Host Mike Bolland sits down with Alexia Michitti—a public speaker, athlete, and entrepreneur born without a right hand. Together, they reflect on their shared experiences of limb difference and Alexia’s powerful journey of resilience, determination, and innovation.
Alexia shares how she’s breaking barriers in sports and beyond—from representing the U.S. in the first Women’s Amputee Soccer World Cup, to filing a patent for adaptive clothing through her brand Em13race (https://em13race.com/), to finding her voice as a motivational speaker. She opens up about life without a prosthetic, her role models, and her passion for inspiring children with limb differences to embrace their uniqueness.
💡 What you’ll hear in this episode:
- Alexia’s journey of resilience and self-identity
- Competing on the world stage at the Women’s Amputee Soccer World Cup
- Why she chooses life without a prosthetic
- The launch of her adaptive clothing brand, Embrace 13
- The importance of empowering kids and families with limb differences
- What’s next for Alexia in speaking and brand growth
✨ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to We’re Not Stumped for more stories of resilience, advocacy, and community!
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube
Listen on Spotify
In this powerful episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland shares two powerful stories of resilience, recovery, and the human spirit: 🏅 A Double Amputee’s Olympic Journey After surviving a devastating accident, this athlete didn’t give up—he set his sights on the Paralympic Games. Learn how he turned trauma into purpose, using adaptive training and relentless determination to pursue a spot on Team USA. 🦿 Mission Gait: Advancing Gait Rehabilitation Worldwide Meet the people behind Mission Gait, a nonprofit transforming the way physical therapists treat patients with complex walking challenges. From educational programs to international outreach, Mission Gait is creating a global movement for mobility. 🎧 Whether you're part of the limb loss community or just need a boost of hope, this episode shows what's possible when we move forward with purpose.
In this powerful episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Eric Ford to talk about the car accident that changed the course of his life. In 2009, while driving through Atlanta with his children, Eric was struck by a drunk driver. Though his children escaped with only minor injuries, Eric was left with life-threatening damage to his leg. Over the next two months, Eric endured 12–13 surgeries, including skin and muscle grafts, in an attempt to save the leg. When the wound continued to reopen and the pain became unbearable, he made the courageous decision to undergo an amputation. Eric shares the emotional and physical challenges of that decision, and how it ultimately gave him a new lease on life.
Stevia Walker joins host Mike Bolland to share her powerful story of resilience after a life-altering car accident that left her with a fused cervical spine and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in her right hand. After extensive research and consultations, Stevia made the courageous decision to undergo amputation of her hand—with the support of Dr. Stephen Niedermeyer. In this inspiring episode, Stevia reflects on rebuilding her life, from her former career as a hair stylist to her meaningful role today as a Girl Scout leader. She speaks candidly about living with phantom limb pain, her challenges with prosthetics, and how she empowers others by sharing her experiences. As a board member of the Dallas Amputee Network (DAN - https://dallasamputeenetwork.org/), Stevia highlights the nonprofit’s impactful work supporting amputees, caregivers, and families throughout North Texas. Founded in 2002, DAN provides education, peer mentorship, fitness opportunities, and social events like the upcoming Legapalooza fundraiser—all aimed at improving the quality of life for those affected by limb loss.
