My Amputation
My amputation was always something that separated me from my friends and family. I spent my life knowing that I was different. I know that saying "I'm Different" can be misunderstood, so please keep reading so I can explain.
When I was born, my right foot was deformed. There have been many cases where people have not had their feet amputated, and have adapted to their situation. My foot was amputated at a very young age, all I have ever known was my prosthetic leg.
During school I did my best to act as if my leg was something I could joke about. I was never bullied because of the leg, or held to a different standard. I always did my best to show people that I am like everyone else. Although I spent my time in school using my leg to make people laugh, there was a part of me that didn't want to push myself to try things that I felt uncomfortable with because of my balance and my leg.
When I became a senior in high school I started talking to recruiters for the military. That's when my deepest fear of being excluded from something because of my leg became reality. I was turned down from every branch of military.
I spent so many years after that not caring about my health or what I was doing with my life. Everyday was treated as if I was standing still, with no hopes in creating the life I wanted.
After years of blocking out the thought that I was being held back, I found my calling...
January 1st, 2016 was the day that my life changed forever. I woke up that day and applied to be a carpenter at a naval shipyard. With the help and support of my now wife, I got a job, cleaned up my diet and started taking care of myself. That fall I signed up for the criminal justice program at my local community college. My new goal was to become a police officer. I never knew that it was something that I was interested in. When I took my first introduction class, I fell in love. My life was turning around and things were getting better each and every day.
In March of 2018 I bought a new bike, a Trek Marlin 5. That was the day when the FootLoose Mark was born. I spent so much time doing the right thing and staying healthy and in shape, I wanted to share my story. The moment I got on the bike with a GoPro, I knew that something amazing was going to happen.
Footloose Mark is my outreach to those who have had a hard life. My life didn't start till I was 26 years old. I went from dreaming every night of a better tomorrow, to waking up make everyday count. I expect to gain nothing from YouTube, I am not using my leg to gain any sort of compensation... i'm using my leg to show people that when life is holding you back, push as hard as you can ... and you will break through to the other side where there is hope and prosperity. My only hope is that I will affect at least one life in a positive way...