Really like the blog. I work for a nonprofit called Footprints Adventures the mission of Footprints Adventures is to promote self-advocacy, personal-reflection, self-confidence, among teens with limb differences and limb loss; and to challenge them to set new physical goals through fun and adventurous activities. Or simply… FUN EMPOWERING ADVENTURES
The goal of Footprints Adventures Inc. is to create opportunities for teens and young adults with limb loss and limb differences. It will allow them to participate in adventure travel trips across the U.S. and eventually the world.
My wife and my lives were turned upside down in 2004 when I had climbing accident in Hawaii. It gave us a perspective that most people do not have; a perspective that made us realize how precious life is and quickly it can change. The accident left me with a limb difference and inspired us to begin working with special needs populations using our outdoor leadership and education skills. It became apparent to us that there was a gap in the outdoor industry; there was no opportunity for active teens with limb loss and limb differences to have the extraordinary experiences in nature that my wife and I love so much. Out of this realization came the development of Footprints Adventures Inc.
With all of your world travels I was hoping to speak with you to get some pointers for traveling with an amputation and see if we could help permute each other causes. Check out our website at www.footprintsadventures.org
Originally from Canada, I grew up in a small frozen prairie town called Innisfail, Alberta before moving to Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island, finally getting my fishing boat.
In a never ending quest to beat my sister to at least one country in my life, I've travelled to Japan, Hong Kong, China, England, Germany, France, Italy and Brazil most recently taking a much needed rest in Brisbane, Australia, for the past year.
In October of 2008 my left ankle was crushed in a motor vehicle accident. This is the creepy part: after eleven surgeries, on the eleventh day of the eleventh month at approximately eleven in the morning my left leg was amputated below the knee. I won't say that I lost my leg; it's not like I misplaced it; but I am in the market for a new one.
1) As a resource for other amputees who would still like to lead a very active lifestyle.
2) To pass on anything I learn as a resource for new amputees to help guide them through the process as well as a way to collect information for myself from others who read can offer tips, advice, etc.
3) To help me see how far (hopefully) I've come from the hospital bed with its oxygen tubes and countless IV lines.
Before and after my surgery, I had friends and family scouring the internet looking for resources and good information about what I could expect from the experience as well as resources on how I could begin rock climbing again, biking, scuba diving, snowboarding, etc, etc, etc.
Collectively, we found very little. Since then, I've kept notes about what the "unexpected" was and I intend to keep taking notes on any success or set back I might have.
As a side bonus, this will also serve to as an easy way to keep friends/family up to date on my progress and as a tidy way for me to make lists, just like the one above and just like the ones in my first few posts! Who doesn't love lists? They made Letterman famous.
A brief disclaimer: I'm certainly not advising anyone to do any of the things I post about. I write about my own experiences in hopes it helps someone else come up with their own ideas. I follow several blogs for that very reason and it's helpful to hear how other people manage some of the tricky situations or challenges they come across. If you do think something I've posted sounds like a good idea and decide to give it a go, you do so at your own risk.
Really like the blog. I work for a nonprofit called Footprints Adventures the mission of Footprints Adventures is to promote self-advocacy, personal-reflection, self-confidence, among teens with limb differences and limb loss; and to challenge them to set new physical goals through fun and adventurous activities.
ReplyDeleteOr simply… FUN EMPOWERING ADVENTURES
The goal of Footprints Adventures Inc. is to create opportunities for teens and young adults with limb loss and limb differences. It will allow them to participate in adventure travel trips across the U.S. and eventually the world.
My wife and my lives were turned upside down in 2004 when I had climbing accident in Hawaii. It gave us a perspective that most people do not have; a perspective that made us realize how precious life is and quickly it can change. The accident left me with a limb difference and inspired us to begin working with special needs populations using our outdoor leadership and education skills. It became apparent to us that there was a gap in the outdoor industry; there was no opportunity for active teens with limb loss and limb differences to have the extraordinary experiences in nature that my wife and I love so much. Out of this realization came the development of Footprints Adventures Inc.
With all of your world travels I was hoping to speak with you to get some pointers for traveling with an amputation and see if we could help permute each other causes. Check out our website at www.footprintsadventures.org
Thank You
Brian Anderson