Amputees Books

If you or someone you know has had life's dreams interrupted by an accident or illness, consider "My Decision to Live." It's a real life story about how one person - poised to accomplish his life-long goal - dealt with a terrible setback that completely re-wrote his life's script. Nader's story has elements with which many of us can identify: An imperfect yet loving family spread across several states, strong, individual motivation, bureaucratic obstacles, and bitter disappointment. Through it all, we see a young man's character and faith grow while he charts a new course in life. I'm glad Nader Elguindi took the time to share his story. It's given me a renewed perspective on overcoming my own challenges through an honest account of one person's struggle. Nader would have made a great submarine commander and his leadership would have meant a great deal to the men with whom he served. Having lost the chance to attain that goal, Nader instead has chosen to serve us all by telling his story and helping others in the process. Read this book and pass it along.

It's cliche to say "This book has been an inpiration to me, but so be it. This is an incredible story of overcoming obstacles and living by design with purpose and intensity.

The next time life gets hard and you don't know if you want to make the effort - buy this book, read this book and then get in gear.

I am still reading this book and I am enjoying it very much. The language is simple and unsophisticated which may disappoint some, but this makes it more appealing to youths. I want my son to read it so he understands what it is to be a man of character.

I just could not believe all that he has been through, and he still managed to do two remarkable feats by getting submarine qualified with a prosthetic leg, and starting a business which is hard to do anyway. If he can find his way, I can also.

Prior to the read, I expected a book 3/4ths about the after Navy struggles and little about the submarine experience. Being a former submariner I was happy to find I was mistaken. Knowing of the lack of physical space on submarines and moving fore and aft becomes routine for us but in retrospect I can remember how difficult it was especially during a call to "Battle Stations."
An excellent story of the hills and valleys of recovery both physically and career wise and how persevere in the business world.
I'm recommending it to all my viewers on my submarine BBS.
Thanks Nader!

I've read Mark De Castrique's previous "Buryin' Barry" series and enjoyed it a lot. This new series introduces a likable yet flawed new hero in Sam Blackman. It opens in a VA hospital where Blackman is recovering from losing his leg in Iraq. The story weaves together a nearly hundred year old mystery with a series of murders in the present. The descriptions of Asheville, NC and the Biltmore Estate outside the city are outstanding and make me want to visit the area. I learned a lot about Thomas Wolfe (who I didn't know was an Asheville native) and enjoyed how he was worked into the story. Blackman's relationship with the sister of the first (or maybe not first...) murder victim is one I hope carries through in the next installment. It was a good read with a great setting. I'm looking forward to the next one.

BLACKMAN'S COFFIN (Unl. Inv.-Sam Blackman-North Carolina/Georgia-1907/Cont) - Ex
De Castrique, Mark - 1st Sam Blackman book
Poisoned Pen Press, 2008, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9781590585177

First Sentence: I felt a hand on my shoulder , shaking me awake.

Sam Blackman was a Chief Warrant Officer in the Criminal Investigation Detachment. He is now in a VA Hospital in Ashville, NC after having lost part of his leg in Iraq. Tikima Robertson, an ex-Marine who lost part of her arm in Iraq, visits his room. She comes with sass and an offer for Sam to put his past experience to use.

After Tikima is murdered, her sister Nakayla asks for his help and presents him with a journal written in 1919 on which Tikima has placed a note saying "for Sam."

I have become such a big fan of De Castrique's writing. He knows how to construct a good mystery with dimensional characters, a great sense of place and a touch of humor. He manages to include ideas and observations that are important and make me think.

The story is informative without, in any way, being boring or slow. This book is particularly timely in that the protagonist is an Iraq veteran and amputee. Some of his supporting characters are residents of a senior-care facility. References to other characters include the Vanderbilts and Thomas Wolfe.

The structure of the story is fascinating; a supposed journal from 1907--a device that could have slowed the story to a crawl but, instead, gave it extra dimension--and the present day. The story's plot was interesting and the manner in which the two time periods were linked and tied together at the end was so well done. I couldn't identify the bad guys and enjoyed the twists that took the story to a suspenseful climax and a touching end.

I was very sorry to see his Barry Clayton series end but am much better now that we have Sam Blackman. Thank you, Mr. De Castrique, for another great book!

The Churchillian phrase, "A mystery wrapped in an enigma," certainly applies to this novel, which promises to be the first in a new series featuring Sam Blackman. Sam was a career soldier in the army, most recently a Chief Warrant Officer in the Criminal Investigation Detachment in Iraq where he lost a leg. Sent to Walter Reed Hospital in the nation's Capitol, he raised his voice against poor treatment of veterans in the press and before a Congressional Committee, gaining a certain notoriety.

Apparently as a result, or in an attempt to hide him from the public eye, Sam was relocated to a Veteran's Hospital in Asheville, NC, boyhood home of the novelist Thomas Wolfe, who plays a role in the story. Shortly before his discharge, Sam is visited by another amputee, Tikima Robertson, who suggests she could use his services. Before either could follow up, she is murdered. Her sister brings Sam a journal written in 1919 by a 12-year-old boy. The tale leads Sam and the sister into looking into not only Tikima's murder, but several others, including that of a couple that took place almost nine decades before.

Written with style and verve, the novel provides broad and interesting glimpses into North Carolina history, excellent descriptions of the Vanderbilt's legacy at the Biltmore estate and some interesting insights into Tom Wolfe's writings. Recommended.

I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this book! It's engaging, intriguing, and unique (in a good way!). I started it later in the evening than I should have, resulting in a late night. LOL Definitely highly recommended!

Very well-written debut of a new series introducing war-wounded veteren, Sam Blackman. Book has so much fascinating detail and history of the Asheville, NC / Bilmore house that the book would be worth reading it for that alone. The story line, however, is also excellent and readers will not be disappointed.

This was a great book because my great grandfather lost his eye in an accident when he was little, so it was like reading his story but different. Since I like playing baseball, it was a real blast for me. You should buy this book because your child would love the experience of reading a book thats based on the authors husbands life.

One-Handed Catch would have to be an inspiration for any amputee to read, especially a young person. I love the way "Norman's" mother never let him slip into self-pity and dependency, but always encouraged him to learn to do things for himself.

Even as an adult who is not an amputeee, I couldn't put this book down!

As a mom of a child with one hand, this book was insightful and enjoyable to read. After Norm loses his hand in an accident at his family's store (not a gruesome description given), the author goes out of her way to carefully describe how this one incident affects so many others. The characters' reactions to this change in Norm's life are enormously accurate and heart-felt (and sometimes comical). I could relate to every single character as they progressed through the stages of grief to acceptance without even knowing it. It's all done in an uplifting way...not sad or awkward. An awesome quick read for anyone...you'll love it!

One Handed Catch is a marvelous turn-paging baseball book of all time. When you read this book you will be so into it you will not want to put it down until you finish the whole book.
One Handed Catch is about a twelve-year-old boy named Norm. One day at his family's butcher shop a terrible accident happens. While Norm was grinding meat for his father the grinding machine suddenly stops. He sticks his hand in there and the machine suddenly starts up again. His hand gets chopped off. Now he has to deal with only one hand for the rest of his life. Norm is a very athletic who loves to play baseball.

Mary Jane Auch's husband went through the experience when he was a kid. My father went through somewhat similar thing that happened to Norm. She teaches us that we have to deal with stuff that happened to us. Even though we can't do as many things as other people can do.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!
I am one of those readers who doesn't pick up a book too often but when I do, and it's a great book, I can't put it down. Well... this book was one of those.
It's a great book. I highly recommend it for people of any age.
Wonderful writing. A highly uplifting story.

THis is a wonderful book. I knew Jami back in high school. We went to peer counseling camp together. She was just as she says, not very active. I am sure that today she is the same great spririted person I knew back when. She has survived and overcome.I read the book after seeing her on To Tell the Truth. I am proud to say that I know her. I truly recommend this book. It is quite a story of determination.

I was so shocked to know how she got both legs amputated. And I was so shocked to know that could happen to anybody. But her extraordinary strength of will to live gave me great courage to confront with my losses or unfortunates. While sensitively expressing a feminine part of her, she was also very competitive and eager to find her new life. Her optimism reminded me how profound our lives and possibilities are. This book will be a beautiful gift to share with all my precious friends. Thank you, Jami and Andrea.

Incredible personal narrative about what it's like to be average turned to handicapped turned to awesome source of power! I picked this book up in the library, reading back cover and was intrigued before looking at the picture on front cover and wondering, how? My brother is an amputee and I've witnessed first hand the strange way that people treat him, as an outsider from normal existance. Jami describes herself and the way others perceive her very clearly. This book is impossible to put down as you read about the terror of being stuck in a vehicle for 11 days and wondering why you haven't died yet. It is equally as difficult to put down as you read about Jami's determination to return to life as it was before the accident. This book is passionate, informed, relevant to today, romantic, inspirational, realistic, descriptive, adventurous, and well thought out. However, as a 7 months pregnant about to be first time mother, I do not recommend this book for readers under 18 years old.

As a single leg amputee I found it very easy to relate with a lot of the different trials and tribulations that Jami discussed in her inspirational story.I found on somedays not being able to put the book down just to see how she made it to the next step of her incredible journeys of adapting to her whole new world.It's also nice to know that no matter of ones differences from others, you are never alone.

This is the most amazing and inspirational story I have ever read.I read the book cover to cover. I couldn't put it down. I learned so much about living life to the fullest it made me excited about living again. I want to thank Jami for sharing her amazing journey with the world. I hope everyone gets the chance to read this wonderful book!

Strong at the Broken PlacesA great story about a much maligned man. Max was a man literally torn apart by the Vietnam war. With unbelievable drive and passion for life and God, Senator Cleland tells an inspirational story about the tenacity of the human spirit and his personal greatness. Of late, this true American hero has been maligned by the "Chickenhawks" of the Bush administration and their lackeys. "Strong at the Broken Places," in this most recent edition, tells Max's story of climbing out of darkest depths of the Vietnam war and from his horrible wounds to become a state legislator, Secretary of State of Georgia, head of the Veterans Adminsistration and finally a United States Senator. His story in this book is real, inspirational and a credit to him.

Seldom in life will a person find treasures in an empty sea....but in light of the book " Strong at the Broken Places", the author discovered just that! By grace alone, a man seeked " hidden riches in a void ocean echoed with uncertainty & battled waves that would capsize any country!". When speaking of this leader, I can only use these scenarios of my imagination to convey to others what this man is made of! If it was bottled, a top could not contain it! If it were canned, there would not be a label to describe it! If it were a product, no shelf could hold it !...... And if I had money, I would give all I had to buy it .............But, the fact remains that " Max Cleland " is in a category of his own & the ingredients of this recipe stem from unimaginable events that come at a price that most could not afford. This is a man who gave all & became the gift that kept on giving! Max Cleland has never ceased to reach the peaks during the ride of his life! Unselfishly, he attributes his positive energy & successes to people & inspiration from the Lord. Truly, this book recounts the will of a man wounded in battle who along the way became a respected United States Senator, Head of the Veterans Administration, & Georgia Secretary of State....... not to mention a role model for for any person facing lifes difficult challenges. So if you are interested in a " ride of your life" try this book on for size! The pages had me holding on & I felt every fall & praised every climb taken in the footsteps of this American Hero. Some people in this world just don't know the meaning of the word " failure"! Max Cleland is one of those people..... For the life of me, I could not help from reading in astonishment & at the same time fully comprehending the complexity of this human. Perhaps that is why I have read this book ( former & revised edition ) 24 times! My guess is that over time I might be fortunate to develop into the stuff that his recipe calls for! Moreover, my hope is that other people can find in themselves what Max Cleland has tapped into! Even though life can knock a person down, it can't take away the human spirit unless you let it! Once again, 50 stars for " Strong at the Broken Places" & 1000 stars for the author, Max Cleland.

Max Cleland's personal narrative is really terrific and makes a wonderful contrast to other narratives from the Vietnam era. Cleland suffers in war, but then struggles to find his soul and to transcend the pain of human existence through the perspective of religion and through religious belief. I have used this book as an interesting contrast with the cliche- ridden narrative by Ron Kovic, a volume written with a professional writer and conforming to the made-to-order "Vietnam-as-victim" formula. Students need to know that many American men came out of the tragedy of war better, stronger, more spiritual people than they went in; the "corruption of innocence" motif may sell in Hollywood and elswhere, but it does not conform with the actual experience of veterans--so says this book and so say the veterans polled in 1980 by the veterans administration. As I say, this is a story too seldom told and heard even less. Another uplifting story is _For God and Country_ by Rick Eilert, a man who found the veterans hospital folks to be concerned and caring and discovered that there were true heroes in the beds of the VA....Not victims, but heroes. Some day, somebody will make films about the experiences of Cleland (now a US Senator) and Eilert. ---Peter Rollins, Vietnam vet and admirer of these two wounded veterans

Seldom in life will a person find treasures in an empty sea....but in light of the book " Strong at the Broken Places", the author discovered just that! By grace alone, a man seeked " hidden riches in a void ocean echoed with uncertainty & battled waves that would capsize any country!". When speaking of this leader, I can only use these scenarios of my imagination to convey to others what this man is made of! If it was bottled, a top could not contain it! If it were canned, there would not be a label to describe it! If it were a product, no shelf could hold it !...... And if I had money, I would give all I had to buy it .............But, the fact remains that " Max Cleland " is in a category of his own & the ingredients of this recipe stem from unimaginable events that come at a price that most could not afford. This is a man who gave all & became the gift that kept on giving! Max Cleland has never ceased to reach the peaks during the ride of his life! Unselfishly, he attributes his positive energy & successes to people & inspiration from the Lord. Truly, this book recounts the will of a man wounded in battle who along the way became a respected United States Senator, Head of the Veterans Administration, & Georgia Secretary of State....... not to mention a role model for for any person facing lifes difficult challenges. So if you are interested in a " ride of your life" try this book on for size! The pages had me holding on & I felt every fall & praised every climb taken in the footsteps of this American Hero. Some people in this world just don't know the meaning of the word " failure"! Max Cleland is one of those people..... For the life of me, I could not help from reading in astonishment & at the same time fully comprehending the complexity of this human. Perhaps that is why I have read this book ( former & revised edition ) 24 times! My guess is that over time I might be fortunate to develop into the stuff that his recipe calls for! Moreover, my hope is that other people can find in themselves what Max Cleland has tapped into! Even though life can knock a person down, it can't take away the human spirit unless you let it! Once again, 50 stars for " Strong at the Broken Places" & 1000 stars for the author, Max Cleland.

This book was very helpful when I found out that my dog had cancer. My vet recommended that we amputate a limb. This book was a great help in understanding everything I could expect from the surgery. It also had wonderful referrals for vet schools and I found a trial of free chemo from it. This book is a must for anyone considering amputating a dog's limb.

How many people would look for a book like this? Yet for those of us faced with a very difficult decision, it is a godsend. My dog Kerby was diagnosed with bone cancer in his right front leg, and because he was not a candidate for palliative radiation, we were faced with two choices: euthanasia or amputation. He was in horrible pain, but he was not ready to die; we had to do something. This book convinced me that amputation was not a hideous choice. Kerby is a big shepherd mix, 12 years old, and I had many doubts; but 2 days after surgery he was ready to jump up into the car (no, we didn't allow it), and a week later jumped up on the couch. Yes, his days of 2 mile walks are over, but he has done so well, and our time together is something so important and special that I find it hard to describe. I urge owners of dogs facing amputation to read this book to gain confidence in your decision. Susan Neal has done a fine job describing what to expect and actions to take.

This book is a must if you have a pet that will go, or has gone through this. It was helpful for our entire family.

I suppose some of the literary criticisms I've read in "professional" reviews elsewhere on the web may be valid (hence four stars, instead of five), but I'm inclined to cut the author plenty of slack. After all, there is very little competition among titles in the "canine amputee" section of the book store!

This is obviously a labor of love, intended to help others learn the lessons learned by the author, with fewer hard knocks. I read it cover-to-cover just before our dog's operation, and picked up a number of tips that made things easier for us and our dog. For that I am grateful. It's definitely worth your time and money if you have (or might have) a canine amputee.

If you're reading this, you might be interested to know that our 13-year-old English Shepherd is doing well after losing one of her front legs to bone cancer less than a month ago. The most surprising aspect was her apparent lack of pain. She actually slept on the side of the amputation right away. Apparently, there are few nerve endings there.

As an old dog, she doesn't run around as if all was normal, as some young dogs might. Walking is slow and tiring for her. The best things we did were to buy carpet runners for the kitchen (slippery floors are very difficult for her), and a RuffWear "Webmaster" harness, with two belts under the belly. We use that to help her walk when she's tired, and to get into and out of the car, etc.

We continue to see steady improvement. Most importantly, she wags her tail.

Best wishes to you and your dog.

I had my left leg amputated in February 2003 after a motorcycle accident. A fellow member of my amputee support group at Harborview hospital in Seattle loaned me this book. Once I read it I realized that if I could work hard and keep my sense of humor that I would be able to deal with my handicap. The book covers the stories of amputees, most of the essays are two to five pages long so it is quick reading. There is a lot of practical information in the essays as the writers describe their problems and successes with various prosthetic technologies. Definitely worth reading if you are an amputee, know one or just want to see what the human spirit can accomplish.

This book will provide any person with a wealth of information regarding what you will face going through the amputation of a limb. I am sure many amputees can relate to at least one of the many illustrations given by the actual amputees themselves. My son is a double leg amputee and I have read this book from cover to cover. The stories have givin me a new perspective into the challenges amputees face everyday. It has helped me to allow him to pursue his own independence and achieve it. Truly inspiritional whether you are an amputee or not.

Great book for amputees as well as their families and friends. The stories are autobiographical and do not portray amputees as either someone to be pitied or as super-humans. True stories which demonstrate the potential of life for all of us. Does not generalize about life after amputation but presents cases of lower and upper extremity amputation, use of super-high-tech prosthetic to no prosthetic.

I was encouraged to learn what can, what DOES happen, by the accounts in the book. We are not alone.

Highly recommended.

This is an easy to read, highly inspirational memoir. The old adage, "I cried because I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet", comes to life in this true story. This is a must read for anyone who has ever felt that all hope is lost.

This is the inspiring story of an African-American plantation worker, seriously disabled in youth, who nevertheless - challenged by his very handicap - rises to a distinguished career in government and the church. What makes this book particularly remarkable is the splendid style in which it is written.

Sharon Rae North takes readers on an exciting journey through rhyme, reason and heart. The characters of the book are from different cultures and don't have anything in common, right down to their legs. Instead of embracing the thought of having lost a leg and living with an artificial one, the main character shows the true meaning of "playing the hand you've been dealt."

Having been afflicted by sickness is often disheartening and frustrating. Through this story, the life of a little girl has been shaped and molded to share with others the value of accepting yourself. MY BRAND NEW LEG is a great juvenile rendition of believing in yourself. Another plus: it comes with a CD-ROM, allowing readers to exercise their technology skills as well.

Written with sincere detail and beautiful illustrations, Sharon Rae North has taken an ordinary barrier of childhood affliction and crafted a bridge of friendship, trust and bravery.

Reviewed by T. Belinda Williams
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

My Brand New Leg is an excellent way of introducing children 9-12 to differently enabled individuals. Wonderfully illustrated, the characters are introduced to a girl who has a prosthetic leg and can do everything her newfound friends can do. While nameless and colorless, the main character gracefully shares her abilities with others and never once expresses a difference. As she encounters new activities, her friends see that she is no different. The moral of the story is aptly suited to readers of all ages.

Dr. Furth does an excellent job of bringing light and understanding to a difficult subject, giving hope and compassion to those who suffer from this disorder and making great strides towards enlightening those who hold unfair prejudices against those afflicted. This book is a must for anyone who suffers from apotemnophilia, for anyone who loves an apotemnophiliac and for professional therapists who have shown ignorance in the face of a client's very real plight. Many compliments to the author for taking a stand and for fighting the good fight.