Three years ago my brother Tyler went into surgery with two legs and came out with one. My brother had to have his right leg amputated because he had cancer in his bone. This was a major change in our lives. He was involved in cross country in high school and unfortunately he was unable to participate his senior year in his favorite sport. We had to make many adjustments and decisions as we went through this journey. His journey included his wheelchair, several pairs of crutches, his cane and his prosthetic leg, and now he walks unaided. Through my brothers story it has showed to me and many people around him how much we take for granted. Just by having a leg removed can change so much in your life. Also you never understand how important something is to you until it is really gone. By seeing how much one person can do in just 3 years I have been inspired to research about amputees and people with disabilities. In this paper I will be looking at other ways people have lost their limbs and how much everything has improved historically. Every amputee has a different story on how they lost their limb including cancer, accidents, disease, or diabetes. {VISUAL AID} The website limbs4life had many inspirational stories about how some people lost their limbs.

One story that really caught my attention was about Scott Reardon, age 12. Scott was working on his farm when his shoelace got stuck in the tractor causing him to have his right leg amputated right below the knee. Before his accident he was involved in sports and was into water skiing. Because of the support he had from his family Scott was skiing 6 months after his surgery. Scott has now competed in two World Championships where he has placed in the top three. Also about 6 months after Tyler’s surgery he was able to get back up on a wake board. He borrowed someones left prosthetic foot so he had to wake board with two left feet. Another story I read about was of Kayla Woods. She was born with a condition which is called Tibial Hemimelia. Which her femur and tibia joined up by her thigh causing her bone to split in two parts. When Kayla was just 2 years old she had her surgery. Miraculously she was home 3 days after her surgery. Even though it took a little while for her to adjust she can now do everything other kids her age can do including running, jumping, climbing on play equipment and now she is also taking swimming lessons. After reading about these stories it proves that even people who have disabilities can accomplish anything they put their mind to. Many years ago an amputation would include a saw and a bottle of whiskey, now with all the new technology surgeries today are more advanced. Before technology came out amputation surgeries were done in minutes. It could all be done in just one simple cut. According to emedicine some believed that amputations are worse than death. Before anesthesia the surgeries were quite difficult. The patients would have to be held down by assistants and would be given rum to dull the pain. The patients would usually be awake during the procedure. Today amputees are able to walk without extra help but historically they could have used tree branches for crutches. {VISUAL AID} In 1945 The Artificial Limb Program started to improve the development for the limbs. The progress from this has been amazing, they have advanced in the design and materials for prosthetics. Since the injuries of World War II they have increased majorly in decades. Since the Iraqi-Afghanistan conflict there has been major research and advancement because of the soldiers coming home with amputations. Also with todays new technology its not as simple as getting up in the morning and going. Most amputees need to have their own crutches. If their limb rubs continuously and gets raw then they need to let that heal in order to wear their prosthetic again.
You still need to have the prosthetic fit properly and comfortable. Monthly visits are necessary for amputees. Amputees also need to keep a healthy balanced diet so their limb doesn’t change size too much. The website OutOnALimb said that before the new technology amputees would have to lock their knee and drag their leg down the steps. Now amputees are able to walk closer to normal without any extra care. In prosthetics now they use carbon fiber for flexibility while walking. My brothers story is what began my interest in learning more about amputation. From my brothers journey I have learned everyone has a story. Also even through tough situations good things can come out of it. If Tyler would never have had his leg amputated I would not be writing this speech. And I would know very little about prosthetics. Throughout these past years I have understood how much of a struggle it can be to have a limb amputated.

Works Cited

"Advances in Prosthesis | Fox News." Fox News. FOX News Network, 24 May 2007. Web. 05 Oct. 2015.

"Amputations of the Lower Extremity." : Background, History of the Procedure, Problem. Web. 05 Oct. 2015.

Carolyn Kimmel | Special to PennLive. "From a Wooden Hand to Bionic Fingers: Advances in Prosthetics Allowing Amputees to Regain Mobility and Dexterity.” Web. 05 Oct. 2015.

Prior To 2002 I Was A Fit Healthy, Young Person. I Loved Sports, In Particular Athletics And Rugby, and League. On July 10 2002, Aged. Scott Reardon Web.

"Prosthetics.Org.UK." Web. 05 Oct. 2015.

"Prosthetics." UXL Encyclopedia of Science. 2002, "Prosthesis." Web. 05 Oct. 2015.