PegLegs and Me

  Living alongside a double amputee has taught me that the greatest struggles are not always the ones people can see. When people see an amputee, they often notice the obvious first — the missing limbs, the prosthetics, the crutches, the wheelchair, the altered way of moving through the world. What they don’t always see are the battles that come with it. They don’t see the phantom pain that can come from a limb that is no longer there. They don’t see the discomfort of a residual limb, the long healing process, the skin irritation from prosthetics, the pressure sores, the balancing struggles, or the frustration of having to relearn things that once came naturally. They don’t see how much energy it can take just to do what others may consider ordinary. Getting dressed. Bathing. Walking. Turning. Climbing stairs. Sleeping comfortably. Even something as simple as moving from one room to another can require thought, patience, and effort. And then there is the emotional side — often...