The last couple of months have been tough for me. Around Mid-July I went to Chicago for a few days to be a guinea pig for the gang at Coyote Designs and got to try out the RCR sockets. My prosthetic gurus from Kentucky Prosthetics attended, and it was a great time, as well as an awesome socket concept. I now have a set of RCR style sockets of my own, and like them quite a lot, very comfy.
Everyone there was very professional, and I learned a lot about what CP’s and CPO’s go through to learn and do what they do. I also had an eye opener about how some amputees feel about technology advancement. Another DBK amputee was there to help with the class, and he was walking on a set of legs based on 25-30 year old technology. I was amazed that he was totally fine with that, and he himself is a prosthetist. As I played around in my RCR test socket, testing the limits of my movement, (I was seeing how far apart I could spread my legs and still be standing) he asked me why in the world would I want to do that? My only answer was “Well, why not?”
The real answer is, because I always want to push the envelope.. I always want to go a little farther and do a little more. I am never happy with where I am at, and am always striving for that next challenge, no matter how big or small. I am sure my prosthetics team must want to pull their hair out at times over me, but they take it all in stride and help regardless!
The point here is, for anyone in life, amputee or not, you should never settle for what you have and should always strive for more. Always move forward, never stand still!
While in Chicago I also got to hang out with a friend, and she drug me all over downtown Chicago! We had a great lunch with crappy service, and I wont even begin to go into trying to get a cab ride out to the airport! That was a nightmare, but it was well worth for the time spent! Thanks Nicole for showing me around downtown!
The morning after my flight back, we had did the poker run and event for my friend Sarajo Mayer, and it was a success! We had a great ride, (well, all except for my bike breaking down lol) great food, and the Cold Shot Band played some great tunes into the night. I want to thank everyone who attended and helped out Sarajo! Your donations are helping her to get into a set of legs she can use, and on the road to walking again!
All that activity in such a short time took it’s toll on me. I messed up my knee, and had to be helped out the door of Sarajo’s event when all was said and done. I ended up being off my legs for almost three months! That was a tough time for me, and honestly why I haven’t posted a blog for a while.
My only real time on my legs during that time was for a video and photo shoot for Kentucky Prosthetics and Otto Bock. I was honored to be asked to be asked to participate in some promotional work for amputees in the EMS community. Fire, EMS and Police will be represented in several videos from Otto Bock by Officer Kevin Trees, Paramedic Joe Riffe, and myself. Both of these guys are amazing individuals, and I am proud to have worked with them on this project.
It was a tough one for me, as I could barely walk for the pain of my knee injury, but I made it through. That’s me, the short guy there on the left, Joe Riffe in the middle, and Kevin Trees on the right.
Kevin has been back on active duty as a police sergeant for years now, and I am happy to say that Joe recently announced his return to active ambulance service as of yesterday, I believe. Joe is the only above knee amputee paramedic working in the Louisville area! I guess it is my turn to hurry up and get back to the fire service, I’m falling behind these two!
I am now back to walking full time, and I have some ground to make up from being off my feet so long. Right before I got hurt, I had started back on the Jiujitsu mat working out again. My friend and trainer Eric Myers, owner of Myers Dojo was happy to accept the challenge of training a guy with no legs in BJJ. I am happy to say next week I should be starting back my workouts and getting back on the mat!
So, life is getting back to normal for me, college is going as well as college can, and I am again moving forward. Throughout my entire down time I got mad, upset, a tad bit down, and really really bored. The one thing I tried not to do was feel sorry for myself. That never helps anything.
Self pity is an enemy to all, even if your not an amputee, and if you let it in it will ruin you. I know now it seems a bit cliche because of of it being put into a movie, but DH Lawrence’s poem Self Pity can be a lesson for us all:
Self Pity
I never saw a wild thing
sorry for itself.
A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough
without ever having felt sorry for itself.
Those are some very powerful words. I think I would prefer to be a wild thing myself, how about you?
And just because Mr Mortensen does it so well, give him a listen!
And this clip here is for a buddy of mine who very recently lost his leg… I think he will be a wild thing too, and although right now he knows pain, I don’t think he will ever know self pity. This one’s for you, brother!