My Story
Tracy Metzger is a below-the-knee amputee, a Veteran of 35 years, has been married to her best friend for 25 years, and they have 2 children and 2 fur babies. Tracy is a lover of life and adventures, a public speaker, and loves to help others. Tracy’s hobbies are going to the gym, swimming, golfing, reading, kayaking, and traveling anywhere.
On July 16th, 2017, Tracy lost her leg due to a 6-inch blood clot in the artery of her calf. Since then, she’s had 4 revisions, 20 plus surgeries, and countless infections. Many months in and out of her electric wheelchair and using crutches or a cane.
Going through many emotions… being ok with her amputation, hating her body, depression, anger, feeling worthless and alone, having PTSD, and suicidal thoughts. This was a roller coaster of imprisoning thoughts.
Eventually, Tracy decided to talk with a therapist and found a peer like herself to talk with. She started loving herself again. Her positive self-crept back. Signed up with a personal trainer, whom she loves so much!! Watching her nutrition, and reading up on amputees, started giving herself some slack to heal, and starting Life After Limbs to inspire those with limb loss and limb difference to love the life they have.
Click Here for the full article—–> Amplitude Newsletter
“Don’t ignore pain, especially if it’s emotional pain,” Metzger writes. “Let yourself be vulnerable and embrace how you feel. You will feel more courageous and worthy.” As an amputee for four years and a military veteran of 25 years, Metzger brings a wealth of personal experience to her practice. She’s particularly adept at promoting physical fitness among amputees who lack the motivation to get started, or who feel so hopelessly out of shape that they don’t know where to begin. “A lot of amputees explain that they can’t do this, or they can’t do that,” she writes. “Start out small . . . . small exercise goals can get you to the larger goals.” Visit Metzger online at lifeafterlimbs.com.