BOOKER T EILAND’S LIFE EXPERIENCE AS AN AMPUTEE.
My name is Booker T Eiland, and I am 58 years old. I have four children. Two boys and two girls. I have worked as an Executive Chef for 39 years in the culinary industry. I am an Award-winning Executive Chef.
Like most parents, I used to go to parent-teacher conferences and football games and help my kids with homework while pursuing my career. But to be honest, I forgot about my own health, so by, the end of 2016 going into 2017, I had multiple problems. I was overweight, three hundred ninety-seven pounds. I had numerous health problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, sleep apnea, and type two diabetes. Sometimes, I even had trouble breathing, and my A1C 79.5 was off the charts.
From 2017 to,2018, I was hospitalized three times for three various health problems. In May of 2018, I was hospitalized, and my health turned for the worse. I developed a hole in my right foot that was brown and black.
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The doctor diagnosed it as an infection. They kept giving me antibiotics and after four weeks, the doctor informed me that we do not know if the infection is out of my body.
He suggested that we cut off my right foot and become a below-knee amputee. Because they did not know that the infection was ultimately out of my body this could cost me my life. So that’s when I made a life-changing decision. I proceeded with the surgery.
Thank God the surgery went well. After the surgery, my doctor came in and spoke to me. I have good news! You could be a potential candidate for a prosthetic leg but you would have to get your health together. As we all know, health insurance companies do not approve everyone for prosthetic legs, especially if your health is not in good shape.
I then decided to get my health together and have the mindset to eat the right food and exercise. Through various companies, I was able to find the right supplements, all-natural, with the grace of God. I was able to lose two hundred ten pounds and got off 22 medications. Three of them were narcotics, and now my A1c level is 5.1. I drive my own car. I’m very active in the gym at least 4 to 5 days a week. Take my supplements and eat the right food.
The moral of my story is that when life experiences happen to you, you will not give up. Just last year, in 2023, I had medical problems between October and December with my C1 and C2 neck and spine. Booker T Eiland just made up my mind: I’m never giving up no matter what happens in my life.
Now I did not do this alone but with the help of my ex-wife Andrea Eiland, four children: Michael Eiland, Brandon Eiland, Danille Eiland, and Sharonda Hunt. My beautiful two daughters-in-law, Ashley Eiland and TaFerria Eiland, and my three sisters, Mary Eiland, Brenda Eiland, and Rotia Thompson, my brother Jerome Sims, Patricia Eiland, my cousin. Renee Blohm, a friend of the family and my two nieces and nephews, Wanda and Chararcus, and let’s not forget Ricci Grabski, Susie Kruse, Don Kruse, Debbie Linam all special friends of mine. Finally, the SSM Days Institute physical therapy. Jammie Sieg Certified Prosthetist, at Hanger Clinic. Thank God, for giving me the mindset, consistency, and courage to get my health together.
P.S. Thank you to the Amputee Coalition for allowing me to tell my story. I would love to have the opportunity to speak to anyone who has gone through what I have. Have a fantastic day.