When I had my leg amputated we didn't have anybody and we [me and my wife too] we didn't have anybody to tell us what to expect.
I was up to drinking two cases of beer a day plus all the hard liquor I could get and four packs of cigarettes a day.
I lost my leg due to diabetes. For my blood sugar to run 400 to 600 was no big deal for me. I had a halo put on my leg and you know, it just went downhill from there. The doctor tried to save it, fought for almost a year to save it.
And you go through bouts of depression, suicidal thoughts. Every time the devil put up roadblocks and tried to take me down like; "Well you know you can't do this. You're handicapped. You can't do this." Then all of a sudden it's like God's just turned a light bulb on. Like; "Hey, buddy I’m not through with you yet. You are not going anywhere.
I swim. I ride my horse. I've got a Mustang. I cut my pasture. I drive. I do everything you do with two legs. The only difference is, I have to put one on.
The reason for the Amputee Ministry that we've started is that we had to go through it by ourselves. Nobody was there to help us out. Doctors were there but unless you've been there, like an alcoholic or drug addict, unless you've been there you can't sympathize or you can't know what's going on. I told my wife right before I lost my leg, I said; "If lose my leg I won't be a man. I won't be a whole man." Her response was; "I didn't marry the leg, I married the man. God knows what you are. God knows what you're going to be."
Discussions