Liz Loewen - A Story of Strength, Stability, & Support
Letting People In
Liz Loewen is at her happiest when she chases after her nieces, nephews, and dogs. She has always been active, but now she hops on one leg to move around. It has been an uphill battle since Liz’s leg amputation—one chapter of her physical, mental, and emotional journey that began at a young age.
Liz spent her childhood and her 20s hiding her identity and pretending to be somebody that she wasn’t. She held in her emotions, isolated herself from her family, and never picked up the phone to call a friend. Lost in her loneliness, she tried to take her own life.
When she awoke, she was left with compartment syndrome and nerve damage. Even after thirteen defeating surgeries, a below-the-knee amputation was inevitable. An unforeseen set of daily challenges threatened to keep her down, but Liz finally learned to reach out. Leaning on others like her family, friends, and Less Leg More Heart, she reached a new level of resiliency.
Before Liz’s leg amputation, Tina Hurley from Less Leg More Heart drove to Liz’s home for an Italian dinner. Liz remembers how Tina’s welcoming persona, compassion, and ability to socialize with everyone immediately made her family comfortable. Tina told them stories to prepare for living with a leg amputee. For Liz, she shared advice, products, and modifications that Liz didn’t even know she needed: medical advice, mental support, protein shakes, vitamin juices, CBD oil, a higher toilet seat, a transfer shower bench. According to Liz, Tina, the organization, and all that they shared was amazing.
It took decades, but Liz finally learned that vulnerability can be empowering. She will never forget what Tina Hurley reminded her: “Not hiding behind a mask of strength all the time is liberating. But pulling the mask down is scary. I’m proud of you. Keep stripping off your armor and letting people in.” Since the moment Liz has allowed people into her life, she has begun healing.
Lifting People Up
Liz’s life has been transformed from her leg amputation. She has physical therapy with her new prosthetic four times a week and two or three medical appointments a day, every day, since 2015. Minute details like getting dressed takes forever. She falls backward on the stairs. She falls in the shower. She falls in front of her four-year-old nephew. But she doesn’t let herself fall into a dark place again.
When life gets overwhelming, when black-and-white thoughts invade her peace of mind, Liz takes a moment to pause, breathe, and shut them down. She goes to bed and wakes up with a fresh start because there are more good days than bad ones. This is the message Liz hopes to share with others. She always wants to be actively helping someone—not behind a desk. With a master’s degree in social work from Simmons University and her personal life experiences, Liz realized her potential to help inner-city and amputee kids. She knows what it’s like to struggle emotionally and behaviorally, but she wants to show these kids what it’s like to persevere. She still cheers at their basketball games even if she’s unable to stand. She trains on a background Ninja warrior obstacle course. She runs 5ks with a running brace and drop foot. It’s about leading by example: you can do whatever you put your mind to.
Liz realized through losing a limb and working on herself that there is hope—a hope that belongs to anyone who is struggling and believes that there is nowhere else to go. If you fall, lift yourself up. Then, lift up others.