“You’re lucky—you were born that way.”
“At least you lost your limb when you were young.”
Within the limb loss community, these statements can overlook a significant part of someone’s life. Adapting physically is only one part of living with a limb difference or limb loss – and this applies to people of all ages. The emotional and social challenges deserve equal consideration.
In this solo episode of We’re Not Stumped, I share my perspective as someone born without a right hand and challenge the assumption that people born with limb differences—or who experienced amputation as children—automatically have it easier. and I share a recent experience that shapes this conversation.
Through my podcast and community work, I’ve met people whose experiences include bullying, barriers to employment, difficulties forming relationships, and years of depression. While those experiences don’t all describe my own journey, they deserve to be heard and acknowledged.
Acquiring a disability later in life brings its own challenges, including grieving what someone has lost. Recognizing those challenges doesn’t require us to minimize someone else’s.
Each journey carries challenges that may not be visible from the outside. We build a stronger community when we listen to those experiences without deciding who has it easier.
Before we tell someone they’re lucky, let’s ask what their experience has actually been.
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Over the years, I've been asked a lot of questions—some serious, some funny, and some I've heard more times than I can count. In this solo episode of the We're Not Stumped Podcast, I'm answering five of the questions I get asked a lot. Do I wear a prosthesis? How do I bowl with one hand? Have I always had a positive attitude? Do people still stare? And what keeps me motivated? I'll share some stories from growing up with a limb difference, becoming the first person with limb loss to compete on the PBA Tour, overcoming cancer, and why I've learned that attitude isn't something you're born with—it's something you choose every day.
In this episode of the We're Not Stumped Podcast, Mike Bolland welcomes Lynn Jensen, author of Best Kept Secrets for Travelers With Sight Loss, to share her remarkable journey from sudden blindness to living an independent, adventurous life filled with travel, purpose, and humor. Lynn discusses the challenges she faced after losing her vision, from relearning everyday tasks to navigating the world with guide dogs. She shares practical travel tips for people with sight loss, explains common misconceptions about blindness, and discusses how independence looks different for everyone.
Over the past few days, I was fortunate to be featured by ABC15 and Arizona's Family as I prepare for my return to PBA competition after more than 30 years away from the sport. The television stories were fantastic, but as anyone who has ever done an interview knows, there's always more that doesn't make the final cut. In this special solo episode of the We're Not Stumped podcast, I share some of the stories, organizations, and experiences that didn't make it into the TV segments, including: • The mission behind the We're Not Stumped podcast • Joe & Marie Bolland's Helping Hands and supporting people with limb loss and limb differences • Enable Review and helping people make informed prosthetic care decisions • Why this comeback is about much more than bowling
