Interview with ~:Cheryl Pflugrad:~

I want to take this opportunity to thank Cheryl for her time in doing this interview for LadyAmp. It is very appreciated!

As with most LadyAmps that visit this site, we're facing or have faced an amputation of a limb. In Cheryl's case, she faced life as a double, below the knee amputee. Her outlook on life, on being a double amputee, and acceptance of a new way of living, is an inspiration to all LadyAmp's!

1. Tell us about yourself.
Cheryl: My name is Cheryl Pflugrad and I am 52 years old, married and I have 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren. My two youngest grandkids are just alittle over a year old and are just learning that Grandma has weird legs. They get kinda scared when I take one off so I don't do it very often, but I want them to learn about them now so later on it will be no big deal. My other grandkids get a kick out of telling their friends that I don't have legs (I think they feel like they are special or cool or something). It doesn't bother me that they tell their friends.

2. What kind of amputation do you have?
Cheryl: I am a dbl.bk so that is more interesting to everyone.

3. What was the cause of your amputation?
Cheryl: The cause of my amputations was lack of blood flow because I had two heart attacks and my body decided that my heart needed the blood alot more so I ended up with dry gangrine from my ankles down.

4. Did you have complications after your amputation? What kind of complications?
Cheryl: There was also an allergic reaction to heparin and that caused alot of other problems that put me in a coma for awhile. I'm not really suppose to be here but I had a good cardiologist that didn't give up on me. I didn't really have any problems after my amputations other than I wanted to be walking as soon as possible. I lost my legs in Nov. of 95 and I was walking just after X-mas.

5. Do you wear prosthesis?
Cheryl: My first set of legs were awful!! They hurt and I always had to go get some adjusting done. They were held on with a sleeve and I had a Tech liner that I had to grease up with vasoline before I put them on. I was told this was all I would be able to have because they didn't think that I would be very active. I lived with these kind for 5 years before I found the prothetist that I go to now.

6. Was your Prosthetic experience a good one?
Cheryl: My old legs were very heavy and if I wasn't careful, I could get my foot caught on something and pull my leg off. I only did that one time. The man I see now has me in the flex foot and I go into my leg with a pin and no sleeve and my liners are a soft silicone for active people. For 5 years I couldn't get on my knees to work outside. Since going to my new prosthetist, I now get on my knees and I can get up off the ground or the floor alot better. Before it was a pretty scarey sight.

7. How did your family react to your amputation?
Cheryl: My family has been right there with me through out this whole thing. They were alittle upset before and after the surgery because they weren't sure how I was going to handle it so they were pretty quiet for awhile till I made the first wise crack about how tall would I be after losing two feet. We have a weird sense of humor here. After I came home my kids would stay with me and change my bandages and anything else they could do. They were with me throughout my fittings and adjustments. My husband has been my rock. Alot of men would be gone and he is still here. In May we will celebrate 16 years. He doesn't baby me or anything and neither does anyone else. I don't want them to either. If I can't do something then I will just try to figure out another way to do it and if that doesn't work then I just wasn't meant to do it anymore. It is embarrassing to say, but I don't usually wear shorts in public to often so not to many people are aware that I don't have legs and when I do tell them they are surprised because I have taught myself to try and walk very normal. I am still a work in progress and I always will be.

My prosthetist also taught me the right way to do somethings because I had some bad habits that the first guy just let me do. I also have covers right now that cover my bar because the flex foot isn't very nice to look at. I will be changing that here soon. I can't afford $50,000 legs and fancy covers so I get what I get. I don't need fancy. Can't wait to get the SleeveArt Sleeves.

8. Have you ever dealt with a child asking a funny question about your amputation? Cheryl: I one time had a kid ask me why I didn't have legs when I was still in my wheelchair and I told him that my legs got really, really sick and they had to go with the Dr. because if they didn't, then I would get very sick and he just said "Oh" and walked off. Believe it or not my family doesn't see me very often without my legs so they really almost forget that they are gone. My older grandkids laugh when they see me with my legs off because they forget how small my stumps(yes that is what I call them) are. All they want me to do is get on the couch so they can play with my wheelchair.

9. Are you, or have you ever been part of an Amputee Support Group?
Cheryl: I went to a support group a couple of times but they just weren't for me. Everyone told me how I would feel after losing my legs and I was just the opposite. At least it was done and over with and I could move on with my life. Yes there are things I can't do but for the most part I do alot more than alot of people would think. I realize that not all amputees are the same but you can do just what you put your mind to. If you want people to feel sorry for you then you can do that. I'm proud of myself for the things I can still do. I go camping and fishing and I still go deer hunting. I just don't go walk the ridges. I do some walking in the mountains but I have to be careful and watch my step pretty good. For some people a support group helps but for me, no.

10. Even after 3 years, I still have some fears I don't think I'll ever get over. (Snow and ice can frighten the stuffin' out of me!) What fears do you still have?
Cheryl: My worst fears are that I will fall on the ice and I have done that twice and thank goodness I didn't hurt myself. I don't think that anyone who is an amputee will ever get rid of those kind of fears. Those are the kind of things we can't afford to NOT think about. I also drive and my car isn't hand controls. I drive from instinct as to where my foot goes. One of my fears about that is that I will miss the wrong pedal. So far so good. One of these days I will probably get hand controls just to be alittle safer.

11. For some amputees, the feeling of a 'normal' life is over. What would you tell them you've learned over the years?
Cheryl: My life is by far not normal and it is also by far not over. It is only over if you let it be.I enjoy everyday and the fact that I can still get out there and walk with my kids and grandkids. I am also trying to learn to run alittle. The day I can't walk anymore had better be the last day that I breathe. That is also a fear of mine that something might happen that I can't wear my prostetics anymore and I would hate that but I would just have to learn to do things a different way again.

12. What one piece of advice would you give a new LadyAmp???
Cheryl: The one thing I have told new amputees that I have talked to is 'don't give up'!! You may have to go through alot of pain to learn to walk but the rewards are so great at the end. Just hang in there....