GOD TOOK MY LEG TO GIVE ME A LIFE.
Hi. I’m a soon-to-be amputee of 3 years. I would have never believed that losing my left leg below the knee would be the best thing that ever happened to me. At 17 I was in a terrible BMX accident that tore my left calf in half and severed all my ligaments and tendons. After 5 surgeries, 5 skin grafts and a month in the hospital I recovered and 6 months later was walking after physical therapy.
The doctor prescribed oxycontin 40s and at 18 I became an addict, although I didn’t know it myself. For the next 20 years of my life, I would and still do struggle, day in and day out. My life was completely controlled and consumed by my addiction and I had no power at all over my life. It became unmanageable at every level one can imagine. In the end, I was a shell of a person who went to jail 2 times for 1 1/2 years total. I went to 8 rehabs and several recovery houses. Nothing seemed to work.
I had one year clean and sober but still, I was miserable, depressed, severely mad at the world and just wanted a normal happy life. I could never imagine what God would do and the serenity he would give me on May 27, 2021! I also failed to mention I was married at 27 and remained married until I was 35. I completely gutted and remodeled a house and had a son at the age of 30.
My son Angelo was born with a severe and very rare brain disorder called bilateral frontal parital polymicrogyria. A disorder that has no answers or studies since it is so rare. We found out that Angelo would never walk or talk, is blind, has 1 to 15+ seizures a day, and has a feeding tube. He is now In a nursing home. Devastated is an understatement! I was completely blindsided and our lives were turned upside down. I was clean those years but soon would have the battle of my life all while trying to take care of my helpless son.
From being in the hospital with Angelo I caught C. diff! A life-threatening, very contagious gastrointestinal infection. It lasted on and off for 8 years. At the end of 2019, my doctor said on my 2nd fecal transplant after I’ve become antibiotic resistant to almost all the medication, if this does not work I give you 2 weeks to live. But by the grace of God it did…and I started to get healthy again slowly.
As I said though, I was so miserable about the years that I had lost from being sick. I just wanted a normal life. On May 27, 2021, my normal life would begin.
I was working up on a roof and on an 8-foot step ladder that kicked out on the shingles and threw me backward off the roof 20 feet down. I spun and avoided landing on my back or head but the impact was severe and completely exploded my left leg and cut it almost off. The right leg would take the rest of the impact and it shattered in 30 different places. I knew immediately they were going to amputate my foot. But when I hit that ground I felt God reach in and rip all the hate, misery, and discontent out of my soul. From that point I had no worries…just serenity and knowing this was a test. I would then make the decision to amputate on June 7th and had absolutely no fear. I knew I was going to persevere and show the world that sometimes the most horrible tragic things that happen in our lives can absolutely be the blessing we need to become the person we need to be.
This accident didn’t stop me…I was snowboarding the next January without anyone teaching me. I’ve hunted, fished, climbed, and done almost everything I used to do. Only today I have hope. I have grace. I have a purpose! #keepsmiling #keepgoing
Never give up!!!
God bless 🙌