Embracing (Limb) Differences

Do you have someone you look up to or simply admire? We sure do.

You might look towards someone you know and love, or maybe it’s someone you haven’t met and somehow strive to become a little more like them. 

Sometimes we’re motivated by someone’s energy, talent, mindset, or a total mishmash of them all, and that’s when self-growth can happen. 

The list is long and wide for us at Team Unlimbited, but we’ve whittled it down to three incredible individuals who inspire us.

Aron Ralston

(Image: Source)

You may know Aron Ralston from the movie “127 Hours.” The American outdoorsman made the life-saving decision to amputate part of his arm after becoming trapped under a boulder, alone. Once Aron Ralston performed DIY surgery to set himself free, Ralston had to travel through the rest of the canyon in Utah to get to safety. This journey involved a 65-foot drop and 7 miles of hiking. 

After the accident, Ralston continued mountaineering and became the first person to ascend all of Colorado’s “fourteeners” solo and during the winter. 

Rick Allen

(Image: Source) 

Back in 1984, Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen lost control of his Corvette and crashed into a brick wall. The collusion was near-fatal and led Allen to lose his left arm. Rather than giving up on his career, Allen went on to learn how to play the drums with one hand and returned to drumming 3 months later after a new electronic drum kit was developed.

The accident went on to inspire Allen to work with military veterans who have experienced a traumatic injury. 

Amy Purdy

(Image: Source) 

At the age of 19, Amy Purdy lost both her legs below the knee after contracting bacterial meningitis. Purdy faced additional problems with her kidneys and underwent a life-saving operation to replace her non-working kidney. Despite the challenges, Purdy went on to become a Paralympics medallist, motivational speaker, clothing designer, and author.

If that wasn’t commendable enough, Purdy shortly founded the charity Adaptive Action Sports, which supports fellow amputees.

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If you take away anything from this blog, please remember success is not exclusive to those without limb differences. 

Each person is unique, and every person with a limb difference lives an individual experience. However, there are a few things we would like you to remember:

Difference is wonderful.   

Difference allows us to explore how we can empower ourselves and those who experience something similar. 

Difference enables us to educate and open the minds of others.

Difference is what makes us, us!

“Difference is knowledge, power, and a personal challenge to who you are. It challenges you to grow past what you were not yesterday.” – Roy Frank “RJ” Mitte.

No matter what allows someone with limb difference to feel beautiful, powerful, and comfortable in their skin, Team Unlimbited will always be here to help those with limb differences feel special, comfortable, and excited to embrace their differences.