My Dad - My Amputee Hero - March 2013

Words cannot describe the overwhelming amount of love I have for my father. He has touched so many lives with his kind and giving heart, that he may not even realize. Last November, my father had his right leg amputated; you can read more about why here. Since then, a lot has happened, including a fall, only ten days after surgery, causing him to end up back in the hospital to be cleaned and re-stitched... But my dad is no quitter, he was up "walking" again shortly after, blowing away every doctor and nurse who saw him walk with his walker.

It has been a long, emotional four months for my family. Changes had to be made. But, we have adapted. And I must say, that I feel closer to my parents and my brother than ever before! I am so lucky that I am able to live five minutes from my parents, and have a job flexible enough to let me be there for them, like they have been for me in the past. My mother is an amazing nurse with the heart the size of the entire Milky Way universe, and my father is a 6-foot tall work horse who never gives up, and between the two of them, I have found strength and courage to get me through any challenge that comes my way!

With many, many, many thanks from all of the incredibly intelligent, and caring staff over at Anchor Prosthetics, my dad is learning how to walk again, after only four months!! Not even four whole months at that... after only three months and three weeks my dad is learning how to walk again!! Woot Woot! Go Dad!

I was lucky enough to be there the day he got his new leg, and of course, had to bring my camera to take some photos of this monument event! March 20th was an emotional day for all of us, but this is just the beginning, and I could not be more proud of the both of my parents. They are truly some of the most amazing individuals I have the privilege of knowing, and couldn't be prouder of that stubborn man I call my father!

I love you Dad!

"Check it out, I can cross my legs!"

He said that he felt like an Olympic skier, and had all of us laughing.

Thank you Clint, and Cruz for making all of this possible! You guys are amazing! :)

Things don't always go according to plan...

As many of my closest friends and family already know, my father is the most important man in my life, and he always will be. I am a total daddy's girl, through and through. I am not normally one to delve so deep into my personal life, however, my father is about to wander into a very difficult chapter in his life, and I can't help but branch out to my fans and followers for strength during this difficult time.

My dad has had multiple knee surgeries, stemming from an annoying, and painful, dislocating kneecap, and the story of the draft, comes to my mind... and the commanding officer telling my dad that he had to do a squat in order to be in the service, and my dad telling him that if he did, his kneecap would painfully dislocate. He did the squat, and his military career came to an end as quickly as it began.

Almost two dozen surgeries, on both knees, two total knee replacements on the right, and decades of chronic knee pain in both, my father has come to the very difficult decision to have his right leg amputated above the knee. For the once sailor/drummer/fixer of everything, the choice to amputate was not an easy decision.

The photography business that I have worked so hard to create, would have never been possible if it wasn't for my father. His business sense, financial planning background, and not to mention monetary assistance, are every reason why I am grateful enough to be able to do what I do! Not to mention, the photos I have of my family are some of my most cherished possessions, and flood my home with wonderful memories of life before the pain took over. Those photographic memories, that flood my walls, are all that we have now of the life before the pain took over.

I see this amputation as a wonderful new chapter in my fathers life. I hope that with some of the newest medical advancements, not only will my dad comfortably walk again, but I am hoping he will be able to play the drums again, or even man his own sailboat one day.

I want to share a few of my favorite photographs of him and I, over the past few years, to remind everyone that life is a gift. What seems so picture perfect on the outside may be filled with relentless pain on the inside. Cherish every moment! Please wish my father a smooth surgery tomorrow, and a speedy recovery. As my dad would sarcastically say, "Roger Ramjet out!" :)