I am a Christian.

I am a wife and mother.

I am also an amputee.

I have traveled a very long road to get where I am today. To help you better understand the reason for my amputation, let me first take you back to my childhood so you have a better picture of the road I have traveled.

...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint

(Isaiah 40:31).

This Bible verse has always inspired and touched me, even when I was young. How wonderful it would be, I thought, to soar like an eagle, to be that eagle gliding with ease instead of dreading the pain my very next step would bring.

My medical history is complicated. Starting at age five, I've had 12 surgeries on my left foot and leg. My left leg and foot were abnormal. This condition was apparent at birth and progressed as I grew. My left leg was longer than my right, so when I was old enough doctors surgically stopped the growth of my left leg. Then my right leg became longer than my left, so they stopped the growth of my right leg. Surgery was later done to shorten my right leg! My left ankle turned outward, and as I got older, my ankle began to develop excess tissue. This made it very uncomfortable to walk and wear shoes. I wore a brace most of my childhood and build-ups on my shoes to help me walk evenly. I spent summers in the hospital, having surgery and limping on crutches.

As the years went by, the condition of my leg and foot worsened. I also began to experience unbearable pain in my heel. The doctors tried making special shoe inserts, many times, to relieve the pain-with no success.

Before my surgery I began making my own pads out of a special foam material. At the time of my surgery I wore five pads at one time in my left shoe. And even with that, I still experienced pain. When doctors finally took an X-ray of my foot, it revealed I had just a thin layer of heel padding left. At the time of my surgery it was completely gone.

This pain was so extreme I experienced migraines, backaches, fatigue and nausea. It would even hurt when I did not walk. Going bare-footed or even sock-footed was unthinkable.

During the year before my surgery I developed what our family doctor called a panic attack of the body. The attacks always happened the same way and came on in the evening. My back became very tense. I would start to feel nauseous. My head would pound and my whole body would completely tense up. All I could do was lie on the bed curled up in a ball, in agony. The attack would last for 15-30 minutes. When my body started to relax I would get even more nauseous and become sick to my stomach.

These episodes were a result of the pain in my heel and what it physically did to my body throughout the day.

The doctors could do absolutely nothing more for my leg or the pain in my heel. I'd made my rounds to many doctors over the years for any possible solution. I saw doctors in Kearney, Omaha, Denver, Grand Island and North Platte-even the Mayo clinic! We were told the padding in the heel is so specialized there is no way to duplicate it or replace it.

My condition wasn't always obvious, because I hid it by always wearing pants. But I did have a noticeable limp. Strangers and even well-meaning people would come up to me and say, "Did you hurt your leg?" or "Are you limping?" As the years went on, this became very upsetting and frustrating. My childhood was also very difficult for me because of my disability. I was treated differently, even teased. I often felt embarrassed and ashamed.

For many years I would bargain with God: "I will do anything if You take this burden away from me. Absolutely anything! I'll give up my special possessions, money, friends. I'll even give up the chance of someday having a husband or family; and I will be completely devoted to You. Please, Lord! I just want to be normal!" That's how desperate I was.

But that's not what God had in mind for me!

I knew in my heart and mind I could not go on as I was for the rest of my life. If the doctors could do nothing to help me, I would have to make a life altering decision-amputation.

No doctor ever suggested amputation. The idea first played in my mind in 1989-and only in my mind. I never told a soul. So, for years I would consider it, then shudder at the thought, thinking: "I can't do that! If the pain doesn't get any worse I can handle it." Then the pain would become worse and I would go through the same process. And on and on.

I reached the point where I faced the prospect of being in extreme pain for the rest of my life. And that was not an option for me!

So I began my journey back to the doctors. But this time I was determined. With my family's full support I began a remarkable journey that has strengthened not only my faith, but that of so many others as well.

Come and listen all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me (Psalm 66:16).

In April 2002 I visited our family doctor. I talked with him about my plans. He was very understanding, knowing my medical history. He referred me to a remarkable orthopaedic surgeon in North Platte, Dr. McGrath, and to a wonderful prosthetist, Eric. A prosthetist is the person who makes the prosthesis (or as we refer to it in our home, a Helper Leg).

I met with Eric for the first time a month later. He is a very kind and considerate person, and I felt very comfortable with him from the beginning. He was willing to work with me and make me a new leg that would be 100% better than my own leg!

I then met with Dr. McGrath in August. After reviewing my medical history and hearing how much pain I was in, he agreed that elective amputation was a reasonable choice for me. We scheduled a tentative date of May 13, 2003 for below-the-knee amputation of my left leg.

The Winter before my surgery we were having a garage sale. In those early morning hours with time to myself, I began to think about all that had happened in the past six months. I was positive, hopeful and excited. I knew amputation was my only option; but I still wanted reassurance from God that I was doing the right thing. So I said a quick, simple prayer: Dear God, if this surgery is what I am supposed to do, reassure me that I've made the right decision. Amen.

Our garage sale began that morning with people coming and going. And to promote the day care I was running at the time, I also handed out flyers. Nothing too unusual happened, until a couple approached. The wife began looking through some things. It was warm and they both wore shorts. Not unusual. But what caught my complete attention was that the man had a prosthesis! I was shocked, astonished and amazed!

I felt God had answered my prayer. This was the reassurance I needed.

Since that moment, I've had a peace in my heart, soul and mind. What an awesome and wonderful feeling.

About three weeks later we heard a knock at the door. It was a man who had been to our garage sale. His family needed day care for the children. After the daycare interview, my husband and I were visiting with the man. Dick was telling us about the farming accident he'd had a couple years earlier. Then he said, "That's how I ended up with this." He lifted his pant leg showing us his prosthesis. This was the same man God used to reassure me about my own amputation. I hadn't recognized him at first. Now I was speechless!

Early in 2003 I thought it was time to touch base with Eric. I called him at the Kearney office. However, the secretary told me Eric no longer worked for that company. I was heart broken! She said they had a new prosthetist. I met with him, but I just didn't feel the same connection I had with Eric. But I figured he could make me a "new leg" as well as Eric could.

But that's not what God had in mind for me!

In mid-February Dick said he wanted to visit with me. He had recently been to Omaha to see Mark, his prosthetist. During Dick's appointment someone stopped by to see Mark. It was Eric! Again, I was stunned! Eric was now living and working in Lincoln, but this was in Omaha. During their conversation Dick mentioned my name and Eric said, "Do you mean Regina Hanson? I know her." God knew how much I missed Eric. And with the grace of God he came back into my life. Eric told Dick to let me know he had not forgotten about me and that he would still help me if I wanted him to. Well, he didn't need to say that twice. I was on the phone in a heartbeat to tell Eric thank you. On March 3, 2003 I met with Eric again in North Platte. We made a game plan for what would happen after the surgery and the type of Helper Leg I would have.

The day of my surgery couldn't come soon enough for me.

My sister, Teresa, came the evening before to be with our girls. She was amazed how calm and at ease I was the night before and the morning of my surgery. I had no fear. I still had that peace inside I've had ever since that September morning of our garage sale. I played with our girls, made supper, folded laundry, helped Rachel get ready for school. I was doing my everyday things being a mom and wife. Only this time, for the last time, in pain.

May 13, 2003 I entered the hospital with life-long, excruciating pain; but also surrounded by a strong shield of grace and protection with my family, friends and church family praying me through.

May 16, 2003 I left the hospital, after amputation of my left leg, in far less pain than I'd been in my whole life! Still as confident, trusting and peaceful as ever.

Then on June 16, only one month after leaving the hospital, I took my first steps with my new Helper Leg. Tears of joy came to my eyes as I began to walk. For Eric had helped me do something I'd been wanting to do for so long. Just get up and walk! And not worry about pain. When I got to the end of the bars, I gave Eric the biggest hug and thanked him again. I can't even express the joy I felt walking with my brand new leg that felt more a part of me than my own leg ever did! I felt normal.

I believe my suffering has led me closer to my Savior. I struggled for so long asking why, frustrated with God and trying to figure out what I had done to deserve all that I had gone through. But one day I finally stopped questioning Him. It was just too much for me to hope for what could never be. I accepted that this is the way God made me, and I surrendered it all over to Him. As soon as I did that, things slowly fell into place. He heard my plea; He answered my prayer and has taken care of me and my family.

During a post-surgery check-up, Dr. McGrath commented on how quickly and wonderfully I was healing. I told him I believe that's what God does in answer to our prayers. "I'm beginning to believe that," he commented.

I put my faith in our Lord and have been strengthened and renewed with an awesome peace that can only come from Him. I am now that eagle soaring and gliding; I can run with our daughters and not be weary. I can walk. I CAN WALK and not be faint, ever, ever again!