Last year, I joined the ranks of the over 55 million people worldwide who have had one more body parts amputated. In the U.S.A. alone, there are currently 2 million people living with limb loss. (Here are some more US stats. Here are some worldwide stats).

I am an amputee.

I didn’t take the shortest route to get here: I was in a car accident over 25 years ago, and yadda yadda yadda last year I decided (elective) to have my right leg amputated below the knee (BKA). I’m an elective BKA amputee. And after 25+ years, it was still a hard choice. I give the fact that I had to even make the decision zero stars / do not recommend.

Over the past 250-ish days (I had about a week to consider the surgery once I once I was given the option and said I was going to have it) I’ve had lots of interesting/crazy/weird thoughts. Some I’ll eventually share. Some I never will.

I’ve also learned a lot. Prior to 250-ish days ago, you may or may not believe this, but I never ever considered becoming an amputee. Not even once. And since then, I’ve learned so much about this thriving community of people who became amputees (electively or not) that are just out there living life! Lots of social media, videos, opportunities to connect. Lots of info to help me learn what I was going to be walking/stepping/jumping/pole vaulting into.

And so much of what I’ve found has been very helpful, in one way or another. My surgeon, doctors, prosthetists, and physical therapists – and my new robotic leg – have all been great to work with. I am lucky to have become an amputee when so much information is available and so many advances have been made in the field of prosthetics.

Here’s to continued learning about amputees and amputation, one up-down step at a time. 🙂