Because of his aggressive playing style—often sliding headfirst into bases while wearing only shorts—Eric injured his knees. The constant scraping of skin on hard gravel caused deep abrasions and internal injuries. Years and years of wear and tear led to surgeries and more surgeries. At a certain point, Eric had to decide whether to endure the terrible pain and immobility caused by the mounting surgeries or have his right leg amputated. He opted for the latter, and in 2009, Eric had his right leg removed. A few years later, in 2018, he had to have his left leg amputated, resulting in him becoming a bi-lateral, above-knee amputee. Both 2009 and 2018 were the worst and yet best years of his life.
Eric found purpose and meaning. This started with his discovery and involvement in the sport of rowing, specifically adaptive rowing. He found, even though he was a bilateral amputee, that he could row using a machine called an ERG. Eventually, this led him into competition. He competed three times in the World Indoor Rowing Adaptive Championships in Boston, Massachusetts and won a silver medal at his first Championship. He recently finished first in the category of 60-year and older lower leg amputee males. In 2012, he was invited to try out for the United States Paralympic Rowing Team. Though he did not win a spot on the team, he is forever grateful for the opportunity and experience he gained through the leadership, inspiration, and motivation of his fellow athletes.
Links
Eric Gabriel Website: https://gabrieleric42.wixsite.com/website
Eric’s GoFundMe for his house: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-erics-disability-adaptive-home
GCU Graduation: https://youtu.be/QeZU8J3u2O0
GCU Feature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXRaKUdYJrI
Duke University Spotlight: https://www.contrastcreative.com/portfolio/all-staff-event/?prev_page=9
ABC11 TV Feature: https://abc11.com/double-amputee-rowing-eric-gabriel-gofundme/6380274/
CW22 Web Feature: https://raleighcw.com/news/22-now/eric-gabriels-amputee-journey
Eric Gabriel on Amplitude Magazine: https://livingwithamplitude.com/tag/eric-gabriel/
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Want to learn more about our host Mike Bolland? See his website https://mikebolland.com/
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In this uplifting episode of the We're Not Stumped podcast, host Mike Bolland shares remarkable stories of amputees who are making a difference. Starting with a West Virginia teen who became a beacon of strength and positivity for his family after amputation, showing how resilience can inspire loved ones. Next, a dive into the journey of a double amputee who’s pursuing his dream of playing baseball. Finally, a spotlight the Beautifully Made Community, a group empowering those with physical differences to embrace their unique beauty.
In this episode of the We're Not Stumped podcast, host Mike Bolland welcomes Susan Fumagalli, a true inspiration and advocate for amputees around the world. Susan opens up about her personal journey through limb loss and her experience with osseointegration—a groundbreaking technology that has changed her life and could reshape the future of prosthetics for countless individuals. Susan shares her story, from the physical and emotional challenges of losing limbs to the hope and transformation that osseointegration has brought to her life.
In this episode of We're Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland dives into two powerful stories of resilience and determination. First, we learn about an Arizona teen and shooting survivor who needs a new prosthetic to continue playing the sport he loves: football. Mike explores the journey of recovery, the drive to stay in the game, and the community’s efforts to help him succeed. Then, hear about the life-changing impact of a generous GoFundMe donation from a Vanderbilt professor for a quadruple amputee. Discover how this incredible act of kindness transformed a life.
