cancer (sarcoma) in 2001. I was living in The Netherlands at the time and had a fantastic career and had my whole life ahead of me. I discovered a lump in my ... Read More

Brittany Nitzband
On August 12, 2015 my life changed. Before that day I was an avid hiker, swimmer, motorcyclist, ran in the yard with my children, and more. I was super adventurous, but on that day my true journey began ... Read More

Uriah Steffen
In honor of #LLAM here is my journey! October 15, 2012 I was involved in an accident that resulted in the amputation of my left leg below the knee. I was riding my bicycle to work when I was hit head-on by a truck ... Read More

Mark Rennell
I was born with a deformed right foot and spent my first 16 years under the watchful care of Shriner's Hospitals both in Montreal and Springfield, Mass. I had many surgeries and was given the name "Thumper" due to my clomping around in a ... Read More

Rebecca Thrift
I have been an amputee since September, 2015, when I was hit by a truck driven by a man who was texting and driving. He had no insurance and was driving his girlfriend’s truck with liability only. This insurance only covered $25,000 on my ... Read More

Tina Selvy
I am 45 years of age my story starts 20 years ago as of June. I was in a vehicle accident and crushed my right foot in a million pieces as the Doctor put it, so as we discussed the next move I went ... Read More

Sean Donnelly
My name is Sean Donnelly. I was born without my right leg, above the knee, due to amniotic bands. The following is my story, which I hope will provide hope, strength, and courage to others out there who live with physical disabilities ... Read More

Randy Olsen
The first couple of years of my life were not the best. I was born with an extreme case of two club feet. My parents did the best with what they had at the time but the diagnosis never clearly identified what was going ... Read More