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  • That’s A Wrap!
    2025/05/07
    Loss/Limb Difference Awareness Month 2025 Garrison Hayes and Eric Gutierrez-Camacho Colorado State University John McCollough: MIT Ophelie Herve: UCLA Mira Mutnick, Jake Kanetis, and Marty Kilbane Colorado State University Dan Levine: MIT As April comes to a close we say a huge thank you to all of the university students ts who came on to share what they have been working on, in the fields of mechanical and biomedical engineering, robotics, and media arts and sciences. All of these amazing students have a passion for assisting and improving the lives of people in the amputee community with their genius and creative enhancements to prosthetics, sockets, surgical procedures and research. I cannot thank them all enough for caring so deeply for our community and for working so hard to improve it. As this month closes out I want to entice you all to subscribe to my channel as next week we begin to explore phantom pain. I have a professor from Harvard coming on to talk about his study into how the mind works, and how it can be used as a tool to combat phantom pain. Very intriguing conversation and maybe a few cues for us amputees to use to begin taking charge of our bodies without the use of drugs. Please make sure you stay tuned for future episodes! hHave a very blessed and wonderful week, And as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!! much love,
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    24 分
  • The Future is Now: Part 5 of 5
    2025/04/30
    MIT Dan Levine As we wrap up this Limb Loss/Limb Difference Awareness month I am also interviewing my final university student who has been working towards his PhD at MIT. Dan started his journey at Cornell with a degree in Mechanical engineering and Computer Science and is about to graduate from MIT with his doctorate in Media Arts and Sciences. Dan had a fascinating beginning as he was able to spend some younger years in Thailand as his parents were working in the medical field. His excitement about nature and anything is possible to create if we just look, observe and study what is around us shows us that the brain is such an amazing muscle that can come up with the seemingly impossible, like making prosthetics more advanced and allow the amputee live a life as if nothing has changed for them. That is what the studies at the MIT Media Lab aim to accomplish. He has had his hands on several projects in Assistive Technologies and as of late been working on advancing bionics in the ankle prothesis. One very unique experiment he did was to create a video game based on movement technology for his non-sighted friend. Below is the board they actually used to accomplish this task. This board was used to "translate" Mario Bros for his non-sighted friend As I have stated each week this month, the field of mechanical, biomedical engineering and robotics is so very competitive around the nation and some discussions of these students' projects cannot be divulged until they finish their dissertations and get published, so we discuss what we can during these interviews. My hope, though, is to whet your appetite as to what is coming in the world of prosthetics/bionics and the study of the human body in order to aid the amputee community. Dan's team of undergraduates enjoy team building time. Another aspect of being at this level of his degree is bringing on undergraduates to add insight and diverse thinking to projects. As Dan worked with these students as a team they are able to all bring their specific talent to the projects and as Dan stated their level in school does not determine their level of expertise. Each team member is valued for what they bring to the table. Dan has had the opportunity to explore, create and design a more robust and technologically advanced foot model to help be a more natural replacement of our natural foot, using the idea of biomechatronics, energy return, and studying our natural gait to help with his design. Dan in the Media Lab working on specific parts of his design. A very hands on project after the detailed research of measurements and calculations. "Measure twice, cut once" is more his philosophy. I am totally amazed and completely impressed by Dan's imagination, thoughts, and unique view of the world. It takes very special people to be in this space, creating the next great technological advancement in the engineering world and because of people, like Dan, our amputee community will be seeing some incredible advancements to our devices and thus our ability to live the best, most full life, as if we were not missing anything. This is truly something to be celebrated! Thank you, Dan, for spending your time with me diving into the world you have been in these past 6+ years. The devotion, the exhaustion, the hard work and at times, I'm sure, the frustration of getting things completed the way you envisioned them and the successes you have accomplished I thank you! Our community thanks you, for bringing us one step closer to higher potential (pun intended!). And for all of the university students out there trying to make our world a better place, we see you and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I look forward to what the future holds for myself and other amputees. A world where nothing inhibits us from achieving all of our hopes, dreams, and goals. I hope you have all enjoyed hearing about the technology and ...
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    56 分
  • The Future is Now: Part 4 of 5
    2025/04/23
    University of Michigan Mira Mutnik, Jake Kanetis, and Marty Kilbane Amazing conversation with not 1, not 2, but 3 PhD students at the University of Michigan this week! A true, authentic conversation about the innovation and design of future prosthesis and the growth and research of creating a surgical procedures to aid in using these newly designed prosthesis all with the purpose of replicating the natural human movement. We packed so much conversation into this episode with so much more we could have talked about. Once again, we discussed what we could, but some details must be left out due to the highly competitive field these young adults are working in. What I love about these three students is that even though they are all in a different sector, so to speak, of research: Mira-above limb amputees, Jake-below limb amputees, and Marty-prosthetics, they are all working towards the same goal; creating the best way to unify the surgical procedure and prosthesis to give the amputee the best, most natural movement possible. Jake all hooked up to monitor human movement to collect data for his research Marty working with a study participant on their design of a prosthesis they are working on in the lab. Mira collecting data on her upper limb project and how to get the best hand movement and dexterity of a prosthesis. We had a great discussion of what it could look like for the future of amputees and the length of time these studies take. There are a lot of hoops to jump through, safety regulations, data collecting, and trials. The FDA must approve procedures and products that they hope to take to market some day, but these students have become three of the many students going through the program at University of Michigan, working tirelessly to bring this technology closer to us being able to access it. I find it so unique to see the shift from making the newest, coolest, most advanced products for us to wear, as amputees, to surgical procedures to make our bodies work in harmony with a prosthesis. The one thing we did dive deep into was the procedure of getting candidates who fit the bill to doing the trial procedures, and finding willing participants as well. This can be so tricky as we struggle with the idea of going back in and revision the original amputation in hopes that the outcome will be the same if not better, but the concern that it could be worse. I hope you will join us today, listen to the entire podcast and see what dedication these students have for helping our amputee community, what motivates them to continue into this higher level of study, and what their plans are for their future after graduation. Thank you Jake, Mira, and Marty for sharing your passion. Your dedication to helping our community find a better way to live is inspiring and deserves our gratitude! Continue doing what you're doing, and know we all thank you for the time, ideas, and ingenuity to take amputees to the next level! Please make sure you all Like, Share, and Subscribe so you don't miss an episode as we continue with our 5th Student interview next week as we visit MIT again from a different angle. Wishing you all the best, and a blessed week ahead. And as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!! Much love,
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    1 時間
  • The Future is Now: Part 3 of 5
    2025/04/16
    Limb Loss Awareness Month UCLA: Ophelie Herve As we come into our third week of April Limb Loss/Limb Difference Awareness month I am so excited to have a female voice in the engineering program from UCLA on our podcast today. Ophelie was born in France and came with her family here to the United States at an early age. In high school she reflects on watching the news when the Boston Marathon was bombed and she saw peak athletes, within 24 hours, become wheelchair bound. As an athlete, herself, this event created a desire to help and gave her the direction she needed to jump into engineering and working in prosthetics for her undergraduate and Masters program at SMU. Ophelie using an exoskeleton that is a power device used to help paralyzed individuals walk. From there she turned her attention to injury prevention, and found interesting research on the female body and the how and when training can sabotage us by putting us at high risk for injury and when we will have a peak performance in the gym. Using a robotic arm to replicate the knee joint in her studies on injury prevention. This week I wanted to delve into the topic of how the female body is different and how as amputees we need to protect our sound limb for the long haul. We have always been so amazed by the newest prosthetics and bionics to come out into the world, and it is a very competitive field, but without research we don't have the information to make technology better for the human body Her research is fascinating and goes deep. We joked about the rabbit holes she went down as she began this research, but it was her unique perspective as a female athlete (and one who has injured herself playing soccer), coupled with her research on our female bodies and cycles that we really dove into some extraordinary conversations about injury prevention, especially for women who are down to one sound limb. As a female amputee, I can tell you that I have thought about this often, and what would life look like if I injured my "good leg". That has also been a topic many times in my ladies' chat group. Working out at the right times of the month help protect our sound limb. How we workout, eat, and rest all help play a part in stabilizing our sound limb, and when different cycle changes throughout our lives make a difference in each of those aspects. This was great to learn about as the world of sports and nutrition tend to clump us in the same workout and nutrition regiment as our male counterparts, without regards to our different hormones and biological differences. I hope you enjoy hearing about Ophelie's cutting edge research and Master's project as she explains in greater detail some findings and how that will affect us as female amputees and athletes. Please make sure you give her some love and Like, Share and Subscribe! We have 2 more weeks of Limb Loss/ Limb Difference Awareness month, which means I have 2 more students who have dedicated their college journey to the betterment of the amputee community. You don't want to miss this! Have a beautifully blessed week ahead, And as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!! Much love, Hiking with my pups keeps my sound leg strong and health for the long haul. Keep moving!
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    1 時間 3 分
  • The Future is Now: Part 2 of 5
    2025/04/09
    Limb Loss Awareness Month MIT: John McCollough John is a student at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts working towards his Masters and PhD in Medical Engineering. I met him a year and half ago when he reached out to see if I was interested in coming to MIT for a Gait Study that he was assisting a student working toward his PhD. Of course I said Yes! This is what it looks like when you agree to a gait study! Now as time has flown by I have gone back to check on John's progress in the field of Biomechatronics, stayed connected with those in the lab and couldn't wait to have him on the podcast. Once in the media Lab building you can see prototypes, unique sculptures, and their purpose and mission. However, a quick disclaimer, some of the work being done in the MIT Media Lab, like other universities, is private and not up for discussion as they are still in the works of their projects in a very competitive field, but the topics we discuss today are amazing, eye-opening and incredibly groundbreaking and I can not wait for you all to hear what's on the cusp of becoming products and procedures available to the amputee community! John working on the project I took part in last year. Let's jump right into our conversation on the work being done with 3D printing, Oesteointegration, AMI procedure, and how students and university create, trademark, and market their designs and how long this process can take. Once again, I am blown away at the desires of these young men and women to create a better world for our amputee community. The future is looking so good and positive for us and I truly want these students to be seen for their hardwork and dedication to a community they are feeling led to assist. We are extremely blessed with what the future holds and I believe that the next 5, 10, 20 years we will see the struggles of amputees today become minimal if not obsolete, making our lives stronger, healthier, and physically complete. Join me this week as John and I discuss all things on the drawing board and please don't forget to Like, Share, and Subscribe so you don't miss any of these university students' conversations about the future of prosthetics. John McCollough MIT Masters student Mechanical Engineering John, thank you for spending time we me on the podcast and sharing so eloquently the field of study you are in, breaking down the process so we could understand the stages of a study, and for sharing the work that could be shared. I look forward to having you on again as you complete your Masters and PhD. Thanks for joining us and I hope you have a beautiful week ahead! And as always, until next time, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!! Much love,
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    57 分
  • The Future is Now: Part 1 of 5
    2025/04/02
    Limb Loss Awareness Month 2025 Colorado State University: MediFlex Prosthetics LLC CSU MediFlex Prosthetics team Here we are again for the month of April and bringing awareness to the Limb Loss/Limb Difference community. Every year, in the month of April, I shift gears on my podcast and create a theme centered on the amputee community and interview people versus talking from my personal experience. Each year I have met some amazing people from doctors, to athletes, to innovators and entrepreneurs. This year I am excited to announce the future of our community, students! Each of the 5 weeks of April I have students, of varying levels of their education, from all across our nation, talking about what they are studying, inventing, building, and perfecting in the prosthetic world. We have undergraduates to PhD students, all of whom are spending their college careers, and life after, making our community a better place by creating the next generation of products meant to allow us to live fuller lives as amputees. Today, I am excited to introduce Garrison Hayes and Eric Gutierrez-Camacho, two of the five student team from Colorado State University, they are the founders of MediFlex Prosthetics LLC and their creation is part of their senior project at CSU. The work they do focuses primarily around 3D printed feet modules for amputees, both above knee and below knee. Their idea, which I will allow them to explain, is a tough, indestructible foot that allows for more energy return to the user. This could be life changing, not to mention energy saving! So many of us already struggle with moving around for long periods of time due to fit or phantom pains, but we also deal with exhaustion due to a loss of energy as our foot hits the ground, giving nothing back. Internal carbon fiber skeleton of foot 3D printed foot shell that is built in sections for ease of replacing portion that might wear down over time Garrison, a lead in the creation of this foot, is also an amputee. He has been able to trial each prototype and give instant feedback from an amputee's true perspective. A vital component when making a new prosthesis before marketing it. This team of students has created an LLC to continue building, bettering, and supplying this type of equipment to our amputee community well after their college careers end. Their goal is to make their product quick to get and affordable for everyone. As they formulated their ideas and worked around getting large 3D printers to create such strong feet with high quality materials they have also been competing in this field with their product and I am excited to say that this past weekend they received an overall 1st place finish at the Murals competition at CSU for their product The Goldilocks Foot. Way to go,Team!! These students are just one example of the intensely competitive world of biomedical and medical engineering that can be found in our universities around the nation. Each team, each level, building off of other projects, creating all new ideas, and researching the field of prosthesis and a deeper level, all in all, working towards making the life of an amputee as comfortable, balanced, and natural as they once were with the part they are missing. This month, I want you to make sure to like, share and subscribe to my podcast as we go deeper into the world of engineering for the amputee community and what these inspiring students are bringing to the table. If you would like to watch the whole interview it can be found on my YouTube channel The future is NOW! To find out more about Garrison and Eric's prosthesis and the work their team is doing by visiting their Video HERE You can also ask for more information or ask questions that you may have for their team at: mediflex.co/outlook.com
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    1 時間 8 分
  • Statistically Speaking
    2025/03/26
    The Reality of the Numbers and What We Can Do About It The stats on amputees is staggering. In the US 1 in 200 people have undergone amputation! Over 2.1 million people live with an amputated limb. Worldwide, 1 million ampuatations happen annually, that's 1 amputation every 30 seconds!!! 1 EVERY 30 SECONDS! Amputee Coalition's diagram of statistics taken from Promedeast.com 2023 Even more alarming is the projection of the 2.1 million in the US doubling by the year 2050! On a different note and other statistics: The #1 cause of amputation, currently, is vascular disease, such as diabetes and peripheral arterial disease at 54% of major amputations. A close second at 45% is trauma with cancer being less than 2% of amputations. From this we see the emotional impact an amputation has on us. Amputees deal with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Work is also impacted, making it harder to earn a living, keep a job, and even getting a new job, adding more stress to a person's life and complicating relationships, new and old. Why am I talking to you about all of these numbers (especially since I am NOT a numbers girl)? These stats and the aftermath of amputation have a huge impact on how people function in society and how well they live their life. Next week begins the month of April which is Limb Loss/Limb Difference Awareness Month. Every year I use this month to interview people in our community to shed light on and inspire the world. This year I am excited to announce that this month I will be talking with students from across our country who are working in the fields of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Engineering. This field has seen a boom across the country and the competition is intense! Each of these interviews are with students in the midst of creating, testing, or improving on products that will enhance the lives of amputees all over the world. Most are not even amputees (however, there is at least one who is), they are just looking to make a difference in a growing population. These students are our future. They are striving to find a better way for those of us who have lost a limb. I wanted to spotlight them and the hundreds of others who are studying biomedical engineering, in hopes to make a difference. Please make sure you like, share and subscribe to my podcast here, on my You Tube channel, or on most streaming platforms so you don't miss these April interviews and all the good these students are doing. Apple Podcast Spotify iHeart With such a growing interest and determination to improve the lives of amputees I am filled with such hope for our future and what we will be able to accomplish DESPITE our limb difference. Join me this April as we see the heart and minds behind our bright future! And as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!! Much love,
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    29 分
  • Who Am I?
    2025/03/19
    Knowing Your Identity and Accepting It We, as a society, place a lot of value on how we look. A first impression, sort of thing. A "judge a book by the cover" value. But we all know that the physical makeup of a person doesn't give us the whole picture. As women, we are bombarded by makeup ads, weightless products, fashion trends for petite sizes and magazine covers showing 'beautiful" flawless women with perfect features. Our sense of value, for decades, has been wrapped up in our appearance, as if that's all we have to offer. As amputees, we can get lost in feeling worthless or "not enough" based on the world's vantage point, but it isn't accurate. I have been noticing a subtle change, perhaps you are too, happening in the world on what makes a person "beautiful" or "handsome". However, if you struggle with a sense of worth or are battling who you are now that you are an amputee, you're not alone. So many people deal with this, to the point of being afraid of being out in public, or having a significant other leave them after amputation. STOP! Stop putting yourself through that. Change your thinking and see the positive in this moment. I mean, really, what other choice do you have? It's not like you are going to grow that limb back. It's time to adapt and change, leave the old you in the past and find your worth. This is your moment, you can use this change to reinvent yourself, to challenge yourself, and grow into newness. This is a chance to try new hobbies, to build your character, and to challenge yourself. I want you to believe that you are going through this for something greater. You probably can't see that now, but trust me. When I was in the midst of multiple surgeries and then choosing amputation, I would never have thought I would be making podcasts or creating help groups for women amputees, yet here I am. I open my mind up to the possibilities that could be and tried new things. I was open to whatever was coming my way. Somethings were meant to be, others, not so much, but at least I stayed open-minded. You are Be-YOU-tiful, just the way you are! So be YOU!! What we all go through in life, builds us for something else, a greater purpose, a moment that may help someone else in need. And I have found that in helping others I have helped myself. Yep, that's right. By finding a way to use my experiences to help others I have found healing for myself, and a purpose that I never would have thought I had to offer. Without my experiences I could never talk to you about mindset or getting through phantom pains. I add validity because of my experiences. These experiences have given me purpose again, but in a way I had never expected in my life. Embrace this change. Find a way to enjoy this journey. So, who are you? What version of yourself do you dream of, it’s all a matter of your desire and mindset. Set your sights and keep an open mind. It's your time to shine. This week, I want you to repeat positivity into yourself. "I am beautiful/handsome" "I am worthy" "I add value to those around me and my life" "I am more than my body" "I love who I am" Write these down someplace you'll see. Say them over and over again, each day, all week. Say them and BELIEVE them! You are more than a physical body. You have survived a great storm and are still here. You have purpose and value. Believe these things. Hold your head up high. Smile, even if you have to fake it at times. And don't forget to cry when needed, it can be very healing, just don't linger there too long. Yes, life is a struggle, but you were made to be a warrior. Your story is being written everyday, and isn't finished until you take your last breath. So take a deep breath and get out there. You MATTER!! I hope you charge forward today like the warriors I know you are. Have a beautifully blessed day,
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    30 分