In February 2025, I began physical therapy at Athletico PT with an amazing DPT following my right below-knee amputation. After spending approximately six months largely confined to bed due to surgeries, infection, wound care, hospitalizations, and recovery, my body had become significantly deconditioned. I had lost a substantial amount of muscle strength, endurance, and mobility.
My muscles were weak, my balance was impaired, and my body had to adapt to an entirely new way of moving. Physical therapy became an essential part of my recovery and my path toward independence.
Each session focused on rebuilding the strength I had lost, improving my balance, increasing my endurance, and preparing my body for a prosthetic limb. Progress was not always easy, but I was determined to regain my mobility and reclaim my life.
I remained in physical therapy for more than a year, attending treatment from February 2025 through March 2026. During that time, I progressed from basic strengthening and balance exercises to walking independently with a prosthetic leg, improving my endurance, and returning to daily activities. As my physical abilities improved, so did my confidence.
Physical therapy gave me far more than physical strength. It provided the tools and support I needed to regain my independence, return to work, and participate in activities I once feared I might never enjoy again. Through perseverance and rehabilitation, I learned that life after amputation could still be full of purpose, opportunity, and possibility.
My recovery was not without setbacks. In September 2025, after receiving my second prosthetic leg, I developed a blister on my residual limb as my limb continued to shrink and the fit of my socket changed. The blister became infected, causing my temperature to spike to 102.5 degrees and my heart rate to become dangerously elevated. I was admitted to the emergency room at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, where it took approximately six hours for medical staff to stabilize my condition.
During my three-day hospitalization, the medical team provided exceptional care. They performed extensive testing and imaging to determine the source of the infection and closely monitored me to ensure it did not progress to sepsis. I required intravenous antibiotics through a PICC line once again, a treatment I had hoped I would never need after my amputation.
As a result of the infection, I was unable to wear my prosthetic leg or participate in physical therapy for an entire month. After working so hard to regain my mobility, this setback was both physically and emotionally challenging. However, it reinforced an important lesson: recovery is rarely a straight path. Instead of allowing the setback to define me, I remained focused on my goals. Once the infection resolved, I returned to physical therapy with renewed determination and continued working toward rebuilding my strength, independence, and confidence.
Throughout my recovery, I was fortunate to have an incredible support system. My physical therapist played a vital role in helping me rebuild my strength, regain my mobility, and believe in myself again. During moments when progress felt slow or the challenges seemed overwhelming, he continued to encourage me and remind me how far I had come. My orthopedic surgeon was one of the most compassionate and supportive healthcare professionals I encountered throughout my journey. I was also supported by my prosthetist, who worked closely with me through multiple prosthetic fittings and adjustments as my residual limb changed during recovery. Their expertise, patience, and dedication helped me achieve milestones that once felt impossible.
My Journey Becoming an RBK Amputee 