In the 6th segment of our TRUTH SERIES we will be hearing from numerous strong and resilient men and women who will each share their own powerful stories in tackling a life changing battle head on & their journey on how day to day life has been for them ever since. I pray this segment empowers many people who come across it and that it also gives strength & courage to those facing the same or a similar obstacle at present.
“My intentions for all various segments of the TRUTH Series is to educate & spread awareness to those who may not be aware of such social issues, illnesses or conditions that others around the world may face. To showcase the REAL heroes & role models in today’s society. By having their stories heard, I pray these segments help inspire and give strength & courage to others to also speak out. As we know, knowledge is key.” – Natasha
I would like to introduce you to our 1st special Guest for this segment, Legend. Legend is a 31-year-old Electrician who resides in New York, who had his life turned upside down after being hit by a subway train and nearly split in half. The incident resulted in his left leg being amputated with the need for over 20+ surgeries. Legend has still kept his same occupation as he had pre-incident, as for him it is important to still live the same quality of life. Legend believes that having kept his occupation is a constant reminder that he can do anything he puts his mind to and only limited by his imagination. Below is his powerful story.
On May 29th 2019, my life was permanently changed… I was hit by a subway and nearly split in half. I lost my left leg, teeth, pints of blood and a lot of tissue in my back. I have so many scars all over my body and I am still experiencing some of the pain from that day.
I was in the hospital for two months experiencing excruciating pain physically and exhausted mentally. I have had over 20+ surgeries and was only able to eat three times a week. Imagine not being able to eat. Not even a drink of water, because every other day you are paralysed with pain, or in the operating room facing surgery that has a high risk of death.
I never thought I would be in such an intense accident. I never thought I would lose a limb. I never thought that I could die young, but the biggest shock to me was that I never thought I would STILL be myself, despite all odds. I don’t know where this strength comes from but I am so happy that I am here. A year later and I learned that I am stronger than I know or could imagine. Maybe, I have an unwavering spirit? Or resilience?
If I can overcome this, I think others can do the same wherever it applies in their life. Yes, certain parts of my life suck now, this isn’t a movie with a fairy-tale ending. However, many parts of my life are even more AMAZING now than before. I get to kiss and hug my loved ones, I put my creativity into new challenges daily to figure out how I can overcome any obstacle before me. I can’t dance anymore, well not like I used to, but I STILL get JIGGY with it and yall going to get this prosthetic two step.
BELIVE IN YOURSELF! When things suck or feel like it’s only getting worse, try your best to look at the positive. Each day above ground is an opportunity to start over. Progress will always take time, but perspective makes the journey worth it.
“I decided to share my story because I couldn’t find the answers I was looking for online. I didn’t know much about amputee’s or prosthetics and did some research, the common thing I saw in every video or article online is, an amputee 3 to 5 years in their process. They showed you post recovery and not pre-recovery/success. I wanted to know what the quality of life was like for an amputee from day one. How did you adjust? How did you adapt? What does that look like? What hurdles or challenges did you meet in real time? I couldn’t find these answers so I decided to make videos that showed my own journey step by step.
I have recorded my journey day by day for the first year and month by month for the second and third year. Many people reach out to me with tons of questions and I wanted a visual representation of that. This coming May will be my 4th year as an amputee and I want people to know, Happiness is a choice you make daily. The biggest thing I want people to know about me is that I believe in supporting others. Show up for people as best as you can; a little support goes a long way. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to nurture an adult and I want to be to others what my family is to me; NOURISHMENT.” - LEGEND