Welcome to
The Active Amputee
I am Bjoern Eser, the creator of The Active Amputee. I am a father of three amazing children, a husband to an equally amazing wife, a thankful cancer survivor, an outdoor enthusiast, a passionate development practitioner and a very active above-the-knee amputee.
I have set up The Active Amputee as a resource page from amputees for amputees. It aims to inform, it aims to inspire and it aims to engage. Nothing more and nothing less. It‘s as simple as that.
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Guest post by Jonathan Naber ⎮ April 7, 2021 ⎮ Inform, inspire & engage
Recycle for mobility
There is great inequality in the worldwide distribution of prosthetic components: The supply is worst in populations with the highest need. It’s tragic that so many components are oversupplied in higher-income countries while countless people in lower- and middle-income countries remain immobilized by the lack of components. The solution to improving supply doesn’t lie in catchy ‘appropriate technology for the poor’. Instead it lies in improved access to components that already exist. To achieve this we must all be part of the solution: We must all choose to recycle for mobility. read more
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ March 10, 2021 ⎮ Inform & inspire
Women who challenge stereotypes
Inspired by this year’s theme of the International Women’s Day, I have chosen five women with a limb difference who I follow on social media. I must admit that unfortunately I only met one of them in person and only had the on and off contact with two others. But my impression is that they regularly choose to challenge themselves as well as the world around them. And as this year’s theme states: From challenge comes change. And change - lasting, positive social change - is something this planet really needs. So enjoy learning more about these amazing women. read more
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ March 3, 2021 ⎮ Inform & inspire
My new hiking project is finally taking off
This new project of mine has been in the making for long. Far too long actually, if you ask me. But it looks as if I can soon move from thinking about it to actually getting started with it. Finally. And more than a year behind schedule. Honestly, I can’t wait to get going. But wait a minute; what am I actually talking about? Well…. I am talking about a new walking project of mine. A project I have been playing around with for some time. A project have been changing over and over again until it finally felt right. A project that might take up to two years to complete. read more
Guest post by Wendi Locatelli ⎮ February 17, 2021 ⎮ Inform & inspire
Life after sepsis
Today I am re-publishing one of the most-read articles on my blog. Since this post was first published about two years ago, Wendi's honest and life-affirming report has found an ever-increasing audience. Wendi is a sepsis survivor and quadruple amputee. And she openly talks about her physical, mental and emotional challenges. As this has been such an important source of information for many - especially young - people with a limb difference, I decided to publish Wendi's post again. read more
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ February 10, 2021 ⎮ Inform, inspire & engage
12 months, 12 challenges, all of them involving the number 50
The headline says it all. Well, almost all, that is. This year I am turning 50. It's still a few months down the line - end of September, to be precise - and I thought that's a great incentive to take on a few extra challenges this year. And after some soul searching and some playing around with a wide range of possible options I have settled on the following: In 2021 I will take on one additional challenge per month. And each and every one of these challenges will centre around the number 50. What could this look like? Well, the details are further down below. And some ideas of how to get involved. read more
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ January 27, 2021 ⎮ Inform, inspire & engage
Traveling with a limb difference
Traveling is great fun. But from my own experience I also know that traveling as a person with a limb difference can be scary. You are leaving an environment you know, an environment which often has been adapted to your needs and your level of mobility, an environment which is accessible. And instead you are heading for the unknown. That is why The Active Amputee kicks off the new year with a new service: Hands-on travel advice, making it easier for people with a limb difference to travel far and wide and with confidence. read more
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ January 20, 2021 ⎮ Inform
USB-charger: Another game changer for active amputees
Yes, finally it’s out. The USB charging device from OttoBock to charge its microprocessor knees. This is something I have been waiting for for a long time. And looking back at the last 20odd years, this device will be up there among the few items which really broke new grounds for active amputees. After the introduction of microprocessor knees and the first fully waterproof microprocessor devices this charger is another big step to be fully independent. read more
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ January 13, 2021 ⎮ Inform, inspire & engage
Welcome back to 2021
Happy new year to you all. I hope you had a nice and peaceful Christmas break and a good start into the new year. I hope 2021 will be a good year for all of you. And with the first article of 2021 I would like to give you a quick overview of what I have been up to, what is on my list for the coming weeks, and where I would love to get you involved. So.... drum roll please! read more
Guest post by Larry Borowsky ⎮ December 20, 2020 ⎮ Inform
The evolution of smart prosthetics
2020 is slowly coming to an end. So this is the last article for this year. But before The Active Amputee heads for a holiday break, I am very happy to announce a new partnership. Larry Borowsky from Amplitude Magazin and I have decided to team up for a series of articles for 2021. This will allow us to share more information, strengthen our ties, and thus serve the limb loss community even better. Today's article by Larry on the evolution of smart prosthetics kicks off this new partnership. And I am already looking forward to more exciting conversations in the future. read more
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ December 2, 2020 ⎮ Inform & inspire
Infotainment at its best: 12 amazing TED talks
Nothing like a good talk if delivered by a brilliant speaker with a story to tell. This combination of information and entertainment that challenge my assumptions, stimulate new thinking, or cause me to smile a big witty smile. Among my favorite talks are TED talks. They are such a great combination of brilliant info, inspirational journeys and though provoking daring big picture thinking. Here are twelve TED talks every amputee should listen to. read more
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ November 18, 2020 ⎮ Inform & inspire
No need for legs in a kayak
Throw back to the summer days: Summer comes along with endless opportunities for being active in, on and around the water. While water sports are generally great fun, they are especially well suited for lower limb amputees: They offer the added advantage of the water carrying most of our weight. An advantage not to be underestimated for many amputees. read more
Inform
In the inform section, you will find information about a range of issues amputees regularly have to deal with. Expect issues ranging from handling phantom pain to new developments in the prosthetic sector, from being an amputee parent to finding the right prosthetic cover etc. Anything that helps to make informed choices and make life as an amputee easier.
Inspire
In the inspire section, you will find exciting stories from other amputees. Expect travel reports and biographies from amputee adventurers, interviews with people who took on special challenges and stories about creative approaches to live a rewarding life as an amputee.
Engage
In the engage section, you will find information about special events for amputees, opportunities to try out something new, links to other organisations, information about support options and funding - and invitations to take part in one of the regular The Active Amputee challenges.
The Active Amputee
This page is made by amputees. And it is made for amputees and their families. The Active Amputee wants to enable you to make informed decisions by providing unbiased information. The Active Amputee wants to inspire action through the sharing of stories. And the Active Amputee wants to build a community of active amputees by encouraging engagement and mutual support. Nothing more, nothing less. It‘s as easy and simple as that.
Contact Us
The people involved in The Active Amputee love to hear from you. Give us feedback about this page, send in your stories so that we can share them with others, let us know about events that are of interest for amputees, suggest topics you would like to read more about, ask questions. Really, anything that relates to amputee issues is of interest for The Active Amputee and could be featured on this side. Here is the contact form.
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