One Legged Welcome!

craigdemartino — Sun, 11 May 2008 15:37:00 GMT

Hi All, Hoe everyone is fine and dandy on this awesome sunny warm day. I met some of the guys from disaboom at my local climbing gym, and started chatting and that led to me blogging. Im a kb right side amputee. I lost my leg in a climbing accident that resulted in my being dropped 100 feet onto the talus in Rocky Mountain National Park. I shattered my heels and ankles, broke my back, neck and several smaller things as well as puncturing my lung and getting scraped up nicely. Then it got bad.... The docs told me I had an hour to live and that if I survived, I'd be done walking due to the amount of spinal cord damage. Im happy to say they were wrong. The road has been long, but I really felt that God didn't want me to lay down and quit. My back was fused, my neck healed, and my leg was amputated, I developed RSD in my leg and stump, and I have chronic pain. But, Im still here to be a dad and husband. My wife and kids have been awesome, and I've returned to climbing in a big way. Two seasons ago, I was the first amputee to climb El Capitan in Yosemite in under 24 hours and last summer I won two gold medals in the Extremity Games climbing comps. I love to work with other disabled in any way I can including climbing and life in general. Im also looking forward to this community and being inspired by like minded folks. Take care. Craig