J.J. Orsak was living a great life as he was married to his high school sweetheart, had a long time career as an electrician and celebrating a brand-new grandbaby in December 2018. But all of that changed in an instant on December 22. While doing a task he had done countless times, Mr. Orsak’s life changed. A jolt of electricity raced through his body and took both of his hands.
In this episode of the We’re Not Stumped podcast, recorded almost five years to the day of his accident, J.J. and his wife Sharon talk about his journey to again live a great life. His journey wasn’t without challenges, the first being life saving measures. But through it all and with his wife, family and friends by his side, J.J. is prospering again.
Links: J.J. on Tex Factor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2IBDkjZdJA
Arm Dynamics: https://www.armdynamics.com/
Skills for Life: https://www.enhancingskillsforlife.org/
Texas Assistive Devices: https://n-abler.org/
#amputee #limbloss #inspiration #inspirational #upperlimb #prosthesis #prosthetic
Want to be considered as a guest? Fill out the form here: https://werenotstumped.com/contact-amputee-podcast/
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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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