Holly Rush - Bio

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Holly Rush

Eagle Point, Oregon
November 2, 2008

My name is Holly Rush, and something wonderful has happened to me. I am a 50 year old amputee, and I ran 4 miles last night; something I can now do anytime I want!

During knee replacement surgery three years ago, an unforeseen complication resulted in the amputation of my left leg. From then on I've had numerous setbacks, a very discouraging side effect that many amputees deal with on a daily basis. With the pain, depression, in and out of my limb due to problems that occurred in fitting the prosthesis, it was exhausting emotionally and physically. I was housebound and despondent, eating enough pain pills to nearly ruin my personal life.

I decided to join a local amputee support group. During one meeting, a gentleman by the name of David Vidmar came to share his new device that would allow almost any amputee or disabled person to learn how to walk or run upright, with very little or no impact on our legs. He invented this device when, after running for 26 years, he blew out his knees and was told by his doctor that he should never run again. He called his device a GlideCycle. I saw it as an in-line, upright wheelchair that I had to have, now!

Little did I know when I showed up and attended that meeting, that David and his GlideCycle would drastically change my life. I started training with David in late September 2008. To date, Nov. 4th, I have lost 32 pounds, and I am in the picture of health (see the appended report from my surgeon). I can now run or “glide” outdoors on this wonderful innovation on one leg alone, without fear of falling. My balance has improved to the point where I am able to walk in my prosthesis with no cane to support me for the first time since the loss of my limb. My posture has improved dramatically because I'm up and running (or 'gliding' as we say) rather than being slouched in a wheelchair hardly using any muscles to get from point A to B. At this point, I am now off three very serious medications that I had been taking daily since the amputation. I'm also working with my doctors to lower me off of 3 different nerve medications that I'd been on since taking a couple bad falls shortly after losing my leg.

I now train with several other amputees and we have formed a running team to train together. I have learned to walk alone in the GlideCycle, and for the first time in years, my love, my son, and my grandchildren and I walk together in the park and watch the sunset. My life has changed forever and other amputees need to know about this small Oregon Company and its incredible in-line stand-up wheelchair.

I fervently encourage everyone to please look into the GlideCycle and realize the potential and impact this device will have on amputees and other disabled people in general. Please feel free to contact me or the other members of our “GlideCycle Extreme Amputeam” for their testimonies. You must help me get the word out.

Sincerely,

Holly Rush