Jessica
Music, art and a hockey goal
Jess loves La Crosse’s live music scene, plays bass alongside her husband, Troy, and spends her free time with her dog and on art projects. She’s a huge hockey fan, and she has her eye on trying sled hockey at a local adaptive sports center.
Three amputations in just over a year
Jess was working three jobs when pain in her hip sent her to the ER after a waitressing shift. A history of blood clots had caught up with her. She lost her toes first, then her leg below the knee, and then above the knee, all in just over a year.
“I wanted to fight. I wanted to get better.”
Finding humor in the hard days
When Jess woke up after her below-knee surgery, her first reaction was a karate kick. Laughing at the small moments, like reaching to scratch an ankle that’s no longer there, helped her keep going.
A team that advocates
When Jess moved to La Crosse, she was walking on a mechanical knee that didn’t fit her goals. Our team saw her as a person, not a number. They advocated for a microprocessor knee and walked her through insurance and every step along the way.
“They went to bat for me 100% as an individual.”
That first step
After months of therapy and crutches, Jess cried the first time she took a step. She’s still building stamina and confidence at her own pace, and she’s keeping her focus forward.
See Jessica’s story
Looking for a better fit?
If your current prosthesis isn’t keeping up with your goals, our clinicians will work with you, and advocate for you, to find what fits your life.
