Inspired

Number 805 - he's run 54 marathons in the last 11 years.  He also did the ultimate marathon in Africa.

This weekend I helped out with the Possabilities Triathlon. It was by far one of the most fulfilling experiences.

I'm taking a class this quarter on Orthotics and Prosthetics, and every day after class I am inspired to work with people who've had amputations. Our teacher absolutely loves his job and it's contagious. I want that kind of work someday.

In the days leading up to the Triathlon, I got the chance to meet some of the athletes. People actually travel from all over the world to come race. I met several guys from Brazil. Bilateral transfemoral amputees. Unilateral transfemoral amputees. Bilateral transfemoral, bilateral transhumeral amputees.  Construction site accidents, snowboarding accidents, infections... Their stories are incredible. Their prosthetics are amazing. Their courage and their families - phenomenal.

On Saturday night while we were setting up for the race, several of the Brazilians were hanging out with us at registration. I was particularly inspired by this one couple, a guy with both his arms and legs half gone and his very supportive girlfriend who wants to go into Orthotics and Prosthetics. He goes to hobby shops and tries out all sorts of gadgets and technology to improve his prosthetics. He's made his own "fingers" out of a sponge and some tubing. He can easily use an iphone and can catch granola bars when they're tossed in his direction.

Alexis and I were stationed on the bike course and I'm pretty sure we were the loudest people out there. It was so fun cheering people on, making people smile, encouraging the tired up the hill, and seeing all the determination. I lost my voice and got a sunburn, but I got a really sweet T-shirt and the high still hasn't worn off yet.

I also got to help out with the kids triathlon, which included an obstacle course through a jumper. I was at the end of the bouncy slide, making sure kids didn't fly off onto the grass. I'm not sure how good I was at it though, since one boy managed to fly past me. Kids are so cute. And man are their parents excited. But my favorite was this four year old boy with little stubs. He had prosthetics, but he wasn't wearing them for the run. He ran and wobbled like a cute little drunk, never falling and with the biggest smile on his face. He was on a team and when he reached his friend on the bike, he tagged him and said, "Let's do it again!"

Today we visited the prosthetics lab at East Campus. I don't know exactly what I want to do or where I'll end up in a couple of years, but I could certainly get used to hopping the wall and being at work within 30 seconds of leaving my front door.

My life is so incredibly full right now.  It's mostly full of school, but it's full of so many other small things, fulfilling things.  Sabbath afternoon hikes and snowball fights, homemade pizza and cupcakes, good conversations and growing friendships, exhausting bike rides and the subsequent sore muscles... and just this weekend I was asked to help out with food for Sabbath School at the Azure Hills Church. I'm excited to grow in this new community.  Being involved is so fulfilling, and this life... well, it's all kinds of full.

Robson - only two years ago, woke up from a coma to discover he was a quadrilateral amputee.