In this episode of the We’re not Stumped podcast, I get to speak to the inventor of the TheraV Elix and company founder Amira Radović. As a child, Amira was inspired to become a biomedical engineer by her father, a civil engineer, and sci-fi movies like Robocop.
Her fascination with using technology to give humans super abilities led her to work in a prosthetic clinic during her junior year as an undergraduate. There she was exposed to the mental and physical pain that comes with limb loss. The issue of phantom limb pain stood out for her in particular, because of the limited solutions available to address it.
To better understand the problem and help this community, she interviewed people in the amputee community, including amputees and their physicians. This led to the development of the TheraV ELIX pain management device.
Listen as she talks about user testing, the TheraV Ambassador Program and more.
Links:
TheraV Elix 2.0 website: https://www.therav.me/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearTheraV/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therav.me/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/weartherav/
#amputee #LimbPain #LimbLoss #PhantomLimbPain
Watch on YouTube
Listen on Spotify
Dr. Carmen Elliott, the new President and CEO of the Amputee Coalition, joins Mike Bolland for a conversation about community, advocacy, and helping people with limb loss and limb difference find the support they need. Carmen shares how her family’s experiences with healthcare access and limb loss shaped her commitment to this work. Together, they explore the value of peer support, access to prosthetics, and including families and caregivers in the conversation. They also discuss support groups, certified peer visitors, AC Connect, and the upcoming “Fireside Connections” conference.
How do you move forward when vision loss changes your career, independence, and plans for the future? In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland speaks with Jennifer Frederick about living with permanent vision loss and learning to advocate for herself along the way. Jennifer explains how changes in her vision eventually forced her to leave a career in crisis management. She also discusses the challenges she now faces while looking for work, including interview practices that have left her questioning whether she is being treated fairly as a person with a disability. The conversation explores Jenn’s decision not to undergo surgery for her detached retinas, the importance of seeking medical attention when your vision changes, and the need to take ownership of your healthcare.
What happens when we stop deciding what someone is capable of—and give them the opportunity to lead? In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland speaks with Nathan Kennedy of Upstream Fitness, Chris Kocurek, and Chris’s son, Coach Cameron “Coach Cam” Kocurek. Cameron, who has Down syndrome, began gymnastics as a child and went on to compete through Special Olympics and unified gymnastics. Today, he is using the confidence and skills he developed as an athlete to help coach others at Upstream Fitness. Nathan explains how Upstream Fitness uses movement, games, coaching cards, and step-by-step instruction to make exercise accessible for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Chris shares Cameron’s journey from athlete to assistant PE coach—and now toward meaningful employment and greater independence.
Leave A Comment