I barely knew my grandfather. But ever since I was born, we had a special connection. I didn’t know until very recently he was the first person to hold me beside my mother and perhaps that’s where the bond started. When I was eight years old, he passed away from cancer. Everything I would learn about him in the coming years from stories, letters and videos left a remarkable impression on me. Who was this man starting businesses out of a tragedy and skiing on one leg? Some stories you just can’t shake—especially when that incredible human shares your bloodline. There are thousands of people who have changed the world and left their mark, but this story—the story of turning a disadvantage into an advantage–has not only changed my world view, but countless others by turning hope and perseverance into action.
If there was one lesson I’ve taken away from learning about the life of my grandfather, it’s the fact that no true obstacles can stand in your way of hardships or opportunities if you let them. As I’ve learned, how he lost his leg in WWII in the Battle of the Bulge and demanded doctors to amputate his leg– I saw courage and strength that I can only hope one day to share.
So why share this story? What’s my goal? To inspire you. To inspire the next generation of amputees, veterans and adaptive skiers so that they too can achieve success in any endeavor they so choose. To change the way people see the disabled community, to show that they are empowered and their stories are worth telling. (Click to Tweet!)
No journey is easy, not without the support and guidance of others. And while I embark on this path to create a documentary featuring the life of my grandfather, Paul Leimkuehler, there will be unforeseen challenges, roadblocks, and lessons learned, but I know, without a doubt, that if my grandfather could not only make it through his personal journey, but come out soaring on the top—than that I can too.
