JULIE (West Hollywood, California)
It was after many years of having terrible lower back pain, many a misdiagnosis from doctors, and then a bad fall on a ski slope in which I fractured my pelvis, that I was finally given a correct diagnosis of malignant chondro-sarcoma in my right pelvis. I was told from the get go that a hemi-pelvectomy would be the safest choice since this type of cancer can easily spread. I was young, athletically inclined, had a great career that required a lot of mobility, and perhaps cared a little too much about “looking good.” I just couldn’t imagine that there could be life after amputation, so I found a doctor who believed he could salvage my leg.  I went through a resection procedure where they froze the tumor and removed it along with a good periphery of surrounding bone, then filled the empty space with cadaver bone, cement, metal screws and plates. But the sarcoma kept recurring (as my original doctor predicted) and I had to undergo intense surgeries every six months.  Finally the sarcoma came back in stage four and I now faced the possibility of dying.  My limb-salvage surgeon wanted me to try another procedure (an internal hemi-pelvectomy with a saddle prosthesis to save the leg.) Looking down at my burning red throbbing 15 pound sorry slab excuse for a leg, I realized it was futile.  When I told my limb salvage surgeon of my intentions to go through with the amputation, he told me “You’ll never walk again - they don’t make useable prosthesis for hemis.”  By then, I was used to doctors declaring things as “fact”, when in fact, they were completely wrong. So I decided to do a little research of my own.

That’s how I found this website, the Amputee Coalition of America, and all the helpful people who had already gone through what I was going through. They saw me through my depression and confusion, my frustration and panic, and the misery of phantom pain. They helped me pull through when I didn’t know if life was worth living anymore. It’s the Christina’s, Lenore’s, Monica’s, Mary’s, Toni’s, Jeff’s, Patti’s and Rich’s of the world, that helped me put my life back together in a positive way.  

Since my amputation, I have traveled the world, re-joined the workforce, and have remained cancer free for over 6 years as of this writing!  I thank God I reached out and I hope that you will too.  If you ever need a friend to talk to or are looking for suggestions, please let me pay back for all the goodness I have been shown by contacting me.  I am ACA Peer Support Certified, received The Elliot Motivator of the Year Award and am a really nice person! (-:
E-mail: oneleggedjo@yahoo.com
 

TANA (Los Angeles, CA)
After 5 years of being misdiagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I conferred with an Orthopedic surgeon about hip replacement surgery.  During the work up, they discovered it was not rheumatoid arthritis, but a soft tissue sarcoma in my left hip.  I had a hemipelvectomy July 5, 1996; 2 months after my 28th Birthday.  I went through another 5 months of radical, intensive chemotherapy.

I had been a successful business owner, and overnight I had just about lost everything, but was determined to get through this and make a better life for my daughter and myself.  Two years later I went back to college to obtain a bachelors degree in public relations.  I have worked very hard, and am proud to say that after only 2 1/2 years, I graduated with my bachelors degree in December, 2000. 

Now I've survived my sarcoma and have been an amputee for 10 years.  My profile was originally listed for Ohio, but I recently relocated back to the West Coast, where I'm employed as an Account Manager.  I have a prosthesis, named Guido (it's name changes regularly), but am ambulatory by fore-arm crutches.  I am thinking about another try with a prosthesis, once I loose some weight.

I know that God has something wonderful in store for me and will not burden me with more than I can handle.  I am grateful that I am still living, and I try to live each day to the fullest.  I choose to be a living example for my daughter and that's what has kept me going. If there is a chance I can help someone like myself in the same situation, then I'm for it.  I want to represent young, black female professionals, and let them know they are not alone, like I once thought I was.
E-mail:  tanafied@socal.rr.com
 

JUDY (Nevada)
My name is Judy and I’m a cancer survivor and an amputee.  This is the same way I introduce myself in 12-step meetings,  "Hi, I’m Judy and I’m an alcoholic."  This is also true, although I’ve now had 15 years without a drink.

I’ve been a cancer survivor and an amputee for a lot longer.  I’m 58 now and my left leg was amputated when I was 16, due to osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer).  I’m really a walking/hopping miracle, since in those days chemotherapy wasn’t available, so I didn’t have to go through the negative aspects of chemo; on the other hand, very few people survived back then (1959).  I think I did because the doctor amputated at my hip rather than just above the knee (which is the only place where the cancer was detected by X-rays), and maybe it just wasn’t my time to go yet.

Another treatment that really wasn’t discussed or offered at that time was emotional rehab.  They took care of building me a prosthesis and helping me to learn to walk, bowl, dance, swim, etc., but no one mentioned that there might be adjustments to make emotionally or spiritually.  I’ve learned now that losing a limb is no easier than losing a person or a pet in your life, and that a certain period of grief is to be expected, and probably necessary for most people.  So I just blithely ‘got on with my life’ and hid all the confusion and self-esteem issues that any ‘normal’ 16 year old needs to go through, never mind having the added trauma of an amputation to deal with.

The bottom line is, in the years that followed, I medicated myself with various addictive behavior – first alcohol, and then gambling.  I’m finally coming out of my emotional adolescence and starting to discover what life has to offer.  I’ve also learned that there are actually people out there who find amputees attractive.  Yes, that’s right.  Not just tolerated, or accepted despite their disability, but actually because of it.

Partially because of this new understanding, I’m finding it a little easier to consider going out without my prosthesis.  For years, I wouldn’t consider being seen without my leg by anyone except my most intimate friends and family.  Yet, the truth is I’m happiest and the most ‘free’ feeling when I’m hopping around – without my leg and without my crutches.  I’m kind of like a bunny rabbit, I guess you’d say.  I’d like to see the day when I can go out, using my crutches and just not ‘give a darn’ what others think.  However, even though, ‘crutching it’ is easier in some ways, there are certain things I know I’d still prefer to do with my prosthesis – such as shopping, carrying in groceries, things like that.

Anyhow, I welcome questions or sharing from anyone else who’d like to write me.  Life can be good.  Attitude is everything!!
E-mail: VegasJudy16@aol.com
 

JACK (Clinton, WA)  
(written by his wife, Bea)
My husband, Jack had a hemipelvectomy just over 40 years ago following a construction accident. He has never had any real connection with another HP. He has completed a 35 year professional career as a Public School Teacher and Administrator. He has not used a prosthetic-only forearm crutches. He had a prosthetic early on, but it was not functional, too heavy, too hot, too inconvenient. All it did was slow him down and fill out a pant leg. He leads an active life, but has episodes of misery and pain. The years of "walking on his hands" have taken an ugly toll on other joints such as wrists, thumbs, elbows. I am convinced there is something, somewhere that can help.

He describes himself now as a professional, traveler, reader, fisherman, hunter, ham radio operator, gardener, fixer, thinker, doer-in short "handi-capable". We live on Whidbey Island, just north of Seattle and are willing to be a part of this support network.
E-mail: jbear@whidbey.com

JAY (Sacramento, CA) 
I am 58 years old, Right Hemipelvectomy. My story begins in March 1998 when I developed groin pain. It appeared as though I had pulled my hamstring or a groin muscle while playing tennis. I had several courses of physiotherapy and ultra sound treatments, but the pain appeared again and in September a swelling appeared. In November this was diagnosed as Osteosarcoma. I had three courses of chemotherapy and in mid February 1999, my hemipelvectomy surgery was performed on my right leg. By God's grace and with support, love, and care of my only son, and encouragement from friends and relatives, I made a quick recovery. Three weeks after the surgery I went to Kaiser, Vallejo for rehabilitation. Through them, I was put in touch with another person who had the same surgery one year before. We came home on March 23, 1999. I had to take lessons and pass a driver's test to drive my car that was modified to suit my left foot. I found a compassionate and friendly teacher to train me in my driving. I've been back to work since May, working 6 hrs a day. I am a civil (structural) design engineer. I go to the Gym with my wife who helps me in adjusting the settings on the machines for me, and work out three days a week. Now, I am looking for a good prosthetist here in Sacramento, or the San Francisco Bay Area to make a prosthesis. 
E-mail: JKNVictor@aol.com

ZEKE (Bellingham, WA)

	Zeke and Flip

In 1969 a drunk driver knocked me off my motorcycle. After I got out of hospital his insurance bought me the state of the art, a heavy fiberglass bucket and wooden leg with simple hinges. The top hinge was strategically placed to nip off pieces of anatomy, and the knee hinge popped open on any slope, such as stepping off a carpet. The physios gave me a few lessons, told me the rest was entirely up to me, and whispered to the onlookers that hardly anybody ever managed to walk in one of those things.

I gave up after about a year and used crutches until 1998. My wife found Tony van der Waarde while looking for a shoe swap, and he told us that almost all HD/HP's had a useless leg in the closet. He made me a pretty good rig, with a light flexible padded socket, Otto Bock hydraulic hip and knee and a Genesis II foot. Alas, in thirty years my backside had gotten soft and now it started to shrink. Tony cut inch after inch off the socket, but it's clear he'll need to make me another one. I'm putting it off until I finish shrinking. Since I married an American and moved to Bellingham, my Canadian coverage expired and my U.S. insurance doesn't cover prosthetics for pre-existing conditions, so we've paid cash.

Hi - This is Flip, Zeke's wife. It's all pretty new to me, we just got married last summer.  I want to be part of the solution so we can live our lives without all the hassle. Looks like a long-term project.  Zeke has a tendency to name things. His first leg was Oscar the Ball Pincher. The new leg is named Archie. Zeke writes hilarious songs and plays harp.  I'm a guitarist and troublemaker from way back.  We're in this together for the long haul.
E-mail: FlipBreskin@attbi.com
Web Site:  www.zekehoskin.com
 

TONI (San Francisco Bay Area)  
My hemi-pelvectomy was done in November of 1998 due to chondrosarcoma. This followed surgery the previous year to replace most of my femur with a stainless steel prosthesis. The replacement surgery was successful but there was a recurrence of the cancer in the soft tissue. I am still working with my prosthestist to get a prosthesis which fits well. I have had success walking unassisted but I have lost so much weight and my body contours have changed drastically. We are working on the third bucket. Thanks to your website and the information provided at the session in Reno, I have become an informed consumer and that makes the prosthetist's job easier.

I am 52 and have been married for 33 years. We do not have children but my ten year old niece serves as a surrogate grandchild. I own a store which can best be described as eclectic. We specialize in nothing in particular and carry new and used merchandise. It's called You Name It!! Previously I worked for the Federal Government and took an early retirement after 25 years of service.

It's a little too early to tell how much of my former lifestyle I will be able to resume. I love to fish and don't see any reason I can't do that but my second favorite activity is dancing and while I know that I will be able to dance in some fashion, a jitterbug in 3" spike heels is probably out of the question. My biggest frustration is not having my hands free and this is motivating me to keep working at getting the prosthesis right.
E-mail: tynip@sbcglobal.net

LENOR (Oregon)
I’ve been a hemipelvectomy for over 20 years, I use my prosthesis along with a cane, and sometimes just go out with my crutches if it suits me. My prosthetist is Carlos Sombrano. I’m very happily married to my second husband and I have two daughters from a previous marriage. After my amputation I wrote my autobiography entitled "One Step At A Time" about my experiences. It became a best seller at the time, some of you may have read it. Now I’m working on the sequel, what happens to our lives long after amputation. I became an author, lecturer, motivational speaker and columnist. Life does go on.
"Lenor continues to move readers with her latest book, The Next Leg of My Journey. Her first book, One Step at A Time, a poignant autobiography of her struggle to walk again after losing her leg to cancer, was translated into six languages and embraced as the inspiration book of the 1980's. It will go into a 4th reprint simultaneously with the release of her new book. In The Next Leg of My Journey, a sequel, Lenor engages the reader with the intimate and heart-wrenching details of the demise of her marriage, admitting that "losing her husband was worse than losing her leg." Committed to enjoying life, no matter what it brings, this remarkable story of learning to love again is amazinginly uplifting, yet achingly honest. This is a story that will touch your soul." 
E-mail: lenor@uci.net
Personal Web Site: www.rogueweb.com/lenor

 

BOB (California)

I use a prosthesis part time, it is very tiring so I use a cane (300 yds is my limit so far). My prosthetist is Carlos Sombrano. I don’t have a problem being seen in public without my leg so I also use my crutches or a wheelchair. I just do whatever is the easiest to do in whatever situation I’m in. I love sports (huge 49er fan) and traveling. Just had to trade in my old stick shift for an automatic, so a lot of our lives has not really changed much. We still go to sporting events, plays, traveling, etc., just like before. I’m willing to help a new amputee in any way that I can, just let me know if you need me.
E-mail: Bobthe3rd@aol.com