It’s been a good few years since we’ve recounted the questions I’ve been asked over my life with a limb-difference. Some plain, some quirky, some I don’t even think we could document on this family-friendly platform!
The first is always similar to ‘How did it happen?’ There are always some thought tracks that lead people to insinuate there has been some horrific accident, asking their question in a very concerned manner. In these gasping situations, I do like to play with the person asking, in which I say four words, abruptly: ‘Hawaii, 2005. Shark attack.’
That’s always fun to see if there’s a second of doubt or if they run with it. Who knows what they’ll do! Nevertheless they’re reassured that it was something present at birth – because let’s be honest, it would be a really poor effort if the shark only managed to take a thumb and a wristbone from a ten-year-old’s hand!
“How do you lift weights? - Obviously, outside of the people who follow and read the DIA’s post, the average Joe won’t be aware, so I’ll break it down. I use a Haulin’ Hook for dumbbell work and a RDX lifting hook strap for barbell work as you’ll have seen in my videos.
Hitting my squat clean PB - 70kg in June, 2021 whilst using the aforementioned RDX hook.
The follow up is always whether or not lifting is comfortable. To be honest, lifting weights isn’t comfortable for my right hand. It’s never as steady as lifting with my left hand as you’d expect. However, the Haulin’ Hook with the big steel hook is more preferable and less straining on my hand for movements such as deadlifting and pressing overhead, as the hook can act as a respite to sit on the top of my hand and hold the weight in place.
The RDX hook is more preferably suited towards movements such as squat cleans and power cleans as it slides around the bar with greater ease for these kind of movements and brings less strain. As far as comfortable lifting goes, when lifting heavy or an intense session finishes, the hook strapped around my hand will often leave my hand swollen from how tight it has been kept in place.
Configuring the PlayStation controller - the only evidence locatable!
As common as everyone else’s hobbies, video games are a big part of my downtime. When playing online with friends, I’ve had a lot of people even forget about my hand until they see me play it in person. Trying to explain to people how I play games is always difficult without physical evidence and can be hard to explain just how I hold a PlayStation controller. It’s not something I ever think about and has just been something I’ve adapted to in my life. Anybody born in this generation will tell you they grew up playing video games and it’s no different here. I simply just figured out my way to do it.
Finally, once people get comfortable – or at least in a rhythm – in asking questions, I’ve been asked this million dollar question: “If you could get a bionic arm, would you?”
As entertaining as it is to think about, having a Terminator 2: Judgement Day bionic arm on, the answer is no. Simply put, I’ve spent twenty-six years getting used to this limb-difference and figuring it out – something I still do daily with challenges to improve myself even in the most mediocre of tasks. My difference is me; it’s a part of me and it’s what given me the reason for an outlet like the DIA and the journeys I’ve been on since coming to accept my different toward the end of my teens.
It’s a fun fantasy, but that’s all it’ll be. I have my friends with bionic arms and I think it would be a little out of place to wish away an entire arm of my own. Plus, they’re not cheaper either and can cost an arm and a leg themselves!
It’s been fun revisiting this section as I’m always open to questions. None ever silly. None ever daft. It’s important to break down these barriers in forms just as simple as talking about it openly and that’s what’s continuing to strive about the DIA in it’s own unique way.