The Active Amputee

Guest post by Access Adventures ⎮ March 11, 2020 ⎮ Inform & inspire

It's all about getting out there and trying something new 

Fancy trying water-skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, biking, kiting or skiing? All suitable for amputees. Access Adventures is a non-profit organisation, aiming to improve the quality of life for people with physical disabilities through organising outdoor adaptive camps. Learn more about what they can offer and their ever-growing program. read more

Guest post by Kendra Herber ⎮ March 4, 2020 ⎮ Inform & inspire

Book by Kendra Herber: Whole: A leg up on life 

Imagine having to take the decision to amputate your child’s foot. That is the decision Kendra's parents were faced with when she was born with a malformed foot. Years later Kendra puts her experiences into words, writes them down and publishes her memoirs. 'WHOLE: A Leg Up On Life' invites you to learn more about her journey. In her bookl Kendra is open about her stuggles but never gives in to stereotypes. Her biography is a life-affirming testimony to her inner strength and courage. And today Kendra tells us a bit about her new book and why she wrote it. read more

Guest post by Fernando Costa Jr. ⎮ February 26, 2020 ⎮ Inform

ID ETHNOS and its amazing prosthetic covers

Confetti is ID ETHNOS' signature piece: One of the world's first mass-produced colourful and adaptable prosthetic leg covers for above-the-knee amputees. Its purpose is both functional but even more so emotional as it assists the amputee's rehabilitation process through boosting his or her self-esteem. And all this while being very affordable. read more

Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ February 19, 2020 ⎮ Inform

Sitting volleyball: Action for team players

This was actually the first regular sport I took up after the amputation. And I still think it’s one of the most exciting sports for people with lower limb difficulties. Why do I think so? Well, it’s fast, it’s action-packed, it demands a high level of fitness, quick reactions combined with good ball-handling skills and a commitment to your team. And you can easily play it in mixed teams of pople with and without disabilities. A great combination, if you ask me. read more

Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ February 12, 2020 ⎮ Inform & inspire

Remembering Patrice Méaume!

It is with great sadness that I learned about the passing of Patrice Méaume. Late last year, Patrice died from a heart attack while out playing soccer. Patrice was an incredible artist and an outspoken advocate for people with a disability. He constantly tried to shift the narrative. For him being disabled had nothing to do with being either the object of pity or heroism. With a witty sense of humour and a keen eye he portrait us as we are. His work celebrates the immense richness of our lives. Patrice was featured on The Active Amputee in April of 2019. Today I am reposting his pictures and the short texts he  sent me back then. Today I want to remember Patrice, his work and his efforts as a disability rights advocate. read more

Guest post by Anoushé Husain ⎮ February 5, 2020 ⎮ Inform

What does inspirational actually mean?

"I'm not sure how many times I have been called inspirational in my life. If I was given a penny for every time, I'd have a mansion by now. The word makes me hugely uncomfortable and I know I'm not the only one who is differently-abled or different that feels this. For this article, I decided to dig a bit deeper and work out why I feel the way I do." read more

Guest post by Angelina Emily Boulicault ⎮ January 29, 2020 ⎮ Inform& inspire

Enjoying the great outdoors as a below knee amputee

Daily activities can be a little bit challenging when you’re missing a leg. Now add the weight of a pack, and varying elevations on uneven terrain out in the mountains and you are definitely going to see how not graceful I am. But so what? This post is going to talk about how to get outdoors and see these beautiful places even as an amputee. read more

Guest post by Joana Waterton ⎮ January 22, 2020 ⎮ Inform

You need to find your own way to deal with stump pain

Joanna lost her left foot and 2” of her left leg in a mountaineering accident in Switzerland in the summer of 2005.  Whilst climbing the Taschhorn-Dom traverse, she was caught in an unforcasted storm, benighted, and then avalanched whilst descending the following morning. Today she describes her very own ways of dealing with stump pain. Chemical painkillers are only a last resort. read more

Guest post by Aurélie Loaec ⎮ January 15, 2020 ⎮ Inform, inspire & engage

Hands-on travel advice for poeple with limb differences

"For the first time, in April 2015, I travelled far away from France. For years, I wanted to discover other cultures. So when I finished my studies I didn't hesitate and bought a flight ticket to Japan. Three amazing weeks! During these vacations in the country of the rising sun I caught the travel bug and I realised this passion was about to become a central part of my life." That's how Aurélie's amazing story started a few years ago. read more

Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ January 12, 2020 ⎮ Inform, inspire & engage

One year on from the 888m climbing challenge

Wow, how time flies. It has been a year ago that I took on the 888m climbing challenge to raise funds for The Active Amputee. And what a year it has been. A year full of engagements with amazing amputees; a year in which the daily routine has regularly been pierced by memory-making moments out in the wild; a year full of challenges in relation to my work, my health and the way we live. And a year in which I was forced to step back from some of my commitments, take a break, recharge my batteries and refocus my priorities. Now - 12 months later - The Active Amputee is back in full swing. New articles are in the making, new cooperations are developing and new and exciting projects are being hatched. read more

Guest post by Crystal Chigbu  ⎮ January 08, 2020 ⎮ Inform, inspire & engage

Adressing sociual stigma and physical needs in Nigeira

Crystal's personal experience of raising a daughter with a missing tibia and knee cap inspired the set-up of The IREDE Foundation. The IREDE Foundation educates and creates awareness on amputation and limb loss among the general public, hoping to reduce stigmatisation to the barest minimum. They help people with limb loss and run a support group for amputees and their families. read more

Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ January 1, 2020 ⎮ Inform, inspire & engage

Five Instagram accounts to follow in 2020

January 1, 2020. The first day of the new year. Well, actually the first day of the new decade. And thus a great day to kick off a new and exciting year for The Active Amputee. Today I would like to recommend five people to you whose Instagram accounts you should follow in 2020. And… drum roll please… the five people to watch are the following. read more

Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ November 13, 2019 ⎮ Inform & engage

Prothesengemeinschaft - A new amputee community in Germany

As you all know I am great believer in the power of communities and in the value of connecting people - both locally and in person as well as globally through the world wide web. And so I was very excited when I recently discovered something new. Something I would like to bring to your attention. This something is a new community called Prothesengemeinschaft (which roughly translates into Community of Prostheses - a word play which works far better in German than it does in English. But I guess you get what it’s all about!). The core piece of this new community is an app and the shakers and makers behind it run a weekly podcast. read more

Guest post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ October 30, 2019 ⎮ Inspire

Five pictures and me: Andrew Gregory

In our series "Five Pictures and Me" people with amputation introduce themselves by sharing their favorite pictures with us. Today: Andrew Gregory - below knee amputee, pole dancer, artist, model and the gold medal winner at the recent International Pole Sports Federation world championships. read more

Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮ October 23, 2019 ⎮ Inform

Testing the OttoBock 3R80 Knee

Throwback to earlier this summer: After almost six years it was time to say goodbye to my old prosthetic knee and start thinking about a new one. With the lifespan of my old prosthesis slowly coming to an end I had the rare opportunity for a new - maybe waterproof - leg. An opportunity not to be missed. An opportunity to think about my needs as an active user, to get advice from a trusted prosthetist, to chat with other amputees and potentially try out different models to see what works best for me. read more