Category Archives: Peer Support

The Value of a Personal Motivator

I got to witness the beginning of something wonderful for about 20 women today as they started their journey to run/walk a 5K with Running Start this September. Running Start is a nonprofit organization, started by Nicole DeBoom, whose mission is to “provide women with barriers to fitness the confidence, courage and community support theyContinue reading “The Value of a Personal Motivator”

There’s No “Right” or “Wrong” with Fibular Hemimelia – Interview with Mariale

For this blog, I interviewed Mariale, who is the mother of a 6-year-old boy who was born with fibular hemimelia (FH), which is the same diagnosis I was born with.  Mariale and her husband chose the leg lengthening process for their son rather than amputating (as my parents did), and I wanted to help shareContinue reading “There’s No “Right” or “Wrong” with Fibular Hemimelia – Interview with Mariale”

Adapting & Giving Back – Interview with Craig Towler

For this blog I interviewed Craig Towler, who started an organization called the Amputee Concierge in order to help people find answers to their questions and connect them with resources following limb loss.  I first heard about Craig shortly after the incident that lead to amputation of his legs happened, and was recently connected withContinue reading “Adapting & Giving Back – Interview with Craig Towler”

Colorado Columbines Speech

On November 4, 2017, I was the keynote speaker at an annual awards luncheon for the Colorado Columbines Women’s Running Club.  This great group of women support each other and host runs throughout the year, and it was an honor to speak at this celebration.     I wanted to give a little background, soContinue reading “Colorado Columbines Speech”

Choosing Amputation – Alina’s Story

For this blog I interviewed my friend Alina Miller who elected to have her leg amputated following a traumatic injury.  Everyone’s situation and circumstances are different, but hopefully others might find Alina’s story helpful in their own journey whether that journey involves choosing between amputation and saving a limb or any other tough decision you may be havingContinue reading “Choosing Amputation – Alina’s Story”

Why I Run

I originally wrote this for the Achilles International-Colorado blog in October, but I wanted to share it on here as well. — We were in the first quarter mile of a Monday evening Achilles workout in Wash Park and I turned to my running buddy Jessica and asked, “You know when I like running?”  SheContinue reading “Why I Run”

Do What Makes YOU Happy

Last Friday some coworkers and I were talking about the fun things we had planned for the long weekend and they laughed when I started listing things I was excited about accomplishing with the extra day off work.  The one that particularly got them was that I was excited to finally have time to draft some waiversContinue reading “Do What Makes YOU Happy”

Meeting Saule

Every now and then, I meet someone and immediately know they are going to have a positive impact on my life.  That happened to me when I met Saule this summer.  Saule is a young girl who lives in Kazakhstan.  She was given up by her birth parents because she has disabilities, so she’s grownContinue reading “Meeting Saule”

Having a Sense of Humor

“A person has two legs and one sense of humor, and if you’re faced with the choice, it’s better to lose a leg.”  ~ Charles Lindner This has been one of my all-time favorite quotes since I first discovered it in high school.  I even wrote it out on a piece of paper, decorated theContinue reading “Having a Sense of Humor”

Diving in to Find a New Passion

In March of 2014, I attended a swimming clinic that was hosted by CAF and designated as the LIM359 activity for the month.  It’s probably important to note at this point that I was the one who had designated the clinic as LIM359’s activity for March even though I had very little interest in donningContinue reading “Diving in to Find a New Passion”

Interview with My Mom

This evening I interviewed my mom over the phone (she lives in Spokane, WA) about her experience being the parent of a child with fibular hemimelia.  Here’s what she had to say… What was it like when you first found out that I had fibular hemimelia?  When was that? Unlike today, they only did ultrasoundsContinue reading “Interview with My Mom”