Limbitless Sunshine is a collection of my experiences as I navigate life without my right leg. I will share with you tips and information I have found helpful along with things passed along to me by other amputees. This blog is the result of my refusal to accept that the resources available online for new amputees are enough. I will openly discuss my feelings (both physical and emotional), struggles and victories and I will make myself available to other amputees. Those who need someone to talk to, to answer their questions and to connect with. Because the truth is, I am not the only active, adventure loving person this has happened to and there is strength in numbers. When I left the hospital, I immediately began searching the internet for online support groups, message boards or blogs that would help answer my endless questions and give me the support I so desperately needed. On one of my first outings as an amputee, as my husband pushed my wheelchair through Target, I almost leaped out of it when we passed a woman who was also missing her right leg. It felt like I was from Mars and I spotted another Martian, just strolling through the shampoo isle in a sea of earthlings. I wanted to talk to her, hug her even. To ask her about phantom pain and have her tell me I was going to be ok. At least I should have been able to muster a simple “Hi” (I Martian see you Martian) and end with some kind of signal that meant I was happy to see her. A smile? Instead, I froze up. Back at home I took to social media and searched for amputees online. I sent people messages that felt like smoke signals “Hi, please help!” When I finally got a response, I was almost in tears. Here was someone answering my questions, telling me that yes, phantom pains feel like electric shocks to the foot except my foot no longer exists. At the end of it, she told me it would get better and then those magical words,

“you are going to be ok.”

… “you’ve got this” she said. I started this blog to help spread that feeling. The feeling that you are heard, that you are understood and also to tell you… You are going to be ok and You’ve got this!