GA Burke Photography
Gwen
Denver, CO
Occupation
Works for Colorado Post to redesign all basic academy training throughout the state of Colorado
Technology
Myoelectric prosthesis with electric wrist rotator, TASKA CX and ETD, activity specific prosthesis with various terminal devices
Patient Since
February 2024
Success Story
Gwen injured herself on the job while working as a cop after lifting a 75 lb tire. She spent several years nursing an arm that had nerve damage and very limited function. She underwent many surgeries to improve her hand function, which eventually led to elective amputation. The decision to amputate her arm mid forearm was a decision that Gwen didn't take lightly and she spent significant time researching and considering. With the support and guidance of physiatrist Dr. Danielle Melton, MD from the University of Colorado, Gwen underwent elective amputation and targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) surgery.
​
"Prior to my amputation, I had been a cop for 10 years and loved being able to do the job in a way that was positive and trauma-informed. Since my injury, I had to find a new path forward. am currently working with my state to redesign all initial training needed to become a peace officer. It is a huge project, but one I am passionate about. I am an avid reader and listener of books. I love traveling and photographing beautiful places on earth – that is one thing I hope to return to with an activity specific prosthetic. I am also finishing my second master’s degree, this one in Clinical Mental Health. My hope is to work with first responders as they walk through the heaviness of the job, especially for those that find themselves injured. Being medically retired due to an injury can deeply impact officers’ emotional well-being and I would like to support them through that.​​"
Gwen also writes a blog that can be found at
Excelerated Care Snapshot
What Stands Out
​Gwen has no regrets with amputating her hand and she has thrived since making this decision. She gets excited about the little things that most able bodied people take for granted. For instance, her regained independence, including the ability to hold her dog leash and coffee cup with her TASKA CX hand and being able to make breakfast for herself for the first time in over a year and a half.​​
Prior to her amputation, Gwen enjoyed working out, shooting/firing firearms, playing the cello and traveling. She is looking forward to returning to all of these activities with the assistance of prosthetic technology.
​​
What led you to consider elective amputation?
​
"The decision to have my hand/forearm amputated was incredibly difficult but necessary. When I got hurt, the initial medical care (work comp) was not adequate and then the world shut down during the pandemic. As only life-saving surgeries and medical interventions were happening, I was told you can live with a hand… By the time I got in to see a second opinion with the most incredible hand surgeon the damage was irreversible. I had a very rare complication called avascular necrosis where 4 of my wrist bones died and a fifth bone was on its way out. Mine was one of about 5 known cases globally! My new surgical team did everything they could, but after 5 surgeries (one about every 6 months), I had a very frank conversation with my doctor. The focus shifted then from keeping my non-functional, mangled, excruciatingly painful biological hand on me to finding a way to bring function back to my life. I had to walk through an ethics review board and see 6 doctors, including psychiatry, to prove this was medically necessary. I had my transradial amputation of my left arm on June 29, 2023."
​​
How has your life changed since you became a transradial level amputee?
​
"What has changed since the amputation? Everything! Some in great ways, some in more challenging ways. The first year was incredibly difficult. I had lost about 98% of the use of my biological hand prior to amputation, but it still had a tiny bit of function. After the surgery, I had to relearn everything with no fine motor ability and not great gross motor ability either for a bit. I ended up overdoing life (I do that a lot…) and wound up with an overuse injury in my sound shoulder. As I have worked with Handspring on a myoelectric option, the overuse injury has gotten better. Every day, I still find things I cannot do in a typical way, but my resiliency skills have grown and I find my problem-solving skills are getting better and faster."​
Gwen's Advice
​What is a piece of advice, or something you learned, that you would share with a new amputee or individual with limb difference that is engaging the prosthetic world for the first time?
​
"It can be extremely scary to choose to lose a part of your body. Talking with another amputee can be really helpful to see the challenges but also the great opportunities it can bring. Having a solid support team (family is awesome but there are other ways to find support) will be important too. Trusting your medical team is vital. Finding and working with the right prosthetists can mean the difference of living independently again. Take time to heal – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Manage your expectations and be willing to set boundaries around others’ expectations as well. Your life will look and be different. Forever. That is ok…You can do hard things and still rise up and live life to the fullest. Remember how we think about what has happened in our lives puts us on two tracks – fixed or growth mindsets. The choice to have an elective amputation was my way of getting onto a growth mindset where current and future possibilities for function are endless.
​
The care at Handspring is top-notch! I have worked with Laura, Chris, Debi, Tim, and Julie and they all are incredibly knowledgeable and caring. It is vital to find a team who you can trust to help you achieve what you want out of life, especially after so much loss. I have found that in Handspring. The Excelerated Care Program was a joy to walk through. Being able to start the week with nothing and end it with a functional initial prosthetic was beyond anything I had hoped for!"
Handspring Heroes
Providing personalized, expert care in upper & lower limb prosthetic rehabilitation.