In this deeply moving episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Scott Martin, a bilateral hand amputee, soccer coach, and author of the upcoming memoir Play From Your Heart. Scott opens up about the life-altering infection in 1993 that led to the loss of both hands and parts of his feet, and the emotional aftermath that followed. He speaks honestly about denial, detachment, and the five-year struggle with depression that tested his identity, confidence, and purpose.
Despite unimaginable challenges, Scott refused to step away from the game he loved. He continued coaching soccer using adaptive equipment, determination, humor, and grit—doing everything he could to show up for his players while still processing his trauma internally. Eventually, his journey intersected with advanced prosthetics research, leading him to Johns Hopkins to test cutting-edge myoelectric prosthetic technology. Scott offers powerful insight into what works, what doesn’t, and why technology must always stay grounded in real human needs.
Scott also shares the emotional turning points that helped him heal, including his mother’s unwavering encouragement and the mindset shift that allowed him to rebuild his life. His story eventually led him back to the soccer field, where he coached a youth team to a state championship and rediscovered purpose, leadership, and community. That experience inspired his book, Play From Your Heart, which speaks to the disability community, the soccer world, and anyone who has ever had to rebuild life after loss.
This conversation is about resilience, identity, mental health, disability advocacy, and what it truly means to adapt and keep moving forward. Scott reminds us that healing takes time, purpose can look different than we imagined, and strength often shows up when we need it most.
If you’re part of the amputee or limb difference community, a caregiver, an athlete, or someone navigating your own life challenges, Scott Martin’s story will stay with you long after you listen.
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In this episode, we sit down with Vanessa Abraham, a certified Speech-Language Pathologist whose life took an unexpected turn when she became the patient. After a sudden illness left her paralyzed and unable to speak, Vanessa faced the daunting task of reclaiming her voice and identity. Vanessa shares her harrowing experience of battling Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS), the emotional toll of being unable to communicate, and her path to recovery. Her story is not just one of survival but of transformation, leading her to become an advocate for ICU survivors and author of the memoir Speechless: How a Speech Therapist Lost Her Ability to Speak and Her Silent Struggle to Reclaim Her Voice and Life.
In this inspiring episode of We’re Not Stumped, we spotlight adaptive athlete Tracy LaMarche as she takes on the Ride to End ALZ South Carolina—a three-day cycling journey across the state with deep personal meaning. After losing her leg, Tracy found freedom and strength through cycling. Now, she rides to honor her late mother-in-law, who battled dementia, and to support vital Alzheimer’s research. Riding alongside her husband Blair, Tracy embodies resilience and hope, pedaling toward a future where no family has to face this disease alone.
In this powerful episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland sits down with Kelvin Crosby , a remarkable individual whose journey from hearing loss and blindness to becoming an inventor, artist, and advocate will leave you inspired. Diagnosed with hearing loss as a child, Kelvin later lost his vision due to Usher Syndrome Type 2. He opens up about the emotional toll this took on him, including thoughts of suicide, and the turning point when he chose to embrace his deafblindness instead of letting it define him. Kelvin shares how this decision sparked a new purpose in life—one rooted in helping others. His invention, the See Me Cane, is a game-changer for people with visual impairments. Designed to enhance safety and awareness, the cane features a light that gives users control over their environment while maintaining their ability to hear. Kelvin explains how this tool has not only improved his own life but also empowered others with confidence and mobility.
