What does it take to turn a life challenge into a lifelong passion for sports and coaching?
On this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland talks with Marc Burkom, a double below-knee amputee born with fibular hemimelia who has built a life around athletics, coaching, and helping others reach their potential.
Marc shares how his parents made the difficult decision to amputate his feet when he was just two months old — a choice that allowed him to grow up active in sports like soccer, baseball, and basketball.
Today, Marc works in coaching education and advocates for expanding opportunities for adaptive and amputee athletes. In this conversation, Marc and Mike discuss growing up with prosthetics, the role sports played in building confidence, coaching amputee soccer, adaptive sports like amputee basketball, and how prosthetic technology has evolved over the years.
Marc also shares why amputee athletes should be treated as athletes first — not charity cases — and his vision for future prosthetic innovation.
Mike also introduces Enable Review, a platform where amputees can share honest experiences about prosthetists to help others navigating limb loss find better care.
This episode is a powerful conversation about resilience, sport, leadership, and redefining what’s possible.
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In this episode of We're Not Stumped, Mike Bolland highlights inspiring stories of resilience and inclusion: Teen Triumph - A high school athlete overcomes an ATV accident with community support fueling his recovery. Feline Fighter - A rescued senior cat thrives after a leg amputation, proving second chances are possible. Access Golf Spotlight -Discover how Access Golf empowers individuals with disabilities by breaking barriers in the sport. These powerful narratives showcase courage and hope. Don’t miss this uplifting conversation!
Join us on this episode of the We're Not Stumped podcast as we talk with Britt Kimball, Amputee Program Champion at Encompass Health Valley of the Sun. A dedicated occupational therapist, Britt has been making a difference in the amputee community since 2016. Learn about her work leading monthly support groups, organizing running, swimming, and golf clinics. Discover how Britt's efforts create better outcomes for amputees and foster a supportive, thriving community.
In this episode of the We’re Not Stumped podcast, host Mike Bolland covers three impactful stories from the community. First, we explore a fundraiser organized to assist a young amputee and their family. Next, Mike discusses a tragic incident at Grace Hospital, where an amputation error resulted in the removal of the wrong leg, sparking an investigation. Lastly, Mike highlights the work of AbleGamers, a nonprofit organization making gaming accessible for people with disabilities.
