As a new RLAK amputee I truly appreciate your videos. Thank you for being a conversationalist as opposed to all the yellers and screamers out there. You have given me the tools and confidence to get back to the active lifestyle I led before amputation. Kudos to you!
Hi Buzz, thanks for the message and for the supportive words. These messages motivate me to make more video's and share more experiences as an amputee, I really appreciate it. It's also good to hear you're getting back into your active lifestyle. There are so many good things we can still do as amputees, and you sound motivated to make the most of your situation and opportunities, so kudos to you too mate. Hope we see you on the live streams we're doing every month, keep an eye out for the advance notifications and I'll keep an eye out for your comments. All the best!
Thanks Chris. This is really informative. My two cents , as amputees we can also book wheelchair assistance while booking our flights and then they will provide you with assistance or escort right from checkin to boarding and also during transits which is lot lot easier.
Hi Jo, ah so nice to hear from you! Can't believe it is almost ½ year ago since the AC conference in San Antonio!! Thanks for your kind comment and words :-) I've been so distracted with stuff at home, and really been negligent of my friends - so sorry about my silence. I hope the tips come in handy, if you have a few more to add I'd love to hear them. Much care - all the best for 2020 - happy travels!
Hi Chris. May you and your family have a wonderful and blessed 2020. I saw the dr this morning and my ak amputation is scheduled for the 16th January. After the final date was given It stuck me for the first time that this is now real. A lot to think about and do during this next few days. I love your videos and have seen most of them by this time. Binge watching. I will keep you updated on the progress.
Hi Christo, thank you for your wishes, and I wish same to you and your loved ones. My thoughts are with you on the scheduled amputation for the 16th. I hear what you say about it becoming real and can recollect the moment I realised it was inevitable. It was a while before the actual amputation date but I always knew that this was where it was going. On that day I cried a lot, now I realise that I needed to go through the emotions to feel a sense of peace on the day of the amputation. I hope that you find your calmness and peace too. A question I asked myself was "what is the alternative?", which was too exhausting to contemplate. From the moment I was wheeled out of the theater my life started improving - not without up and down days, but certainly it got better and better. Thanks for sharing your experience, and for the update. I'm sure that someone will identify and find relief in not feeling alone in their own struggle and uncertainty.
@@theampedlife I think you must be able to direct viewers to different surgical techniques and procedures. Ertle is obviously one of the best techniques available. Please remember that amputation is not a surgery that medical schools spend much time on. Patients must research the procedure and find a surgeon familar with new prosthesis design and function. The old quad sockets (above knee) were specific on surgical techniques. New narrow ML, flexible inner socket external frame designs require a much different surgical technique. There are only a few surgeons that keep up with those prosthesis design changes. Your fans deserve shared knowledge and updates.
Great Video Chris, thanks mate. Just one piece of advice, don't crash your voice with music that has vocals at the end of the vid, it's an old radio rule. I also tend to try and blend in, but you are right, how many limbs must we lose to get some assistance. I will announce and use the assistance given in the future. Thanks, great vid.
@@theampedlife Thanks mate, just trying to add value, you can add some music, we call it bedding, but it is called bedding to allow your voice to sit comfortably on it, so softer and no vocals. Have an amazing 2020!!!!
Thanks. Chris, I travel in many US airports and have no issues as most people are very helpful to me and I'm a BKA for 2 years now and your suggestions are right on and very helpful. I live in Denver and they are very helpful there when I'm flying. Take care.
Hi Randy, thanks for your comments. Geez Denver airport is quite something - shuttling between the terminals and then having to walk the length of departures to get to the small plane which flew us to Moab Utah was quite an experience. Thanks to the staff it was easier than I had anticipated. I plan to spend some time in Denver / Colorado some time, I hear it is beautiful - especially the Rocky's. All the best for 2020!
Hi Geraldine, thanks for your comment. I was so fearful of flying after my paragliding accident - a bit of ptsd. There should be no reason why we can't travel where we want when we want to with as much comfort an enjoyment as possible. Hope your 2020 has had a good start. I look forward to chatting more this year :-) Much care
Awesome video Chris, I’m always excited anytime I see a new video from you. I’m hoping to travel this year, by plane, for the first time as an amputee do your video was extremely helpful. I’m still struggling with a lot of amputee related and stump issues that I hope to get solved soon. I hope and pray that I’m one day able to get around as good as you Chris as you are a true inspiration to me. Thanks so much and God Bless you and your Family.
Thanks so much for your kind message. When I think back only 3 years ago I felt quite hopeless and despondent as an amputee. Lots of stump issues, infections, ongoing surgery, pain etc. I never imagined that things would improve as much as they have - in the end it was a combination of trying different solutions, the right support, technology and expertise that made things happen. Ossur played a big part in all of this. They are an awesome, caring organisation with excellent gear. I wish you a year of improved mobility and exciting travel opportunities. All the best in 2020 for you and your loved ones, and thanks for your on-going participation on our channel. Together we can inspire each other :-)
Hi Chris, may you and your family have a blessed 2020! Thanks again for the great video, so much useful information and some I would not even have thought about. Chris where did you get those fold up crutches? Also better not travel to much in South Africa, we might not get to charge our knees because of load shedding ...
Otto Scholtz 😂 too right about the load shedding. I got the crutches from my wife as a birthday present. I can also recommend Smartcrutch. I think they’re in Durban. Thanks for your support and comments on this channel, i really appreciate your interaction here. A great 2020 to you and your family too ☀️ Take care Otto.
Happy 2020 Chris....this is going to be an amazing New Year! Loved this video, such useful advice for us amp travellers. I'm hoping to go to LA this year as a solo traveller to stay a month with a friend in Beverly Hills! It will be my first long haul flight, since my amputation, I'll be going from London to LA so pretty direct but still a long flight. You've given me some great tips, especially the one sitting with the amp leg (I'm right above knee) next to the aisle, I wouldn't have thought of that, so thanks for info! Oh, and the other tip, fold up crutches, I didn't know they existed, going to look for some of those! I'll be sharing this video on the UK Amp facebook page, I'm sure so many other disabled travellers will get some good advice from watching it. Look forward to seeing more content from you over the coming months. Take care, love-n-hugs xx
Hi Wynn!! And a happy 2020 to you too thanks. So exciting that you're off to LA - last time I was there was when I was 28 do a road trip through the US. I hope you find time to do the PCH, such a beautiful drive (towards SF or SA). I hope you have wonderful time with your friend, please let us know how you experienced the journey , your tips etc. The crutches I used simply slide into shorter ones and the grips tuck away. I tie them to my backpack like ski hiking poles if no one is with me to carry them. Thanks for sharing the video, I really appreciate it. Hugs back at you :-) xx
Chris you are a *. Thank you. You have just motivated me to travel again. As you an amputee I find so much help for the.elderly. Thank you for your tips. We shall travel together. What fun that will be! Always loving ma
I know this is a late comment, but I have a different perspective. I am also an LAKA. I try to book a right side window seat, so I can move my good leg around. I do book a seat with more leg room if I can. If I can, I do not get up to use the toilet during the flight. Do it before boarding. Airplane toilets are too restrictive. I wear a Seal-in suction liner, so I carry the tiny pen-sized alcohol sprayer if I really must remove my socket. The few times I have worn shorts when flying, I got even more scrutiny from security - that makes no sense other than maybe the people didn't know what to do and tried to over-do their search. I am too proud to play the disabled card, so I never board early or use the shuttles - that's just me. This may change as I get older. I have never been upgraded to first/business class due to my prosthesis - but that would be nice!
Never too late, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I agree with not pleading disabled , it's unattractive behaviour, but when the upgrade was offered I could not resist :-)
Great to see that you’re posting again Chris and great advice as always. I am confident that 2020 is going to be a good year, regardless of the challenges that being a new amputee will undoubtedly bring. Being an amputee isn’t easy, yet I’ve found that because of that, the accomplishments have been that much sweeter. One random question, but do you have a schedule for when or how often you’ll be posting videos? Cheers! Kevin
This is a great video containing all of the really important points to bear in mind if your a leg amputee well done . I have been aka for 50 odd years and I have travelled as much as I could over the years - airports are a challenge with the main one being security checks particularly when you set the alarms off going thru the metal detection arch! In 1977 I was in palma Majorca airport where in the previous month a hijack had occurred so security was very high, My son at home in England was about 9-10 years old at the time and believe it or not it was popular then to buy plastic guns for kids to play with .Anyway I had this tucked under my arm as part of my hand luggage and with a mate walked thru to security in the airport. When we got to security we noticed an armed guard on the other side of the metal detection arch.My mate said he would go in front of me to let this guard know the alarms would be triggered by me , I put all my hand luggage on the conveyor belt and approached the arch I stopped looked straight at the guard who pointed to his leg and beckoned me forward. Sure enough the alarms were triggered and the guard just carried on beckoning to me until my mate shouted bob don’t forget your Gun -this guard levelled a pistol at me as quick as you could blink he had been well trained. Anyway my arms stretched to the skies pretty quick and I froze, on the spot -after a brief break he realised I was not an international terrorist and we all appreciated the moment we were all in was quite innocent. Anyway the moral is don’t let your kids play with guns!, especially if your aka!!
Very valuable tips Chris, I used to travel monthly for business before the Corona epidemic, and may again have to do so in future, where these tips will now be crucial. I especially appreciated the mention of disclosing the disability assertively but respectfully at the same time, as I would probably have fallen into the same trap to hide away at the back and be invisible.
Thank you for that information. I am onto my second leg this next week so I am an amputee as of July 26I can’t wait to get my second leg this first leg is like 5 pounds because I’ve been wearing 9 to 10 socks so the second leg has a pin in it we’ll see how that works I want to light leg I’m very athletic I just don’t wanna have a leg I like your leg what kind of bike do you have?
Chris, can you show us the crutches you mention that you can fold up? I have been asking around and no one seems to know about it? Or can you share a link where we can get hold of them? My crutches are from the time of Moses.
Hello Riaan, see Chris hasn't got back to you yet so thought I'd jump in. From previous posts it seems it's not fold up as much as retractable. I have seen him using smart crutch a lot which you'll find smartcrutch.com select the sa country link to order.
Hi Octavia, yes absolutely you can. An automatic car, not stick shift/manual. Left foot to do accelerator and brakes. I know many amputees who do this. Go for it!🙂
