In this episode of “We’re Not Stumped,” we feature the inspiring Todd Key, a one-legged cyclist who demonstrated extraordinary determination and resilience. Todd’s journey began at age 7 with a severe injury to his right hand, followed by the amputation of his right leg due to muscle cancer at 17. Despite years of frustration and confusion, Todd never gave up.
In 2009, after 33 years of being cancer-free, Todd returned to cycling. Initially riding just to the movies, he quickly fell in love with biking and eventually commuted 12 miles to work. However, the strain on his left side became unbearable as he increased his distances. Not one to be deterred, Todd sought help from Airpark Bikes in Scottsdale. With manager Jason Suarez’s assistance, he customized his bike with a special seat, handlebars, and a prosthetic socket, enabling him to ride up to 100 miles pain-free.
Todd’s goal was to share this system with other amputees, providing them the freedom and joy of cycling. His fulfillment in life then focused on benefiting others. Todd’s perseverance and innovative spirit came to light when he co-headlined the 2011 Tour de Scottsdale, finishing the 70-mile tour just 30 minutes behind the able-bodied champion.
Todd shared his incredible story, the challenges he faced, and his mission to inspire and support other amputees in their cycling journeys.
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Lera Doederlein joins Mike Bolland on We’re Not Stumped to share a powerful story of choosing possibility. Born with AMC (arthrogryposis multiplex congenita), Lera grew up in Phoenix using braces and forearm crutches while navigating school, friendships, and the quiet realization that sports might look different for her. As a teenager, she made the bold decision to pursue double above-knee amputations in order to gain independence and improve long-term mobility—and it transformed her life. Lera walks us through the realities of recovery and physical therapy, learning to use prosthetics, and the moment a clinician pushed her beyond her comfort zone—encouraging her to run just a week after she started walking. She also shares why community matters so much, from Camp No Limits to Hanger events and amputee boot camps that helped her build confidence and momentum.
In this inspiring episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike talks with John Cooper, a physical therapist assistant with 18 years of experience, about his journey into physical therapy and his passion for working with lower-limb amputees. John shares how his grandfather’s recovery from brain surgery sparked his career, and how close collaboration with prosthetists helps him address the real-world challenges amputees face every day. He explains why patience matters in rehab, why quality beats quantity in therapy sessions, and how setbacks can become powerful turning points.
Mike Bolland shares the story behind Enable Review — a new community-powered platform created to help people with limb loss, limb difference, and caregivers find prosthetic, orthotic, and rehabilitation care they can trust. After hearing powerful stories from guests and listeners, Mike explains why real patient experiences matter — and how Enable Review puts those voices front and center. Enable Review isn’t about ads or marketing. It’s about lived experience. If you’ve worked with a prosthetist, orthotist, physical therapist, or rehab clinic, we invite you to be part of our early community. https://enablereview.com/
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