I moved into a new apartment with cheap rent down south for the summer as I start my job search. I’ve applied at a ton of places, so now it’s the waiting game. I must admit, the amount of free time I have right now is overwhelming and I feel pretty empty without school or anything. I’m the kind of person who needs responsibility and structure. Maybe this is good for me so I can unwind from the college pressures over the past four years.

I read an entire book in one night last week titled, “Getting From College to Career” and it stated how it takes a college graduate, on average, about three months to get a full time job and usually it’s beneath their abilities– that statistic totally freaks me out. I know I need to start somewhere so we’ll see what comes my way! I may take this free time to begin writing my own book since everyone tells me I should write one. I’m not making any promises, it’s just an idea I’ve had rolling around in my head recently!

I’ll be flying to Boston on Thursday to film the new Shriners Hospitals PR campaign video. Not sure what to expect but I have a conference call in the morning to further discuss the details and the script – I’m so excited for this incredible opportunity!

The New England Walk for Burn Awareness is this Saturday, May 19th at Castle Island, Boston. The route is slightly less than a 5k and I’m confident I can run the whole thing. It’s not too late to donate or join Team Carrie: http://www.active.com/donate/burnwalk2012/MHolmst2

I’ll be running in these fancy Mizuno’s that just came in today ;)

My “burniversary” (burn anniversary) is a time for me to celebrate life, look back and truly see how far I have come. Six years ago at this moment, I was laying in a coma with very little hope of a positive recovery. I was hooked up to a ventilator breathing for me at 100% with horrible open wounds covering nearly my entire body with the fear of infection taking my life.

It’s hard to believe it’s been six years. As always, I struggle to find words to describe this feeling. I used to say, “It feels like yesterday but it also feels like 20 years ago”. I can vividly recall the pain, the fear and the devastation, but it never crosses my mind. This is me now. I don’t even remember what it was like to have real legs and a full right hand and I don’t remember what my body looked like without scars. This is my “normal” and I can honestly say that I love the woman I have become.

This song pretty much sums up how I feel about the whole thing :)

How could I ever be upset when I’m about to go outside for a run and I will be a college graduate one week from today? I received news from a professor yesterday of what my final class averages are to determine if I was going to be exempt from finals this upcoming week. I made all A’s. I’m officially graduating college summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. I shed happy tears as I read that email ——- I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!

I have a very exciting few weeks coming up (refer to previous blog). I can officially announce I have been chosen as a spokesperson/narrator for a new Shriners Hospitals for Children marketing/PR campaign video. The filming was originally going to take place in California, but got switched to Boston. Shriners is flying me there on May 17th and putting me up in a hotel in Boston for filming on the 18th. It’s such an honor to be chosen for this.

I will be home until Monday, May 21st, which allows me to participate in this year’s New England Walk for Burn Awareness at Castle Island, Boston. I plan on running most of it since it’s a little less than a 5k. Please consider joining Team Carrie or giving a donation of any size. If all of my Facebook friends just gave $1, I’d raise over $1,000! All proceeds are going to the Boston Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Boston Firefighters.

Sponsor Team Carrie by clicking here: http://www.active.com/donate/burnwalk2012/MHolmst2

You can give anonymously also! If you’d rather send a check, please email me at carrie@fromtragedytotriumph.org or Facebook message me!

I’m ready to close the college chapter of my life and move on to the next! Life sure is a wild ride filled with unexpected twists and turns, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. :)

I was inducted into the Alpha Chi National College Honors Society last week – who-da-thunk-it? I’m maintaining a 4.0 GPA and hoping to graduate with that in a couple of weeks…. If only I applied myself like this in high school!

Earlier this week, the Mississippi Business Journal featured me in a video story about the University of Mississippi Medical Center prosthetics department, University Rehab: http://msbusiness.com/video/2012/04/20/carrie-holmstrom-a-chance-to-run-again/

I also had the privilege to meet with a man last week who needs to get his feet amputated below the knee. His surgery was scheduled for the day after I met with him. It was such a humbling and rewarding experience to be able to sit with him and his wife while sharing my story. I think I was able to give them a lot of hope for their future. I’m living proof that life can still be great after amputations!

On top of everything going on, I’ve gone on a few job interviews for summer jobs! The next couple weeks of my life are going to be pretty hectic and exciting:

- I’m moving into a different apartment next weekend.
- 6 year anniversary of my accident is Saturday, April 28th – a day to celebrate life!
- My 23rd birthday is Tuesday, May 1st
- My parents fly South Thursday, May 3rd
- I GRADUATE COLLEGE SATURDAY, MAY 5TH!!!!
- My parents 34 year wedding anniversary is Sunday, May 6th

Lastly, I received an email this past week about something really exciting for after graduation but I’m unable to announce it at this point since we are still figuring out details. As always, STAY TUNED!!!!!!

Of course, I’m still running and going strong! As stated in previous blogs, I’ve been doing running/walking intervals to improve my cardio. This week I was going to bump it up to 5 minute running – 1 minute walking intervals. Today I decided to challenge myself to see how long I could run before I felt like I needed to walk. I ended up running for 25 MINUTES STRAIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! I didn’t look down at my watch until I hit the 20-minute mark. I was so surprised — what an incredible feeling!!!

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!

Nothing really “newsworthy” has come up since my last update about the bionic legs. When I was home for Spring Break, I was able to tour iWalk’s incredible facilities in Bedford, Massachusetts. I was super impressed by this company and all the advancements they are making in prosthetics technology. I’m so thankful I was able to get this opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes and share what it was like for me testing the legs- positive and negative. I could attempt to tell you all about the future of bionics- but then I’d have to kill you. Seriously though, I had to sign a form when I first got there – not that I really could keep up with all he was telling me!

Running is going so well and for the first time probably since the accident, I don’t have any sores, blisters or open spots anywhere. I’ve been settling into a new workout routine. Running 2-3 days a week, strength training 2-3 days a week and elliptical or other cardio for one other day. Yep- 7 days a week. The trainer at the gym, an avid runner, shared some tips with me. I’ve been doing 2 minutes running, 1 minute walking intervals for about 15 minutes (Today I did 20+ because I got a new pair of Mizuno Wave Riders shipped to me & I was pumped!!! Picture below!). I thought my cardio was fairly in shape from doing cardio workouts on the elliptical for the past year or so, but there’s NOTHING like running! So, I’m focusing on getting my cardio up to par and will increase the running intervals over time. *NOTE TO SELF: Don’t run outside in highly congested areas- cars slow down and stare at the girl running with metal legs, which may cause them to crash!!! ;)

It felt like Christmas morning when I received a box of 3 exercise outfits from Mizuno about a week or so ago. Today I got my second pair of shoes. This is all so surreal to me. Four years ago I was disabled, rapidly gaining weight and getting up to 250 pounds in a motorized scooter. Here I am now, 80+ pounds lighter, more “able” than a lot of people with legs, and I’m a sponsored runner/ambassador for Mizuno! Life sure is an adventure and I’m so thankful for every minute of it!!!

This Friday morning, I’m finally going to get to film my Mizuno video at the outdoor track on campus. We were planning on doing it last Friday but were unable to because of rain. My project this weekend is to create and edit this video and hope to have it done by Sunday so as always- STAY TUNED!

Everyone who visited me at SHC-Boston saw with their own eyes how incredible this hospital system and the people working there are. But we can’t forget the ones behind the scenes – “the men in the funny red hats” – Shriners, themselves. My mom’s brother, my Uncle Jon, decided to become a Shriner for many reasons.

This was the first year Shriners were asked to explain why they became a Shriner for the Shriners International Personal Essay Contest. My Uncle Jon received news that his essay won!!! He will be receiving recognition for this and also getting it published in a Shriners coffee table book. CONGRATULATIONS UNCLE JON!!!!!

I can’t get through it all without shedding tears so make sure you have a box of tissues nearby :)

“The Gift of the Orange Bracelet” By Jon Karalekas

When I answered the phone call from my sister, I immediately knew by the sound of her voice that something was wrong. At that moment, she was in crisis mode, but there also was a strange sense of peace in her tone as if she knew the outcome was out of her control. We cried together as she told me what had happened. Her daughter, my Godchild, had been in a terrible one-car accident hours earlier on her way home from high school soccer practice, less than a mile from their home. The SUV had burst into flames and she was pinned in the vehicle. If it wasn’t for the quick response of some “hero neighbors and passersby”, she would have most likely died in the vehicle.
She was then MedFlighted to Massachusetts General Hospital with burns over 70% of her body from her chest down, and her feet which had been pinned were charred to the bone. She also hit her head, so they needed to make sure there were no problems with her brain before they would send her to the Burn Unit at the Shriners Hospital right next door. She was put into a drug-induced coma as they did their best to stabilize her.

As I hung up the phone, I did not know there was such a thing as fourth degree burns, and I also had no idea how the impact of this event would forever change all of our lives. The first night was touch and go as to whether or not she would even make it, but after a few days, she began to stabilize. The news of her accident paralyzed her hometown, but her fellow teammates, classmates, teachers, and coaches sprang into action. Everyone came together and the idea of raising funds for her medical expenses began.

One of the many ideas was selling orange rubber bracelets, which was her favorite color, with the words Carrie Bear # 18 (her soccer number) inscribed on it. She was an outstanding soccer goalie and was being heavily recruited by multiple Division 1 schools. When I heard about the bracelets I bought enough to last a while and started wearing it on my right wrist in her support.
Following a very difficult week at Massachusetts General Hospital, she did show enough improvement to be transferred through the underground tunnel to the Shriners Hospital. This is where my journey began to take shape. I went to visit my sister’s family and Godchild at the Shriners Hospital with my Mom, a retired RN who adored her granddaughter and had a very strong bond with her. I did not last very long in her room the first time, as I found myself overwhelmed by the very distinct odor of burnt flesh and became light headed and nauseous, but I did get the sense that she was in very good hands. I expected my sister and brother-in-law to be frantic, but found them to be oddly at ease, considering the situation they were in.

As my Mother and I went to the hotel that evening, Mom commented at the battery of nurses and doctors that were attending to her granddaughter, and how they were so knowledgeable and made her feel welcomed and comfortable. I also found out that day that all of her medical care at the Shriners was free. How could that be? Who was paying for it? They also gave my sister and her husband an apartment to live in just a few floors below their daughter as she recovered so they wouldn’t have to drive the two hour round trip home every day. When I went to the apartment I noticed the Orange Bracelets scattered on one of the tables. My brother-in-law commented numerous times about how burn victims from all over the world are flown into the Boston Shriners Hospital Burn Unit for treatment. I also noticed in the lobby of the hospital numerous plaques with names of donors who have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Shriners Hospitals. Who were these people and what inspired them to give so much back? Where they patients? Family of patients? Business people? Doctors and nurses? Philanthropists?

After a little over three months in a coma and two below-the-knee amputations, multiple skin graft operations, the four fingers of her right hand being removed, and numerous infections, she woke up to a very different world. I am sure there were many rough patches that she went through as she began to wrap her mind around what had happened and the fact that her life had forever changed. But with the help of the Shriners staff, she turned her tragedy into triumph and began her long road to recovery with a strength and grace that I cannot fully put into words. It was truly a miracle to see this young woman transform before all of our eyes. Her smile is, and always has been beautiful and infectious, but her drive to get better and walk again became her focus. Not only did she transform, but my sister’s family, my Mom, and anyone who my Godchild had touched had a renewed sense of faith and hope. Essentially we were all transforming along with her in a spiritual way, and as she persevered and made small improvements all of us became better human beings. I am not sure if she actually realizes how much she helped all of us with our own re-awakening of what is most important in life.

Watching her epic battle was something I had never experienced before and I hope I never will again. Her inner strength and drive was an inspiration for all of us. That is when the gift of the Orange Bracelet hit me. I have not taken it off since the accident and will not, ever. It signifies many things, just as the symbols in Masonry have many meanings, but for me it symbolizes that there are no bad days. If my Godchild can recover from such a horrific accident and still have her beautiful smile with a zest for life that is unwavering, then I believe my worst day is a good day.

Her recovery continued and after spending six months at the Shriners Hospital in Boston, she went home for Thanksgiving. She graduated with her class the following spring and walked under her own power to receive her diploma on her new legs (that were compliments of the Shriners Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts) all to a standing ovation. If this wasn’t enough to inspire anyone, she then decided that she wanted to do what she could to give back to the Shriners. She started to tell her story at different Shrine Centers throughout New England and Eastern Canada. Then she did radio commercials that were heard all over New England and finally a video on behalf of the Shriners to welcome new patients and help others with prosthetics. She is now in her senior year as a Communications Major at Mississippi College and on the Dean’s List. I don’t think my Godchild truly knows how much she changed my life for the better, but as I would look at the Orange Bracelet on my right wrist I began to feel a strong desire to do more in my life and make a difference somehow, someway.

What could I do? I did not need to go very far. After seeing what the Shriners Hospitals did for my Godchild and her family, from the medical care, the psychological care, the follow up, to the numerous prosthetics, and to witness the professionalism in which it was all administered I knew I wanted to become a Shriner. After becoming a Master Mason and joining the Scottish Rite, I became a Shriner in October of 2009 and my sister put on my fez for the first time during that Fall Ceremonial. Like my Grandfather, I recently became a Knight Templar as well. It is truly an honor to be a Shriner and I love driving the “Fred” go-kart in the only Flintstones Unit in the USA! So if you see me in a parade in Southwest Florida and you hear a YABADABADOO, please know that it comes from my heart and don’t forget to notice the Orange Bracelet on my right wrist. My Godchild thinks it is great and so do I.

Thanks to all the Shriners throughout the world from my family, we are forever grateful to you. So Mote it Be.
YABADABADOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Here’s a big thank you from the bottom of my heart to all Shriners out there, especially my favorite one – My Uncle Jon :)

What a cool experience! I researched quite a bit about the feet before going yesterday and my findings were very encouraging. The best quote I heard was a man who said “I feel like I have my real legs back”.

I felt the same way. I’ve been walking on ankles that hardly move for the past 6 years, never mind moving on their own! These legs contain 5 computers and 12 sensors in each one, recognizing and automatically adjusting to all types of terrain. Amputees expend excess energy simply walking because we need to put more “oomph” into every step. The BiOM’s took all that away — they felt natural and effortless.

At 4.5 pounds each, the weight was astounding when I first put them on. They include a battery pack (the black thing) to give it power which lasts up to 6 hours, taking only 45 minutes to fully recharge a completely dead battery (You get extra batteries). The feet needed to be programmed one at a time. With the battery pack inserted, she was able to adjust a variety of different settings including heel resistance and power from a cell phone! How CRAZY is that!?!? At one point, I kept requesting “MORE POWER!” — She cranked it up and the leg started getting away from me as if they had a mind of their own!

I walked outside up and down some fairly steep hills and on rocks. It was unbelievable how the foot moved. Going up and down stairs came more easily as well. I was practically jogging up and down stairs, which is something I can’t do on my current prosthesis. I can do stairs, inclines and walk on all different types of terrain in the legs I have now, but not without watching my every step and putting my entire body into it. The bionic legs made it much more smooth and natural, as if I had my real feet back.

I wore them for a couple of hours. I tried jogging in them but I felt the weight of the feet held me back a little – they aren’t meant for running. However, the technology is amazing and I can see how they can help lessen problems such as body soreness and fatigue for amputees. I guess you can now call me the bionic woman!

I didn’t get to keep the legs since it was just a trial. However, private insurance companies are slowly starting to cover them and they are more likely to do so if you have done a formal trial. It could possibly be something I have in the future. Right now, I’m happy as I can be in my College Park Soleus Feet!

Switching gears a bit, I received an email last night from an individual in Chicago telling me how they saw my story on Jim Peterik’s Facebook page. I had no idea who that was so I looked him up. He’s a Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/musician who wrote the song, “EYE OF THE TIGER” and is a member of the band, Survivor!!!! This song was the theme song of my recovery and he somehow read that in my Trial By Fire interview (a copy of this is posted on my media page). Here’s his post: Jim Peterik’s Offical Page: “Wow…. This is the sort of thing “Eye Of The Tiger” was written for. Read Carrie’s story. JP” and shared by Trial by Fire interview! SO COOL!!! Thanks Jim!!!!

Needless to say, I was super excited last night and found it hard to concentrate on studying for this morning’s midterm. However, the test went well and my last spring break ever starts after my night class tonight. I’m flying home in the morning and I’m still finding it hard to believe that I will be a college graduate in less than 2 months!

Life is beautiful :)

I’m seriously high on life right now. I just finished up an awesome workout including some running and some core exercises. I want to strengthen my core because I read somewhere that leg amputees need the extra “oomph” from their upper bodies and core to help with running. It totally makes sense. I’m in full on training/health freak mode and I’m loving every second of it. My diet is pretty strict and I work out at least 5 times a week. Here’s a picture of me after my workout:

From reading my previous blog, all of you know that I was recently given a pair of Mizuno running shoes. It was a surprise from a friend – a personal trainer at the gym I go to, who is super into fitness and running marathons. I was not expecting any of this and I’m still overwhelmed and taken back by it all. Mizuno has committed to giving me several pairs of running shoes and some clothing to run in. It’s basically a sponsorship. No words can express my appreciation and sheer excitement. Not only are they a high quality brand, but they have awesome caring people behind the scenes.

I will wear Mizuno proudly every step of my training/running and promise to always bring very positive awareness to Mizuno. To boast a little about the shoes, I was wearing Nike’s when I first started running and the impact on my knees were causing much soreness to the point I had to take a week off from exercising. I ran on Saturday and this morning in the Mizuno Wave Precision’s and I am not sore AT ALL!!!! I feel like they lessen the impact on my knees and allow me to have better form.

I’m going to be making a video of me running in all Mizuno gear in the near future… just waiting on the outfit to arrive but I have everything outlined. Being a communications major, I’ve taken television courses and have the ability to shoot and edit quality videos so I can’t wait to get going on this one! STAY TUNED!!!

I’m still learning and I have a ton of training ahead of me. Life sure is a crazy ride and I’m so thankful for every moment. I’m so lucky to be surrounded by great people!!!

Go “Like” Mizuno Running North America on Facebook and CLICK HERE to check out their website!

THANKS MIZUNO!!!!

Today has been quite an exciting day for me! I woke up at 6 to cram for a test at 8am then it was time to hit the gym! As much as it kills me, I had to take the past week off from the gym to rest some sore knees. My prosthetics needed some adjusting last Thursday and my body just needs to get used to the higher impact of running. After all, it has been SIX YEARS since I’ve run! I didn’t want to push myself too hard and cause a major setback or injury, so I took a break. I went to do some weights today to get back in the swing of things since I woke up feeling great this morning!

I knew this has been happening behind the scenes for a little while but today I was given a generous gift by one of the trainers at the gym, Theo Clyatt. He and his friends at Mizuno Running North America donated a pair of awesome running shoes to me!!! I immediately put them on.

I noticed a difference in my walking right away… How crazy is that?! I hope to start running again this weekend and of course will make some videos of me running in them so stay tuned!! Thanks Mizuno!!!!!

Now I’m off to be interviewed for the school newspaper…

Life.Is.Good. :)