After losing control on an icy road in Calgary, Reid Robinson crashed into a tree and suffered devastating injuries to his lower leg. What followed were two and a half years of recovery, 13 surgeries, broken surgical hardware, bone infections, and a difficult decision between amputation and trying once more to save his leg.
While recovering, Reid realized that none of the available mobility devices gave him the freedom he needed. So, despite having no welding experience, he taught himself by watching online videos and built his first leg brace from aluminum, crutches, and an IKEA cutting board.
That garage-built prototype eventually became the X-Leg, a hands-free knee crutch designed to help people with lower-leg injuries stay active and independent during recovery.
Reid joins Mike Bolland to talk about surviving the accident, undergoing a 16-hour surgery, overcoming opioid addiction, returning to running, and turning a deeply personal challenge into a medical device now being studied in the United States, Canada, and Chile.
Learn more about the X-Leg at https://www.xleg.ca
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What do the new leadership changes at the Amputee Coalition mean for the limb loss community? In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland breaks down the latest updates, including the appointment of Dr. Carmen Elliott as President & CEO and the addition of new Board Members: Teri Kuffel Nicole Grehn, MSN, NP Dr. Cassandra Quave With backgrounds in healthcare, policy, research, and lived experience, this new leadership team brings a wide range of perspectives that could shape the future of care, advocacy, and support for people living with limb loss and limb difference.
What is dating really like after limb loss? In this powerful episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Neomi Flores to talk about relationships, confidence, and the realities of dating as an amputee. Neomi shares her deeply personal journey after losing her leg in 2022—including the emotional recovery, navigating self-confidence, and the challenges of putting herself back out there in the dating world.
What does real support look like in the limb loss community? In this solo episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland shares the missions behind Joe & Marie’s Helping Hands and Enable Review—a platform where amputees share real experiences about prosthetists and clinics to help others make more informed decisions. Plus, Joe & Marie’s Helping Hands is currently seeking board members (Treasurer, Secretary, and Social Media Manager). If you’ve been looking for a way to give back, this could be your opportunity. Learn more about Joe & Marie’s Helping Hands: https://joeandmariehelpinghands.org/joe-and-maries-helping-hands-mission/ Explore Enable Review: https://enablereview.com/our-mission/
