"I'm not the best runner. I'm not even a fast one. But it is not about that. It's about getting up and doing it." 

The journey to my amputation began in 2001 when my mom found me passed out, unresponsive, in the hallway at home. I went into a coma and was kept on life support. Waking up from the coma didn't end the story. Instead it was 15 years of struggle - physically, mentally and emotionally. In short, I wasn't living the 'best of my life' for myself and those around me.

The end of 2016 was when I was faced with a choice to amputate. After numerous surgeries to my feet over the years as a result of complications from my illness in 2001, my doctors left me to answer one question "What do you want to do now?" I decided on amputation as I have become tired of the constant pain, the limitations, the poor quality of health and life I was 'living'.

I had my left below-knee amputation in January 2017 and it changed my life - for the better. I know that is a hard concept to wrap one's head around, but I hope that sharing my story will prove how it has.

In January 2019, I had my right below-knee amputation, becoming a double or bilateral below-knee amputee...and I am still living my best life today.

If there is anything I can leave you with from my story, it is that we make our own choices to be better versions of ourselves regardless of our circumstances. I can show you that.