inMotion Magazine

March | April 2018 28 amputee, Brenda Novak, who joined me in my advocacy work to bring me to Step Seven: the creation of the Connecticut Amputee Network (CAN). We are pressing forward with a state legislative agenda for 2018: the introduction and passage of an Insurance Fairness bill. CAN ties together many of the previous steps. It also supports educating the state’s limb loss community, especially with respect to our legislative actions. It lets all of them and their loved ones know that they are not alone in this fight. A higher quality of life is possible if we work together. One could say that my road to advocacy was a series of unintended consequences derived from the desire to help others. Unplanned and unexpected, my one-to- many projects have succeeded. It hasn’t all been up, up and away, though. There have been a few downs and sideways in the mix. But the overall ride has been very rewarding, indeed. And how will your road to advocacy map out? Here are a few things to expect. • You can’t do it alone. Overcome your resistance to ask for help. • While helping others, it helps your own healing. • Life is a journey. So, why not travel the road to advocacy? • Everyone’s journey is different because each of us are different. • You will meet and make new friends along the way. • Our paths may cross one day. That would be nice. Living With Limb Loss Brenda Novak and Herb Kolodny, co-founders of the Connecticut Amputee Network