Amp 4 Life

10 Years!

2019-01-11T04:51:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Today marks 10 years since the accident that changed my life forever. I have a variety of emotions regarding this milestone. Sometime I think “What if things had played out differently…” and most of the time that is followed by “Well think of everything I now have that I might not have had things played out differently…” Right now I am married to the love of my life who not only accepts me as an amputee, but also looks past my physical disability and embraces me for who I am. I also have three beautiful little girls. They hardly ever ask a question about Daddy’s leg, rather they completely ignore it like its normal. And for me as an amputee this is my normal. Sometimes small children will see my leg and whisper to their parents, “He has a robot leg…why does he have a robot leg?” And while the parent is ashamed for what their child says or thinks it is rude, I just look at the child and say, “It’s OK, I was in an accident and the doctors had to remove my leg… but Check This Out!” And then I would swing my leg around at the knee joint in a way that is quite unnatural and the child would gasp and say “Do it again! That’s cool.”

Yes, this is my new normal. More than a third of my life I have been an amputee. Would I have tried to avoid going off the side of the ski slope at all cost had to avoid losing my leg? Well, 99.9% of the time I wouldn’t trade the journey this accident has taken me on for anything. I love my family and friends, and I love my life. There are usually only brief moments here and there where I would think to myself something like “It would be nice to have two legs so that I can keep up with my kids when they are running away from Daddy” or whatever it may be. I thank God for this life changing event that happened to me, as it has helped me to become a better person and also to trust him more. Sometimes we can’t always see what God is trying to work out in our future, but that’s OK.

I hope this reflection may be able to help some of you who are having a rough time, a bad day, loss of a job, loss of a loved one, or even loss of a limb. Just remember, have a positive attitude and look forward to brighter days in the future. Instead of always worrying about the destination in life, sit back and enjoy the roller coaster of a journey it takes to get there.

God Bless,

Wesley Hughes

Life With A Baby

2015-06-26T15:42:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Time flies when your having fun, oh wait ... and when you have a baby. It seems like just yesterday that my beautiful little daughter was born. She is now almost five months old and I can hardly believe it. Before she was born, I was worried about the struggles I might encounter being a Dad with only one leg. I can say, with the small amount of experience that I have, that it isn't so bad. Yeah, there are some things that are difficult and near impossible to do with just one leg like get the baby in the middle of the night and change her diaper. However, I can HELP my wife with that stuff. Other than that it has been a breeze... maybe LOL.
Emily has grown up in so many ways already. She started by holding her head up with no support. Then she was able to stand in our laps with little assistance. And then rolled over... not once, not twice, but 5 times in a row! Now she loves spending time on her belly mumbling baby sounds to herself, especially when she is tired. Most recently, we started feeding her baby oatmeal and some pureed carrots! Yay! I can't wait to see how much she grows and changes between now and my next post.

On a side note: Some of you might remember that I had been battling a horrible fungus issue with my stump and that I could not seem to get it to go away. By the grace of God it is completely gone and I have had no skin issues since then. I have also shipped my knee off for its "two year checkup" so that it can be updated and any issues fixed. I should be getting it back on July 3rd and it will be like new again :). On July 4th, Emily will be five months old and we will be celebrating my cousins birthday with my side of the family.

God Bless,

- Wesley Hughes

It's a WHAT!?

2014-10-22T18:45:00.003-07:00

Hi everyone,

As noted in my last post, my wife and I are expecting a baby. We look forward to her arrival. Yes, her. Our baby girl will make her grand appearance near the end of January, and we have decided to name her Emily Ann. We are so excited and look forward to this new adventure in our lives! We have been trying to get some much needed sleep before the baby comes, but it is already a losing battle. She loves to kick mommy all through the night, but at least it reassures us that she's healthy and growing.

So far, everything is going well. There haven't been any complications, although my wife dealt with morning sickness until week fourteen. Other than that, it has been smooth sailing for the most part. The baby is healthy, my wife is healthy, and I am healthy, in case you were wondering. It has also been an incredible experience to hear our baby's heartbeat and see her during the ultrasounds. Now, we are just looking forward to meeting her in person! Well keep you guys updated when the baby arrives.

God Bless,

- Wesley Hughes

An Amazing Wife

2014-10-06T19:04:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone,

I haven't written in awhile, but there has been a good reason. Marriage! Life has been busy and full of new adventures. In the next few posts I talk about all of the major things that have happened since my last post.

My wife just graduated with a degree in English Writing and decided to start blogging. Let me just say that she has so much stuff to write and talk about. It's AWESOME! Please check out her blog titled The Content Mom. Mom? YES! My wife and I are expecting our first baby! It's going to be life-changing but extremely exciting and fulfilling.

Her blog contains all sorts of content including blogs for him, for her, for relationships, for family, for the crafty, for the chef, and for contentment. She promises to bring new and exciting content often and already has a variety of entries. Please let her know what you guys think! Thanks!

God Bless,

- Wesley Hughes

Socket Troubles

2013-07-02T10:07:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone!

Has anyone ever worn a pair of shoes so loose that want to fall off every step you take? Imagine walking as an amputee and your leg wants to fall off every time you sit and stand. That is how I feel... Some days my leg is fine but most days I have trouble maintaining suction in my socket. I don't like to complain to my prosthetist, however it gets old and affects my daily life.

I also don't want to switch prosthetists , but I need advice. Does anyone else ever have suction troubles with their socket? Did you ever switch prostetists or consider it? Any advice would be helpful and I will be sure to talk about it in my next YouTube video.

God Bless!!!

Wesley Hughes

My New Leg - The Power Knee

2013-03-09T16:33:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,

     I haven't written in a while, however, I will try and write more often as I am know settled into my new apartment and life as a full time employee. "What is my occupation?" you may ask, well I am a Scientist at ASPEX Corporation in Pennsylvania. I design and build electron microscopes!

     I decided that after 4 years on my Rheo Knee it was time for an upgrade. Yesterday I was fitted for a new socket, and today received my new leg. It is the Power Knee by Ossur with a Vari-flex XC Rotate foot by Ossur. The combination of these two components creates one of the most technologically advanced legs available to date.

     Having this new technology inspired me to start writing in my blog again, as well as, post regular updates to YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. If you would like to get in touch with me or have any questions you can email me at theamp4life89@gmail.com. You can watch the trailer for my new series on the Power Knee right here:

God Bless!

- Wesley Hughes

Christmas! The Birth of a Savior

2012-12-08T18:15:00.001-08:00

Hey Everyone,

     It is that time of year again... Christmas!   Oh the wonderful joy of the Holidays... Christmas lights, trees, wreathes, candles, and presents galore. Sometimes we get caught up in all the craziness of the Holidays and forget what it is all about.  Many people have forgot about the "Christ" in Christmas.

     Why is it that we celebrate Christmas and sing carols and songs that refer to Christ, Bethlehem, and a Silent Night? Because Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, son of God, who was born of a virgin Mary, in a manger. Isn't it amazing that God sent himself to earth in the form a baby boy, that someday would die and pay the penalty for our sins!

     If it is about Jesus, why do we celebrate with decorations, presents, and music.  While those activities are fun, bring joy and happiness, and allows us to give from a grateful heart, no gift compare to the one that God has given to us which is his son Jesus Christ and the Salvation that we can have through him.

     Thanks for reading and have a joy-filled holiday season keep in mind what it is all about.

God Bless,

- Wesley Hughes

Did Somebody Say T-SHIRTS!

2012-08-12T18:12:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone,

I have partner with a t-shirt printing company online that prints and ships the t-shirts directly to you the customer. Here is a direct link to the product page: http://www.sellinsta.com/view/131342/amp4life--t-shirt. If you don't know what I am talking about, You can go to my YouTube Channel, Facebook, or Twitter to get in the loop (there are tabs above that will take you directly to those sites). Thanks guys for the support. YOU are the BEST!

God Bless,

-Wesley Hughes

Home Sweet Home

2012-07-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I just started a two week long vacation back to the East Coast where my family and fiance live. So far all I can say is that it is good to be home. I have missed my dad so much, hes has been battling stage IV lung cancer for over 2.5 years and I am so blessed to spend some quality time with him. I am finding that I have more spare time than usual so I have been applying for jobs, and well updating my blog :)

BIG NEWS! T-Shirts are here... well at least the test shirts for my family who so far seem to approve of the design. Tell me what you think about them on my blog, Facebook page, YouTube channel, or Twitter. I am also trying to figure out the best way to start selling them in a way that is convenient and not too difficult for me (I'm new at the whole merchandise thing). Don't forget to check out the t-shirt unboxing video below.

Anyways, I just want to say that God is good, and it is good to be home! By the way, my fiance has a blog as well with a wonderful post... you should check it out if you have time http://shelbyshell.blogspot.com/2012/07/to-be-honest.html?spref=fb. God Bless!

- Wesley Hughes

Amputee Fitness

2012-07-12T19:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

As some of you may know I have recently started an Amputee Fitness series called "AmpFit." My goal of this series is not only to help amputees out there to get in shape, but I also want to inspire people and give people opportunities to speak with me directly. You can always contact me by messaging me on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or by email at theamp4life@gmail.com. If you have any ideas for how I can improve my video or help better accommodate you, please let me know. I have uploaded many videos recently including:

Amputee Golfing
Handstand Pushups
AmpFit Episode 1
AmpFit Episode 2
Amputee Swimming

I look forward to making many more videos for you in the future! In the mean time, take care and may God bless you!

- Wesley Hughes

Pictures of Vaction in Oregon

2012-06-02T12:54:00.004-07:00

About to eat dinner at Roadhouse

Cannon Beach

Indian Head Beach

Enjoying the view :)

Got Water?

Largest wooden support beam in US (Camp 18)

Columbia River Gorge

Vista overlooking the gorge

Wahkeena Falls

Beautiful Rainbow!

Gorgeous Sunset!

Multnomah Falls

Vacation in Oregon - The Coast

2012-06-01T08:55:00.003-07:00

Hi everyone,

This post is just a brief glimpse of my amazing Memorial Day Weekend vacation in Oregon with my fiance (more posts to come). We had the most amazing time. I began by introducing her to some of my west coast friends, and then we rented a car for the weekend. The first place we went to was the Oregon Coast. We drove to Ecola State Park which overlooks Canon Beach. The views were absolutely beautiful, and I will be sure to post some pictures on here soon. For now, take a look at what it is like to hike as an above knee amputee.

God Bless,

-Wesley Hughes

Happy Easter

2012-04-08T14:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter Everyone!

     Today we celebrate the resurrection of Christ from the grave which fulfilled the scriptures of the Old Testament. Christ is the Messiah who humbled himself to the point of death on a cross. He was beate, bruised, forced to carry his own deathbed "the cross," and then died for us. Three days later he rose from the dead.

     I haven't posted in a while so I will give you an update. Things at my job are going great, and because I take public transportation and walk quite a bit, my prosthetic in many ways is purely second nature. Walking is good, some days great others it can be irritating in the groin area. It all depends on how I put my liner on. Also my fiance of almost 4 months is going to be visiting me in Oregon at the end of May!

     I hope everyone that reads this post has a blessed day... I truly mean it. And if you do let someone else know that you care about them today. That is my challenge to you. Take care and God Bless.

- Wesley Hughes

Update: New Job and Prayer Requests

2012-02-18T10:49:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

     If you have been following my blog for awhile now you might be familiar with my situation. I am an amputee and am trying to make a difference and improve the quality of life for other amputees. But I also realize that my story goes far beyond that and inspires many different people.

     I am now in a steady job/internship doing research and development of new applications for ion beams... I know what your thinking. "What are ion beams?" Long story short, they are individual atoms that have a non-neutral net charge. This means they can be manipulated using electric fields. Electric lenses can be formed by applying a voltage to a metal cylinder, which in turn creates an electric field in the middle. Much like light and optical glass lenses, ion beams can be focused to small spots which eventually leads to an image. Because these ions are accelerated to high voltages ~30,000V their wavelength is much smaller than that of a photon ("particle" of light), which in turn leads to high resolution imaging.

     Now back to the stuff that makes sense... I am so thankful for the support of my family, friends, and fiance. God is so good. I am getting involved in a local church and plan to play in the churches worship band. I miss everyone back home. Currently, my Dad is battling Stage IV lung cancer (he has been for two years now) and was just recently taken off of a clinical trial. Please pray for his health.

     That is all for now... If you haven't been keeping up with the videos I have been uploading here are a few:

          - My Testimony
          - Amputee Q&A Episode 16
          - Amputee Discussion: Depression, Sleeping Disorders
          - Amputee Q&A Episode 17

God Bless!

- Wesley Hughes

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T18:56:00.000-08:00

Hi guys,

I would like to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! I love you guys! Thanks for all the support and encouragement along the way. Here is a quick video. God Bless!

- Wesley Hughes

My Testimony

2012-01-23T22:48:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

I finally posted a video of my testimony. If you would like to know more or contact me feel free to send me an email at theamp4life@gmail.com. Here is my testimony. God Bless!

- Wesley Hughes

Christianity and NOT Conforming to This World

2012-01-13T22:22:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone,

Christianity these days is considered a religion by many. Firstly, it is a way of life that follows the example of Christ, hence "Christ"-ian. Many have taken the "Christ" out of being a so called Christian. I would rather someone say that they don't believe in Jesus/God then to put on act of Christianity to seem like a good person or something. I know that at one point, I was probably one of those so called "Christians," but I now realize the dangers of that lifestyle.

There are so many Christians that are being fed a watered-down version of the Gospel. Also, many Christians think that they can straddle this fence of being a Christian and still i.e. party, drink, etc. on the weekends. I am sure that this breaks God's heart and we need to remember what it actually means to be a Christian. That is a follower of Christ. I just had a renewal of mind and spirit the other day, and figured that I would share my thoughts. If you want you can check out my new video about phantom pain. God Bless!

-Wesley Hughes

Happily Engaged!

2011-12-19T18:06:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

     You know how I have talked so much about my wonderful girlfriend and about how much I love her. Well on December 14, 2011 I proposed to her at Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, WV. Everything went perfectly! She was completely surprised and had no idea just how many people knew about it before and hadn't told her. I prayed long and hard before going through with the proposal and decided it was the right thing to do.

     I admit that when I was waiting for her to arrive I started to get nervous. Not a fearful nervous, but rather anxious and excited all at the same time. After she read the letter that I had left at the front desk and followed the trail of roses, I sneaked up behind her and surprised her. She gave me a hug then I gave her my speech and asked her to marry me. Sure enough, she said, "yes!" I was so relieved at that point.

     I am grateful to have such a beautiful and godly fiance. I thank God everyday to have her in my life. For all the amputees out there looking for love or thinking that you will will never experience love because of your disability, it is not true. If someone is going to love you, they will love you for who you are! Thanks to all who made my engagement to Shelby Phillips special. We love you! God Bless!

- Wesley and Shelby :)

Taking A Shower And Mornings

2011-12-07T10:48:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone,

   I wanted to write something especially for those amputees out there. For me, I find it hard to get up and get myself to put on my leg in the morning. There are times when it begins to feel like a chore. I also find myself having less balance in the morning as opposed to any other time of day.

     Usually I take my showers at night, but sometimes I will take them in the morning. As an amputee I think I find it easier to take a shower in the evening because I have more balance and am more awake and aware. I wouldn't want to slip and fall in the shower. Having less balance in the morning would increase the risk of falling, etc. while taking a shower.

     This was just something on my mind and something that I would like some opinions on. Please feel free to leave a comment here or on my Facebook page. God Bless!

-Wesley Hughes

Living For Him

2011-11-21T12:27:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone!

     Lately, I have been caught up in the things of this world. For example: going to school, playing video games, watching TV, etc. I have not been spending enough time with God. I pray everyday that he would give me opportunities to serve and glorify him. A few days ago, someone contacted me in regards to a need for Bibles. They literally were reaching out to me to see if I could help fill their need. I then reached out to family and friends, and when its all said and done we are going to be able to help this church in need.

     It has now been laid on my heart to share with you all some scripture and thoughts I have had recently. We need to stop putting off the good we could be doing now for later. We often find ourselves saying things like "when I have enough money I will give some to the needy." Well the time to act is now if God is convicting you and placing it on your heart to give. James 4:17 says "Anyone, then who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." This verse has made a direct impact on my life recently and I hope that it will make an impact on yours.

     Some people may think that if they give their time and money now that they may not have a "later" to enjoy. However, God doesn't promise us a later. Our days are numbered and we know not how long we have.   We can plans for the future with Gods help, but we must also live in the present. We need to be open to the things that he places heavily on our hearts to do. If you have wasted your life up to this point, it doesn't mean that God thinks you are worthless. He loves you like a good father loves his son.   He is there to rely on for strength when you need him.

     Thank you guys for reading and may God Bless you.

- Wesley Hughes

Amputee TV

2011-11-12T19:11:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone,

So I have officially started the Amputee TV Series. Once a week I will be posting a new video to YouTube titled "Amputee TV - (something related to the episode)." The show consists of 4 main sections: News, Humor, Bible Verse, and Question of the Week! I hope you guys look forward to watching these episode and enjoy them as much as I did making them. Advice and input would be much appreciated. God Bless!

- Wesley Hughes

Patience

2011-11-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

     I thought that I would take the time to talk about patience. Lately God has shown me a lot about patience and what it means to be patient. One of the biggest things that I realize is things we have not seen we wait for with patience. Heaven is the example Paul uses in the Bible. He says "But that which we have not seen yet, we wait for with patience.

     What are some of the thing you struggle to be patient with on a daily basis? Is it your spouse? Is it traffic during you morning and evening commute? Is it your meal at a restaurant? All of this thing if we let them sprout emotions can turn into frustration and anger. We should try to be patient in everything.

     As an amputee it sometimes takes more time to get from point A to point B and at times this can feel like a huge burden. We have to look at it from an outside perspective.   I think it has been a good thing that it might take longer and more energy to get from one place to another because it forces me to stop and think about all the things that I could do on my way to wherever it is that I am going.

     I am humbled by the fact that God has been showing me what it means to be patient not only with the things listed above, but also in my relationship with Shelby. We are so close yet so far away (~3000miles) and it is hard not seeing her for so long. Through patience and the peace of mind that comes from knowing Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior I have been able to grasp the meaning of patience.

     Feel free to email me at theamp4life@gmail.com and I look forward to hearing your feedback. Let the peace of Christ be with you all!

- Wesley Hughes

My Anniversary

2011-10-27T12:54:00.000-07:00

      To the one I love so dearly... You mean the world to me. I can't imagine not being without you.   Your smile brightens my day. You love me for who I am.

     Shelby, I can't believe it has been 6 months! These six months were some of the best six months of my life. This is because you are a part of it. As our love grows, may God bring us close, and may we rejoice in his presence.

     You are the woman of my dreams. I couldn't ask for more. Have a blessed day!

- Wesley Hughes

My Prosthetic Leg

2011-10-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

You can check out this video featuring my prosthetic leg and all of its components. If you have an questions about my prosthesis or questions in general, please feel free to ask them. Hope you enjoy and have as much fun watching it as I did making it! God Bless!

- Wesley Hughes

Amputees and Prosthetics

2011-10-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I have told you all what kind of amputation I have as well as what kind of prosthetic components I use. I was wondering if you all could tell me what kind of artificial limbs you all have. Thanks guys! A video will be up soon with pictures of my prosthetic leg. Each component will be described briefly. If you guys are feeling adventurous you can post a video response to the video that I will post on Wednesday or Thursday.

You all are great! Keep up the good work! Be strong! Please feel free to email me at theamp4life@gmail.com. God Bless!!!

- Wesley Hughes