Give an Amputee the Gift of Mobility

On August 28th, 2006 I fell off a foot bridge. I fell about 3 feet and twisted my foot in the rocky embankment of the creek that the bridge spanned. This resulted in a Lis Franc Fracture. I had broke one bone, dislocated  10 Tarsal/Metatarsal bones and blew out all the tendons and ligaments in my left foot.

Between August 30th, 2006 and December 17th, 2010 I had 7 separate surgeries to repair my foot.  In spite of the surgical procedures,  there were bones in my foot that would dislocate every day at least once or twice (and sometimes  more) which I had to reset myself.  It was impractical to go to the hospital to have the bones reset professionally.  I went to a new surgeon in the first week of December 2010 to see if he could help and he recommended amputation. At this point, I was taking 30 MG of Morphine 3 times a day along with 10 MG of Oxycodone 4 to 5 times a day. I was in so much pain that I welcomed having my foot amputated. 

Having my foot amputated has been a two edged sword. The amputation helped me reduce my pain meds more than 50% and reduced the physical pain I was in immensely.  As a result of my injury and the ensuing amputation,  I have become disabled and retired. I am unable to work or exercise very well due to the limitations of my prosthesis.  My insurance does not cover any specialized Prosthetics other than that which allows me to walk. As a result,  I have gained a lot of weight because I just can't move very well.

On September 16th 2023, was participated in a test run hosted by Levitate and Evergreen Prosthetics and Orthotics. I was able to try out the Levitate running blade. I was amazed at how fast everyone at the event adapted to using the blades ( including myself). This was the first time I was able to jog and really run since my initial injury in 2006 and the actual amputation in 2010! My prosthetist Alex Gates and Levitate made it possible for me to run and do many other agility exercises that I didn't think I'd ever do again and that was during the first hour of using the  Levitate Blade. Just think what I will be able to achieve when I get used to using the Levitate Blade.

I also believe  that this increased mobility made possible by having a running blade will help me lose weight and be easier on my body  when I'm exercising.  I will also be able to dance in full regalia at PowWows as I celebrate my Native American Heritage and be able to walk without crutches in the days after dancing. The running blade will also help me to enjoy more activities including hiking with my grandchildren when they come to visit.

Help amputees back on their feet

Sports play a crucial role in the lives of people with disabilities, providing physical and mental benefits as well as a sense of community and accomplishment.

Access to appropriate sports prosthetics can be a major barrier for regular people with disabilities. These specialized prosthetics can be expensive and hard to come by, especially for young athletes and those in underserved communities. 

The campaign

We've partnered with Levitate, which develops durable running blades at a fraction of the competition's cost.

We're meeting many amputees at Levitate's Test Run events as well as online, and we'd love nothing more than to give as many of them as possible a new shot at an active life on their own terms. 

By providing donations to these sports prosthetics, you can give more leg amputees the opportunity to participate in sports and help them restart their active lives today.

Every time the $2000 mark is met, an amputee gets a blade - and the freedom to be active again.

More about Levitate: https://letslevitate.com/

About Less Leg More Heart

We spread hope, decrease suffering, and enhance viability within the amputee community. We do this by providing customized education, support, services, and supplies during and after life changing medical cicumstances. 

https://www.lesslegmoreheart.com/

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