Give an Amputee the Gift of Mobility

Howdy! My name is Andrew G Case, also known as Drew, Du, or Drew-boy. I have many nicknames, and I also immediately give nicknames to those around me. At six weeks old, I was diagnosed with Severe Congenital Neutropenia, which basically means I do not have enough white blood cells (neutrophils) to fight off infection. My body was essentially a country without an army, and even the simplest papercut could be life threatening.

Because of my disorder, I’ve spent most of my life in and out of hospitals and have had some unbelievable experiences. Half of my lung was removed at age two to prevent pneumonia from killing me. My tear duct was operated on due to a flesh-eating bacteria. And beyond that, I’ve had countless other operations from more infections over the last 34 years of my life. To say the least, hospitals and doctors have become my other family and home away from home.

The average person would likely not notice that anything is different about me. This is because I have persevered through these obstacles by working with my hands as a laborer in construction, as well as during my most recent job as a wind turbine technician.

Now at 34 years old, I am facing some of the biggest challenges of my life. On October 28, 2020 at 4 AM, after I had spent hours violently throwing up and sitting in excruciating pain, my girlfriend rushed me to the ER. It turned out that my blood had become septic after an infection that savagely invaded my body. Later that day, the nurse found me passed out in the hallway, and I was transferred to the ICU for the next 12 days. During this time, I had four emergency surgeries to remove the infection from my intestine and right hip. I even went into cardiac arrest during the first surgery; the doctors were fortunately able to keep me alive. 

Before the second surgery, my family and I were told that I may not live through it. However, yet again, with prayers, God, family, and skilled doctors and nurses, I survived!

During this period, my kidneys and liver began to fail, and I developed jaundice. But with a combination of prayers, blood transfusions, and dialysis, my organs had begun to function properly again.

Furthermore, in order to save my life, I was initially put on vasopressors to centralize the blood in my main organs. This medication caused the complete loss of blood flow to my extremities, and as a result,  I am officially a quadruple amputee bilateral transtibial and bilateral trans radio as of December 11, 2020. I also have a few other medical issues, having my Secom removed and portions of my upper and lower intestines that were riddled with necrotizing fasciitis, and the removal of a huge portion of my right hip muscle, a.k.a. my shark bite. The top layers of skin from both my thighs were shaved off and transplanted to my hip as a skin graft.

I have been told my story is one of inspiration in the realm of employment and personal fulfillment. I have shown that living with a disability is not a barrier to success. Andrew’s ability to adapt and thrive stands as a testament to his strength and determination.

My journey embodies the idea of leading a balanced life despite facing immense challenges. I hope to represent that with the right attitude and support, anything is possible. 

Leaving a legacy  of triumph, reminding us all to live life to the fullest, no matter the obstacles.”

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/

CBS sent a crew to Levitate's test run in Denver

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