I danced with my wife yesterday

It wasn’t pretty or like before, but I got a new set of legs yesterday and was able to walk with walker around the house-
Its a long story but the first set of legs didn’t work for me anymore-
I haven’t tried to walk the last 3 months while these were being made-
To be honest when this journey started I just expected to get some “legs” and after a short time I could just start walking, easy peasy like-
That was not even close to being accurate, learning to walk again has proven to be really really tough-
I can understand why so many just stay in wheelchairs, for some the battle is just worth it-

Soooooo-
We have the ability to change the height of the new legs, the taller I have them the more challenge it is to walk/balance-
For now we have them shortened to keep me close to the ground and as I get better we will in increase my height-
Just felt that I wanted to share some of this journey-
The pic I am going to share probably looks funny to some you, that’s ok-

And for anyone silently fat shaming me I can blame a lot of this fluff on stage 4 kidney failure, I seem to retain more fluid lately-
Just wanted to get in front of that-
There are a lot you that I feel like we are friends, and this is the real me on a real journey-
Never thought I would be so excited and grateful to walk and dance like a toddler, but dang it this cool!
Its a window into the amputee world a lot of people never see-

I really appreciate the outlet the TTF provides us and the friends I have made here-

You're the man Steve...

Love you Steve.
This is the second best thread of all time (only second to that champion multiple multiple cardiac surgery warrior young man)

Be thankful and enjoy every day.

PS. You are at the perfect height for motor boating (looks like you are a lucky man as she appears to be blessed with top tier up tops)

Awesome

On the plus side…

Looks like you get to motor boat your wife and get away with it..

Engage motors and launch.
You are now clear for takeoff.

Great job, I’m sure it brought as much happiness to the misses as it did you.

Perfect height for the best hugs. Congrats.

That's great Steve. Your tenacity gives us strength...never give up!

Red

Besides seeing my mom and dad this morning, seeing the picture of you and your wife smiling at each other might be the best thing I see today!

Blessing!

...!

Very cool, thanks for sharing! Your legs look like the same pattern I have on my kayak

Probably a pretty good dancer with no left feet...

What an awesome post! Made my day seeing you able to dance with your wife again. Your posts really help put things in perspective for me. Lots to be thankful for that most, including me, take for granted every day. I look forward to seeing more amazing pics like this one.

And here we are , still kickin a$$ and taken names. Thank you for sharing with us, and showing us how its done. Prayers do get answered, and they will continue.

Steve, you're the MAN!!!... Dan

It got a little dusty in here. This is what life is about. Making your loved ones smile and fulfill everyday with life and love.

Very happy for you the prosthetics should give you a lot more freedom!

Lol
You guys are spot on about the positioning for running that motor boat!
Its amazing what changes can improve certain things when the heart doesn’t need to send ALL that blood flow to the extremities-

Not everything was amputated lol-

It really did, we have so much to be grateful for-

Thank you Red, I am nothing special-
I believe we ALL have it in us to see the good in the most dire circumstances-

I wish everyone could find their own version of gratefulness-

Thank you buddy, glad you still have your parents around-

I bet you have a beautiful kayak!

I’ve never been a good dancer-



Just right now I have an excuse lol-

Thank you sir-

Sounds like you have a grasp on things already than many-

I have no doubt answered prayers are why I’m still on top of the dirt-
Not sure if I will ever understand why I was given this gift of bonus time but I am grateful for it-
I don’t put my faith out here much, but I believe my faith was a large part of my survival-
I realize not everyone believes like everyone else, but I am perfectly comfortable in my own beliefs-

We all have different journeys on different roads but one thing I am sure of is our physical bodies will someday stop functioning-

Good stuff! Congrats on the new twigs and getting to dance with your love once again.

Just awesome Steve! Keep it up. (no pun intended)

Steve my friend, you are an awesome example to all of us. I'm raising my coffee cup to you in a toast right now, and I encourage everybody reading this thread to do the same (with coffee, hot tea, iced tea, water, and early brewski).



You attitude is fantastic, and God Bless both you and your wife for the way you are living this journey. You'll "grow into" those new legs in no time!

I sincerely thank you my friend-

See you soon!

Looks like you rose to the occasion, well done my friend!

*Disclaimer

This was/is my professional opinion.
My professional opinion is based on my educational experience, current medical literature, professional experience, and the “community standard”.

Perfect way to start a day, thank you.

awesome story-best of luck to you in the future...

IMHO
god puts the strongest test on those with the strongest faith

Steve your faith, outlook, fortitude and sense of humor are an inspiration to us all. Love to hear your stories.

Beyond the human interest aspect - I also find it fascinating to see and hear about all the medical tech you are testing and using. I love seeing your gadgets, and really appreciate your openness in sharing some of your challenges.

Thanks Doc-
My research up to now strongly supports your theory-

But It feel it’s important to explore all possible theories, in the name of science you know-

Cause you know, science and stuff are important-

Thank you Coff-

I really appreciate all you guys-

OT “Man of the Year, years”

Absolutely…always be questioning/asking questions.
Investigating, examining, testing utilizing the scientific method.
What we believe to know now may be incomplete or incorrect.

Good for you Steve, you inspire me and I have no problems!!!

Hi cotton!

Lol Bob-

All cotton is high to me now-

I’m went from being 5 ft 11 to 4ft 1 from one day to the next-

I have a different POV of everything now-

so you have to build up strength and balance then you can go up by small steps?

Yes-
I plan on stopping when I hit 5’11 so i won’t need new pants-
That may be a couple of years though to be honest-

I don’t remember learning to walk was this hard when I first learned, but that was a long time ago-

Rock On

Awesome stuff

Hell yeah Steve, no doubt you the man. I didn’t know you were a midget though

Congrats my dude, you’re definitely an inspiration to me

You sir are a hero to me. Your strengthen and endurance is awesome and worth emulating. Prayers up for you for continued progress.

That's awesome!

Steve, that’s awesome man. Really heartwarming stuff

Glad you got he new legs. Looks like they have your hands repaired or updated whichever they did. Your attitude and outlook on life is very impressive and an inspiration to all of us.
Beautiful picture of you and your wife dancing.

I hate to be cliche and say this is inspirational but it really is. Thank you for being you Steve! Awesome family too!

I've been trying to comment on this all day. I am inspired by your resilience and your positivity! May God continue to bless you and your family!

I too have been trying to comment on this all day...Steve WTF?? You dancing with your wife, arms and legs or no arms and legs does nothing but make the rest of us married men look bad...I swear to God if my wife makes me go dancing now I will never forgive you.....!

Very Cool Steve! Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing your journey.

Heck ya keep working

Honestly guys its hard for me to put into words how uplifting and encouraging you folks are-
Some of you crack me up, some of you make me smile, some I want to high five and say HELL YEAH!
But each one of your responses are read and appreciated-
Not too long ago when all this was new to me I wondered how I would be perceived by my own family and friends and strangers-
Was I a freak now?
I would get wheeled around and naturally people sometimes stare when they see something different, and boy do I look different lol-
And some point I realized that it really doesn’t matter how I look, but how I accept how I now look that matters most-

When I do decide to post something in here and make myself vulnerable to the ball busters, instead I’m encouraged and feel accepted-

It means a lot to me, and if know it or not, you guys INSPIRE ME!

Gratitude and a continuous zest for life doesn’t only exist if you look like everyone else-

A great big thank you to my TFF family!

You are a better man than I am and inspiring.

You INSPIRE US Steve!

Steve, I am amazed by you positive attutitude and sense of humor. Pleased to have you hang around.

What an awesome couple you both are. You both are lucky to have each other and I wish you both many years of happiness together.

Most of the time you crack me up but all the time you inspire me. You keep doing what you do and I might just learn quite a bit from you.


As for the balance issue, do you want me to weld some training wheels to your new legs? I got plenty of grinders so we can cut them off when you get good and I can add additional extensions to make you as tall as you want. Me being only 5' 8 1/2", I would like to see what is like to be one of them tall SOBs'. (Good Lord, I hope you get a chuckle from this as I would never want to offend you!!!!)

You will never offend me sir, I will most likely laugh with you, I will ignore someone before they offend me-
I believe humor can be healing-

Lets all be real here, if we take away fear of offending, there is some chances of seeing some humor,‘maybe be even darkish humor, I enjoy smiling, even for darkish humor-
Smiling don’t cost a thing, and can come from many different sources-

So go ahead and make the wisecracks, the world sometimes is just too dang serious-

There was a guy in college we called "squeaky stan" because he was a christian and lived his live that way, squeaky clean, and at the time I thought, "this guy is missing out on all the fun". One afternoon we were playing softball and stan took a nasty slide into third base and broke his leg..which was unmistakable based on the sound it made, and the first thing he said was "thank you God". I laughed because I thought he was being sarcastic. He was not, he was genuinely thanking God for what just happened. When I asked him about it several days later after signing his cast, he told me that all things work for God's glory, including things that we might not like or enjoy, and he was thankful for the perserverence. Had no clue what he was talking about until later on in my life. Not turning this into a sunday school lesson so if someone reading this doesn't get it, just read Romans 5:3 and James.

I don't believe anyone on campus had more fun, had as many friends who were girls, and enjoyed the experience more than Stan and I am still in awe of that to this day.

Steve you remind me so very much of Stan and your outlook on life and your situation is nothing less than inspiring and a testament to your character. It renews my desire to say "Thank you God" for every situation that comes my way, and reminds me how far away from achieving that goal I really am. So for that I say "Thank you Steve".

Lastly, I love your sense of humor and try to share it with you in some of my posts. Always to laugh with you and never to make fun of you. So if it turns out that my wife makes me go dancing because of your post, then I will say "Thank you God"...

That's awesome steve!

Stan “The Man” is a Legend to this day just as Steveiam is building his leg-acy

So many things we all take for granted. Postive attitude and perserverance! Glad you got to dance with your gal Steve!! I promised my wife I'd start dancing with her again this year and I'm not a dancer. But we started taking salsa and bachata lessons. I kinda dig it! Send us a video brother!!

A+




Seriously though Steve that is so awesome! I’m happy for you and the missus!