After a minor crisis where my therapist disappeared from my health insurance platform, I found someone else whose availability worked for my schedule and gave them a shot. After our first session, I was a bit unsure. She spent a good chunk of time writing on a notepad and stopped to ask a couple of basic questions every few minutes. I wondered, "what will I get out of this?" …

Do you have your most awakening thoughts as soon as a good cup of coffee hits your lips? Same. There is something about that magic sip with just the right amount of foam to coffee ratio, sweet and bold, at the same time, that makes me say "Mmmmmm" and close my eyes to soak up the moment with my other senses…

Last month I did the unthinkable, I quit my job. After working in Property Management for the last ten years and growing accustomed to my mind and body being in constant fight or flight mode, I knew I needed to make a change for the sake of my health…

Last night was a challenge in patience, and I didn't exactly do so well. I couldn't get the battery charger for my prosthetic leg to work. I tried for over an hour, and it just wouldn't click into place. Without a charged battery, it's nothing more than a hunk of dead weight for me to drag around. Frustration turned to anger, and anger turned to tears…

Do you remember when you first became aware of what you look like in a mirror, enough to draw the curves and edges from memory? What about the first time you realized others had become aware of how your body looked? Did it feel good to be seen, or did it make you want to crawl into a loose sweater and hide between the knitted strands? …

When we think of the Paralympic games, we think of an inclusive place where disabled athletes come to display their hard work and live out their dreams—a place where the seemingly impossible is made possible. For Brenna Huckaby, professional snowboarder, osteosarcoma survivor, and above-the-knee amputee, the Paralympics had been a place where she won gold for Team USA in 2018 and inspired us all…

Like most amputees (especially lower-limb amputees), I tend to struggle when it comes to shoe shopping. What once felt like a treat now feels like paying taxes. I bring a buddy for moral and physical support, hop around (literally) from store to store, and hope for the best…

Eight years after a cancer diagnosis and two years after a recurrence and subsequent amputation of my right leg, I finally saw a therapist. Hallelujah. I have been putting this off for YEARS. What would a mental health professional say when I shared my story? Would they seem shocked and unsure how to proceed? Or would I be judged for how I have been coping thus far? …

The day I got my first prosthesis, I sat impatiently and in a daydream state, waiting for my prosthetist to finish his lecture on how to properly care for my liner, the words he used sounding like nothing more than noise as I waited to be told I could finally take her (Lucy) home. I vaguely remember something about cleaning the liner but, it was still brand new and didn’t seem important at the moment. I had a new toy to play with and lots of walking to do. Then the rashes started…

This week I got to wondering why people feel inclined to share unsolicited advice. What makes a person think ‘right now seems like a great moment to share my opinion on something that no one asked for’? …

When the average person feels a twinge in their leg, they don't jump to the most dreadful conclusion that they must have a cancerous tumor lurking in their body. When a cancer survivor feels strange pain it's hard not to panic…

The big chop, life-saving procedure, amputation- no matter how you put it, limb loss is not for the faint of heart, even though it can and does happen to just about anyone, so how do we cope when it’s our leg the doctor marks a big X on? …