That Time My Dad and I Put a Pool Noodle on My Leg

Okay, so you might see me talking a lot about life with a limb difference and cool adaptive stuff. And yeah, a lot of that comes from, well, living it every single day. But there's also this whole other nerdy side of me I wanted to share a bit about today.

See, I wasn't just content with figuring out how to make my own leg work better. My brain kinda goes into overdrive with the 'how' and 'why' of movement. That's why I dove headfirst into studying Biomedical Engineering, specifically focusing on how our muscles and bones do their thing – you know, musculoskeletal biomechanics. Basically, I got super into the science of how we move.

After all the textbooks and late-night study sessions, I actually spent a good five years getting my hands dirty as a prosthetic and orthotic technician. That was HUGE. It wasn't just about the theory anymore; it was about seeing firsthand what people dealt with, what worked, and what really didn't. Then, I jumped into the research and design side of things, which was like unlocking a whole new level of 'how can we make this better?

One of the coolest early gigs I had was with Ponseti International. Seriously, if you're in the orthotics world, you know they're kind of a big deal for helping kids with clubfoot. I was actually born with Club Foot! Later on, I was at universities, working on research that actually brought some pretty slick, dynamic leg prosthetics to the market. It was all about trying to create legs that moved more naturally and made life easier.

But honestly, my tinkering with legs goes way back. Growing up, my dad and I were like a couple of mad scientists in the garage. When i was horseback riding as a kid but locking button on my leg kept getting hit & my leg would pop right off! We MacGyvered this strap with a bottle cap to guard it! And don't even get me started on the water skiing leg with the pool noodle – pure genius if I do say so myself (okay, maybe Dad deserves most of the credit for that one!). We also threw a boom out the side of the boat so i wouldn’t have to work against the wake. We just wanted to make anything possible.

So, when I started Adaptive Amputees, it wasn't just because I've lived with a prosthetic my whole life. It's also because I've spent years diving into the science, the tech, and the hands-on work of making these things. That's why I get a little geeky about the details sometimes!

Bottom line? I'm not just sharing my opinions here. There's a whole lot of education and experience that goes into what I talk about. My goal is to give you the real deal – stuff that's not only helpful but also backed by some serious know-how. So, stick around, and let's figure this adaptive life out together!

If you're interested in reading more of my insights and experiences, you can also find my writing on various other magazines &websites within the adaptive & disability communities. Other Publications