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Technology, Being Grateful and Being a Stand: A Tribute to Resilience on Turkey Day

Cash for your car

By Dr. Nat

This is the month where we dedicate a day to giving thanks, or at least we are supposed to do that. It tends to be more of a day about the turkey, what kind of pie should we serve, and whose house to go to… This fall I had the pleasure of interviewing a young man that made me give thanks for a number of things, first of which was that I had two legs that worked. Second of which was the resilience of the human spirit and lastly, to have met someone who clearly was resilience in action.

I know that my column is about technology – and this story is about how technology changed an amputee’s life – but it is also about giving thanks and a reminder that no matter how bad things are, that if we are grateful for what is (vs. focusing on what is not), we can hear when opportunity knocks. (Hear this solider’s story about how technology changed his life in the video….)

 

If we can be open, even a small amount to that opportunity, to allow resilience to spring into action, we can transform our lives and of those around us in ways we can’t imagine until we cross that bridge of fear and defeat and land in the pool of resilience. It waits for each one of us, but most of us stop before we reach it.

On the other side of defeat is level of consciousness – or gratefulness and thankfulness that is beyond the turkey, the cranberry sauce or even the pie (i.e., what we know is true today.)

Yes, this Thanksgiving we are grateful for the Pilgrims and the stand they were. But today, is the opportunity to transform any situation into something unlike what we might have ever imagined it could be. And it is an opportunity to be a stand for that possibility for others.

Here is one young man’s story, that I hope by sharing will give you courage, will inspire you and carry you over the bridge of fear and defeat to a resilience and a stand that will transform your life. That is my wish for you this Thanksgiving.

And this Thanksgiving – spread the word of thankfulness, of gratefulness. Share something you are grateful for; something that you give thanks for. And in sharing the story, whether we are a stand for ourselves or for others, it is important to remember that each and everyone one of us makes a difference. We may not know it, but we do.

Heath Calhoun Heath Calhoun
Heath Calhoun was a soldier in Iraq.  At a young age, Heath earned respect for the U.S. military. His grandfather served in World War II and his father, in Vietnam. In 1999, Heath made the decision to carry on his family’s dedication to the military and to the service of his country. Heath enlisted in the U.S. Army. He completed his infantry, Airborne and Ranger training at Fort Benning, Georgia. And then was deployed to Iraq where he was a Squad Leader for the famed 101st Airborne Division.

What happened next Heath would not have predicted. Heath, standing at the rear corner of a Humvee, was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. As it hit his leg, it exploded. He exclaimed, "I was lying on my side. I could see my legs were really messed up. I yelled to the driver of the vehicle to call headquarters. I laid my head down and that is all I remember."

Heath endured nine months of rehabilitation at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.C. He tried several times to have prosthetic legs made that would allow him to walk again but nothing worked. It was a very painful process. After two and a half years, he gave up on prosthetics. Part of him accepted that he would have to rely on a wheelchair for the rest of his life. This husband and father of three, felt discouraged. He could not pick up his kids or help his wife carry the groceries. Simple things that we, with working legs, take for granted.

And then an opportunity knocked. In June 2006, Heath was asked to speak at the Amputee Coalition of America National Conference about hand-cycling. They wanted to hear about Heath’s experience of hand cycling 4,200 miles (from Los Angeles to New York.) Because Heath did not have legs, he used a special hand-cycle where he used his arms and upper body to pedal the 4,200 miles! The cycling event raised money and awareness for other wounded service members. (Their successful endeavor is documented in the Showtime Original Production, "Home Front.")

Heath Calhoun At the Amputee Coalition Conference where Heath was speaking, another injured service member heard about a workshop on above the knee amputees and prosthetic solutions. He contacted Heath and demanded that Heath attend the workshop. That was quite a stand this soldier took for Heath.

While Heath had cycled across America, he was still reluctant to believe life could be better for someone like him. But the part of him that had not let go of being able to pick up his kids, heard the opportunity knock. It was difficult to be open to a possibility to walk again when he had been disappointed so many times before. How much could a man take? He had dedicated his life to his country, only to find himself, crippled- emotionally and physically. As much as he loved his country, this is not what he signed up for.

Heath half-heartedly attended the workshop. He entered the room, and to his surprise he saw bilateral above knee amputees walking around with no canes, no crutches, no walkers and no wheelchairs! He had never seen above the knee amputees so independent.

Could this be true? Could this work for Heath? Would he be able to carry his children? Do chores around the house?  His interest, accelerated as he watched the amputees run, drive a normal unmodified car, walk down hills, play golf and swim. Motivated by those that had the courage to try this solution, Heath decided to give prosthetics one last shot. He made the decision to contact the company.  That decision totally change his life forever!

After training in short prosthetic legs for several weeks, he was fitted with new sockets and computerized knees. Several days after being fit, he was up and walking independently, without using canes or crutches. More importantly, he was starting to realize that it might be possible to never have to use a wheelchair again. His new legs and his newly found mobility energized Heath.

Today, he is not only walking, but running, swimming, golfing and even hiking. He has not used a wheelchair once since July 5, 2006, the day he was fit with his prosthetic legs. In November, he was part of a three person amputee relay team at the Challenged Athletes Triathlon in San Diego, completing a 1.2 mile swim event in 39:00 minutes and with record tide levels.

Heath Calhoun 

And while his new legs have given him the ability to try many new sports and activities the rewards of being able to walk go beyond athletics. Heath proudly said, "My prosthetic legs give me the option to do things on my own. To go out by myself, be spontaneous and more independent, is amazing. If I want to take my son Mason to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls, or carry my two daughters around the house, I can just do it. Just knowing that is out of this world."

Heath continues to lead the way and now drives a normal car without any modifications. And he is training for a slot on the U.S. Paralympic Ski Team to represent the U.S. in the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

Heath is resilience in action. He lives a transformed life in Salem, VA with his wife Tiffany and their three children, Mason, Brystal and Bailee, because someone took a stand. This holiday, give thanks and be a stand.
 

About the author

Dr. Nat