1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: This is Ben and Ashley I almost famous in depth. 2 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: This is a very special episode. We've been doing these recently, 3 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: UH and they've been a lot of fun for Ashley 4 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: and they've kind of replaced the in depth episodes that 5 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 1: we used to do. UH. Now we are digging into 6 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: some contestants, some more current contestants, also some past contestants 7 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: who have a story to share. UH. Today we're gonna 8 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: welcome cam Aala onto the podcast to share about his 9 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 1: recent amputation and his long standing battle with the disease lymphidema. 10 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: We're also going to talk a lot about how the 11 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 1: show handled this because here's the truth of it. Actually, 12 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: I don't know if you feel this way. I remember 13 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 1: his time on the show. I remember him talking about 14 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: having pain. I don't remember it sitting in very deeply 15 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: with me or understanding exactly where the pain was coming from. 16 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: I don't think when he was on the show it 17 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: was ever explained. And I want to get to the 18 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: bomb that because I don't. This is when I saw 19 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: that he got his leg and amputated. It was kind 20 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: of a shock to me that it was this severe. 21 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: In this series, to be quite frank the only thing 22 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 1: I really remember from his time on the show on 23 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: Hannah season is ABC Cam? Yeah? Remember that was his 24 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: tagline ABC Cam, And I don't remember what it stood for? 25 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 1: Now all do you remember? I don't. This is what happens. 26 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: You know, like everybody thinks that everything is going to 27 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: be like such a huge thing and people are going 28 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: to remember storylines forever, and then three years removed, you're like, 29 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: I remember one thing, but I do remember Cam as 30 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: a as a person, as a character, Um, who's definitely memorable, 31 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: and now he has um a story that he really 32 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: wants to get out there because there's a lot to 33 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: what you a lot to him that you didn't see 34 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: on the show. Let's bring him on. Here is Cam 35 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: Aala Cam. Hello. How are you feeling? Your surgery was 36 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: just a matter of weeks ago? M hmm, yeah, about 37 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 1: three weeks ago, and UM, I'm doing pretty good. There's 38 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: definitely some daily challenges and things on this journey that 39 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: I'm finding just by trial and error. I've only had 40 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 1: a couple of falls so far, but other than that, 41 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: the community has been very supportive. So I'm blessed for sure. 42 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: Let's let's start back at the beginning. So for those 43 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,519 Speaker 1: who maybe need to reminder you're on Hannah Brown season 44 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: of The Bachelor at uh during that time, you spoke 45 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: openly about your battle or your life living with lymphedema. Uh. 46 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: You had mentioned it caused a lot of pain at 47 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: that point in time when the when The Bachelor aired, 48 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: how many surgeries had you had on your leg? Yeah? 49 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: At that time, I had had fifteen surgeries, Uh there 50 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: in twenty nineteen. So yeah, it's It's been going on 51 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: since I was eleven years old. So it's something that 52 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: has been a part of my life and something I 53 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: can't really not talk about, especially when you have a 54 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: romantic partner, just because of the physical implications of of 55 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 1: having surgeries and stuff. So I felt that it was 56 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: very necessary to be transparent with Hannah sooner rather than later, 57 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 1: because I mean, as you and Ashley know, oftentimes in 58 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: that journey, you can go on a group date or 59 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: even a one on one that can get physical, and 60 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: at that point, I hadn't been on any dates that 61 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: were physical yet. So it was just kind of the 62 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 1: elephant in the room for me that I wanted to 63 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 1: be very transparent with Hannah and see, you know, if 64 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 1: that's maybe a red flag for her maybe she isn't 65 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: ready yet to be with someone who has a chronic 66 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: disease like I have, because you know, there's times with 67 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 1: I've had sporadic infections, I'm getting, you know, emergency surgery, 68 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: and then the girlfriends I've had in the past go 69 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: from everything's all great and the next thing you know, 70 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: they're being my caretaker as I'm learning how to walk 71 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: again and kind of go through that whole recovery process. 72 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: So I definitely wanted to be up front with her 73 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: about that. So just for all of us and educate 74 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: all of us, um, and we're gonna get into your 75 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: life now and your process through the Bachelorette and kind 76 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: of using your platform now to share this, But can 77 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: you explain lymphoedema to our audience, to Ashley and I 78 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 1: where it came from. Kind of give us the high 79 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: level overview medically of what this is and where it 80 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: came from. Sure, and it's a pretty complex condition, so 81 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 1: I'll make it super high level. So really, there's two 82 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: types of lymphonema, primary and secondary. Right, I have primary 83 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: because I was born with it, so that's um just 84 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: a genetic part of the disease. And then second dary 85 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: lymphonema comes secondary to some sort of trauma. Can be 86 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: surgical trauma really common and breast cancer patients. So you 87 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: may have heard of women they've had breast cancer where 88 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: they remove lymph nodes under their arm, or they've had 89 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 1: basectomese chema radiation. When that lymphatic system is compromised through 90 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: any of those forms of trauma, they can then develop 91 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 1: secondary lymp the ema. I was born with it, but 92 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:05,359 Speaker 1: I didn't start swelling until I was about eleven years old. 93 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: So really for anyone, we all have the lymphatic system. 94 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: It's parallel with our Our venous systems are veins. So 95 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 1: if your lymphatic system gets compromised in any way, then 96 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,839 Speaker 1: you can develop lymphoedema, which is unfortunately a progressive disease 97 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: and currently there's no cure for it. And the common 98 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: symptoms you'll see in patients they just develop really bad 99 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 1: swollen limbs, so can be really bad swollen arms for 100 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: the breast answer patients or patients who are lower extremely 101 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 1: their legs can get up to ten times larger than 102 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: their unaffected limbs. So it's it's pretty painful too, and 103 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: you have to manage it daily so it's not just 104 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 1: something you can just forget about and pray that it 105 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 1: goes away. It's something that requires daily self care. Do 106 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:52,480 Speaker 1: we see that also with extreme obesity. Absolutely, So I'm 107 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 1: sure people who may have seen that show. Sorry I 108 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: was gonna say it, but I didn't know if there 109 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 1: was like enough tack to that kind. I meant, so, no, No, 110 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 1: you're one accurate, And that's actually a lot of people 111 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: who may not know what lymphedema is or they don't 112 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: have a loved one that has it, they see the 113 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 1: show like that, and I'd say over Dr nels Arden's 114 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 1: patients on that show have secondary lymphedema due to their obesity. 115 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:21,039 Speaker 1: And coincidentally, I used to call on doctor Now because 116 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: he's in Houston where I live. So when I was 117 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: selling lymphedema pumps professionally last year, that was one of 118 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: my accounts. So that was interesting having the reality TV 119 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 1: come full circle. He seems like such a character, that 120 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 1: man isn't phased by anything, not a thing, and the 121 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: way you see him on TV is exactly how he 122 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: isn't realized. So then to your story, you go on 123 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: the show has obviously we just mentioned that three weeks 124 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 1: ago you had your leg amputated. Was this always uh, 125 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: something that you believed would happen at some point or 126 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 1: did something switch here recently you said this is now 127 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: the option we have to go after. Yeah, great questions. So, um, 128 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: when I was out there in twenty nineteen, uh with Hannah, 129 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: at that point, I had fifteen prior surgeries. I had 130 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: been told in twenty sixteen, so three years prior to 131 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: me being on the Bachelrette, the amputation was, um, probably 132 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: a solid option for me. But when you hear that 133 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: and you're like an athlete like I am, and like 134 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: you are been and I'm sure Ashley too, you want 135 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: to do everything and you're well you are a winter 136 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: game weren't you in Winter Games? Oh? I was very 137 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: athletic there. I guess it's relative, right, It's okay. I 138 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 1: appreciate that you called me athletic. Looking. Okay, you had 139 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: a kid and you look amazing right now, So you're 140 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: you're an athletic type, right. Um. So basically I was 141 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: doing everything in my power to avoid amputation. I was 142 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: eating healthy, I was working out, I was wearing my 143 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: compression garment, doing all the things that the doctors told 144 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: me to do, and it was actually the knee replacement 145 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: that I had last year that really was like the 146 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: straw that broke the camel's back. Unfortunately, the surgeon used 147 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: the wrong size hardware positioned it wrong. So ever since 148 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: last year, as I was going through physical therapy and 149 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: working with a personal trainer, I was just in a 150 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 1: living hell, so much pain every day. So I got 151 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: a second opinion when we saw the x rays, like, 152 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 1: oh boy, yeah, that was a botched knee replacement. So yeah, 153 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: instead of going through the revision process, which would required 154 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: three additional surgeries, and with my history of chronic infection, 155 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 1: amputation at that point was pretty much inevitable. So at 156 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: this point I was like, Okay, thirty three, I'm single, Um, 157 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: now is a good time to just kind of get 158 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: it over with so I can make that transition and 159 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: to a new lifestyle so that when the time comes 160 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 1: for me to start actively dating again and hopefully get 161 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: married and have kids, I'll be really comfortable and ultimately 162 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: competent in my prosthetic leg and just in that new lifestyle. 163 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 1: So that's really what led to it, was just those 164 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: chronic bouts of pain for the past year after having 165 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 1: that new replacement, that was failed. This is uh obviously, Um, 166 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: you are learning now about this new life. Uh in 167 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: the front of you, what have you learned so far? 168 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: You know you are single, you are wanting to date. 169 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 1: You are an athlete. I think I saw somewhere. Tell 170 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 1: me if I'm wrong and I missed it. But you 171 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: are trying to get back on the basketball court. You 172 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: are trying to get back to doing the things you 173 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: loved before the leg was amputated. What are you what 174 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 1: are you figuring out? Like? Where is your mind at? Yeah? 175 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: Like I was saying, it is an adjustment every single day. 176 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: Like so even now, um, just standing on one foot. 177 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:57,679 Speaker 1: This is my my right leg and now you can 178 00:09:57,679 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: see my I call it for a stump. This is 179 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 1: my my residual limb here. So having to put all 180 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: of my weight on my left leg all throughout the 181 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: day until I get my prosthetic leg, I don't realize 182 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: how sore and how tired I would be things like 183 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:16,559 Speaker 1: brushing your teeth and refilling your water bottle. Like right 184 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 1: now I'm using these four arm crutches. So I have 185 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 1: to get really creative and just literally think one step 186 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: at a time to navigate and then to answer your 187 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: question about you know, returning to the basketball court. So 188 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: last Tuesday was my very first time in a wheelchair 189 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: for wheelchair basketball. So I got out there and it 190 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 1: just it felt like I was at home. And though 191 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 1: it's a very different than an able bodied person running 192 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: up and down the court, instead you're wheeling and you're shooting, 193 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: and a lot of the rules are very similar to 194 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: regular basketball. So it's amazing to have an opportunity to 195 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: pick up something that was one of my biggest passions. 196 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: I even play basketball in college, so doing it now 197 00:10:57,120 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 1: from a wheelchair and being in that community is just 198 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 1: something that's gonna take a lot of work, a lot 199 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: of learning. But um, you know, lord will and if 200 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 1: I make the Paralympic US men's team, the next games 201 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: are in Paris, So that's that's my that's gonna happen. 202 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 1: I was just thinking that before you set it out loud. Yeah, 203 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: So hopefully I'm engaged or married by then, so I 204 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 1: can have a wife in the stands cheir me on. 205 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 1: But if not, you know, whatever, whatever the case, maybe 206 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: I'm gonna do my best every day to to work 207 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: towards that goal. Okay, So now that you have had 208 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 1: that leg immitated. It was that the only part of 209 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 1: your body that was affected by olympodema. Do you or 210 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: do you have to worry about showing up somewhere else. Yeah, 211 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,839 Speaker 1: that's a great question. So earlier I was talking about 212 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: how there's primary and secondary lymphidema. So when you have 213 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: primary and like me, when you're born with it, oar 214 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 1: lymphatic system is throughout our entire body, and it's one 215 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,959 Speaker 1: that is so understudied. So the medical community is still 216 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,719 Speaker 1: trying to wrap their brains around you know, what is 217 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:03,679 Speaker 1: the progression for patients. So a lot of questions I've 218 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 1: been asked through d m S after I got the 219 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: amputation is like, oh, they cut off your lympid ema leg, 220 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 1: your lympidium is gone. Well, it's not like a cancerous 221 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: tumor or other things where you just remove that part 222 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 1: and it's gone and you're healthy and you're good. So 223 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: we just don't know if the lympid ema is then 224 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 1: going to progress to my left leg or up higher 225 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:25,839 Speaker 1: in my core and you can even get lympideum in 226 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: your head and neck. But me staying on top of 227 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: it and having a great care team in place just 228 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,439 Speaker 1: to monitor it. Ever since I've had. The surgery is 229 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 1: really going to be the best thing we can do 230 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 1: is just to keep a close eye on it and 231 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 1: prevent anything from from being complicated. But truth is, we 232 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: just don't really know, unfortunately. But I'm not going to 233 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:48,559 Speaker 1: let that fear of the unknown prevent me from living 234 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: my new life and being athletic and doing things I love, 235 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 1: like going to concerts and hiking and and all that stuff. 236 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:57,560 Speaker 1: It's just now I just have to be a little 237 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: bit cautious that if there's something that feels wrong. You know, 238 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 1: our bodies are our best sensor, so being in tune 239 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: with that and then being able to speak up to 240 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: my medical team if if something comes up in the future, 241 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,560 Speaker 1: you know. So, how's the pain now? I mean, I'm 242 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 1: just curious. Is the pain gone? Is it? I mean, 243 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: you got your leg amputated. I have to imagine maybe 244 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,839 Speaker 1: you're still healing. Yes, so, you know, just three weeks 245 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: out of the surgery. Um, so there's still some of 246 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: that natural inflammation. But this is the thing that I 247 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 1: did a lot of research before the amputation, and I 248 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: read a lot and I talked to several other AMPU 249 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 1: key patients about this whole thing. Called phantom pain, and 250 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 1: it is terrible. So basically, uh see my residual in 251 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 1: here on my right legs. So throughout the day I 252 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: will just sporadically feel like my right ankle is on 253 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 1: fire or like a stabbing sharp pain, and so instantly 254 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 1: like your brain tells you, you know, reach down and 255 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 1: and you know comfort that area, squeeze it, or sometimes 256 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 1: I get phantom sensation where it's not painful, is just annoying, 257 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: where like my ankle or my toes will itch, but 258 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:05,679 Speaker 1: I don't have those toes or ankle anymore. I mean, 259 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 1: I've heard of this before, but just crazy. It's really 260 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 1: I've done you right now. It is absolutely real, and 261 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 1: every antike experiences it in some capacity. The hope is 262 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 1: that over time it will minimize and decrease, but honestly, 263 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 1: that's been the thing that has just been dreadful because 264 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: they've given me some pretty strong pain meds and it 265 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: doesn't really affect it at all. I'll be sleeping and 266 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: I'll wake up in the middle of the night and 267 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 1: I'll go to grab my my right ankle because it's 268 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: just throbbing in pain, but there's nothing there. But what's 269 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: really fascinating is there's things like mirror therapy where I 270 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: literally put a long mirror one of those ones you 271 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 1: hang on a door in between my legs. So I 272 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: looked down at the reflection of my left leg, but 273 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 1: my brain is telling me that I still have a 274 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: full right leg. So it's really it's really bizarre. And 275 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: that's honestly been the biggest like surprise to me is 276 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: how severe that pain is when I experienced that throughout 277 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 1: the day. So that's an adjustment too. I have to 278 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 1: account for um in my day to day life moving forward. 279 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: But again the hope and prayers that it does minimize, 280 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 1: and it should because the surgery I did was was 281 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: pretty in depth and basically they take those nerve endings 282 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 1: once they amputate, and they reconnect it to my handstring 283 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 1: so it can help fire off those nerves so I 284 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 1: don't just have crazy fanom paying for the rest of 285 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 1: my life. The body is so interesting, isn't it. In 286 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 1: modern medicine is amazing. Just the fact that like they 287 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: reattached those nerves, It's wow. I'll have one more medical 288 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 1: question actually for you before we talk about how the 289 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 1: Bachelor production handled your well, what would you call it. 290 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: Is it a disease? It is a disease. Okay, So 291 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: do you plan on getting a prosthetic. Absolutely, yeah, And 292 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 1: that's one thing I'm really excited about. I should be 293 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: getting that by hopefully, if everything goes right, in the 294 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: next couple of weeks, hopefully by mid August, because basically 295 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 1: right now, I just had my stitches out last Friday. 296 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: So this whole residual limb, I'm wearing actually compression garment 297 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 1: on it now to help control the swelling. So then 298 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: once that's controlled, they then will do a mold of 299 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: my residual limb and then that is what ultimately is 300 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: going to be used to create the socket to move 301 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 1: the new leg. And it's robotic, which is really cool, 302 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: Like next to my iPhone. I'll be plugging in my 303 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: leg at night. So if I go on a road 304 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: trip or go anywhere and I forget my leg charge, 305 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: I'm kind of s o L. So I gotta be 306 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: smart to to bring that. But yeah, it's a process 307 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: to get the prosthetic, and so I'm absolutely getting one 308 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 1: of those, and then eventually I'll get one of those 309 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 1: running blades that I can start jogging again. I haven't 310 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: been able to jog in like six years because of 311 00:16:48,800 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 1: all my knee surgeries. From what I understand, we did 312 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: a little research. I looked up a little bit before 313 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: we came on for as little UM researchers. There's been 314 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: into lymphedema. The the advancements and prosthetics is incredible, like 315 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: over the last fifteen years, and these these prosthetics are 316 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:24,640 Speaker 1: allowing people to live and do what they did before 317 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:27,879 Speaker 1: or maybe if they were born without limbs, to you know, 318 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 1: run and to play. I just watched UM right now, 319 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: there's a golf tournament going on, uh for I don't 320 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,440 Speaker 1: know if you play golf, UM, but it's a golf 321 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 1: tournament going on for anybody with a physical disability or 322 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:45,359 Speaker 1: a mental disability. UM. It's by the U. S. G A. 323 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: It's an incredible tournament. But there's many people out there 324 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: with no legs or one leg or partial legs, and 325 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,400 Speaker 1: they are incredible, like like just I mean, I can't 326 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,679 Speaker 1: keep my balance with two legs I was born with. 327 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 1: They are swinging out of their mind. They're hitting a 328 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 1: three yards in the middle of fairway. So I'm I'm 329 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 1: excited for you in that realm. Well, as actually mentioned, 330 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 1: UM we do want to talk a little Bachelor here 331 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: with you. Uh, well, and then with kind of your thoughts. 332 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 1: I know your faith is something very important to you. 333 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 1: You've been on a few podcasts here recently as you've 334 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 1: shared your story about your faith. We didn't see a 335 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 1: ton of that being mentioned on the show, but that 336 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:27,159 Speaker 1: just kind of how the show works, right. How do 337 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:31,360 Speaker 1: you feel like the community around you, including the Bachelor community, 338 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 1: has responded, um in support of of your recent procedure. Uh? Yeah, 339 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:41,399 Speaker 1: so just high level, I think the community in general, 340 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:45,120 Speaker 1: just the general public, The outpour has been amazing. Uh. 341 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 1: It's started with a week before I had the amputation surgery, 342 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,679 Speaker 1: I did an interview with People magazine with Kathy Bates 343 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: because she's the national spokesperson of the limpiting, a nonprofit 344 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 1: that I work for, the Kathy Bates v Kathy Bates. Yeah, 345 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: she's a good friend of mine because she has a Yeah, 346 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: she's she's an amazing lady. And and really after that article, 347 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: and I did an Instagram post the day after my amputation, 348 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 1: like showing my my residual LIMB for the first time, 349 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: and um, from there, all the other big media outlets 350 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: started to run with that story, and that was honestly, 351 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:23,879 Speaker 1: like the first time in three years that I've gotten 352 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 1: like positive press. Because when you're the villain, if you will, 353 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 1: on your respective season of really any reality TV show, 354 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,200 Speaker 1: not even just the media, but just the direct messages 355 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: and the cyber bullying that went on, and the impostor 356 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 1: syndrome and me believing that I was a villain and 357 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: all these things that complete strangers were saying about me. 358 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: So getting that clarity and that closure of really having 359 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:54,639 Speaker 1: my story told accurately UM has meant the world to me. Um. 360 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 1: Even Hannah Brown, who I hadn't talked to since the 361 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 1: day she eliminated me over three years ago, you sent 362 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 1: me a pretty long direct message apologizing for, you know, 363 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: not handling our conversation better. But you know how it 364 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: goes in that environment, especially lead. I can't imagine Ben, 365 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: the amount of I don't want to say producer manipulation. 366 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:15,960 Speaker 1: But you you're getting a lot of people barking in 367 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 1: your ears, and you have all these different relationships are navigating. 368 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: So unfortunately me opening up about my lympidyma Hannah, and 369 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 1: then ten minutes later Mike Johnson telling her that I'm 370 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:29,399 Speaker 1: making up this medical sob story to get a pity rose, 371 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 1: and then being sent home that night, and then the 372 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: public just labeling me as you know this this creepy 373 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: guy who told this you know, medical story that didn't 374 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:42,439 Speaker 1: even make sense to people because they edited out me 375 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:45,719 Speaker 1: saying lymphoedema. Right, so the general public didn't even know 376 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 1: that I had this disease because production was to edit 377 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 1: that out. They never said the word lymphoedema in the show. 378 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:55,520 Speaker 1: They edited out every single time. And I even had 379 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 1: a T shirt made for The Bachelor in Paradise reunion. 380 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 1: I told the producers said, look, I am wearing a 381 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 1: shirt that says I have Lympathya google it so you 382 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: guys can't censor me anymore. This is a disease. I 383 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 1: don't know why I'm getting this kind of treatment. I 384 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: show up to The Bachelor in Paradise for union, I 385 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 1: wear the shirt, and when we see it live the 386 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 1: next night, they literally have it blurred out like it's 387 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:18,679 Speaker 1: some sort of curse word. Why do you think that is? 388 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 1: I mean that feels I mean, look, it's reality television. 389 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:29,680 Speaker 1: It's for entertainment, and I feel like all the contestants 390 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:34,919 Speaker 1: are personified to something, right, and so they had me 391 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: labeled as some sort of villain, and so they didn't 392 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 1: want to give me the platform to bring awareness to 393 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,680 Speaker 1: the disease that I have that effects over ten million Americans. 394 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 1: So I just feel like it was a missed opportunity 395 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 1: for the network to have representation. You know, we talk 396 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 1: a lot about diversity and inclusion. I don't think that 397 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: just should be limited to your ethnicity or your sexual orientation, right. 398 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 1: I feel like people with disabilities like I have should 399 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: have just as much representation in there, or at least 400 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:06,000 Speaker 1: an opportunity to spread awareness. And that was robbed for 401 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 1: me every single time I was on the Bachelrette, Bacher, 402 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,640 Speaker 1: and Paradise in any reunion shows. So part of it 403 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 1: been may have been that production didn't understand how severe 404 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: of a disease that it is. And I feel like, 405 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: now after I have the imputation, you know, the proof 406 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 1: is in the pudding, they see like, Wow, he really 407 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: wasn't joking around or saying the sob story so Hannah 408 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,880 Speaker 1: would feel sorry for him. So yeah, that's kind of 409 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:32,520 Speaker 1: how I might take on. And I don't want to 410 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 1: be angry and bitter towards the franchise. I mean, I've 411 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:37,680 Speaker 1: I've had those thoughts, but that doesn't really get you far. 412 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: And obviously, if I didn't even have the experience, we 413 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 1: wouldn't be talking here on this very popular podcast. So 414 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:46,400 Speaker 1: I'm blessed just to even be able to come back 415 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 1: and have these kind of discussions. Did they talk about 416 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: it in casting? Did anybody ever see your leg? I mean, 417 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:56,359 Speaker 1: as you guys both know, we go pretty in depth 418 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: with the physical and medical history, so I was very clear. 419 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 1: I had even get a doctor's note signed off that hey, 420 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: he can do this journey, so they were all aware 421 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: of it. I just don't think they understood the severity 422 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:10,680 Speaker 1: of it and how much of an impact it's played 423 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 1: on my life. I mean, the night before I told 424 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:15,719 Speaker 1: Hannah at that party, I was like in tears with 425 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:18,679 Speaker 1: three different producers and I don't want to talk about this. 426 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: This is something that's very sensitive to me. But like, no, 427 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:24,440 Speaker 1: that's your thing. Because every contestant has a thing, right, 428 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 1: some sort of backstory that makes them, you know, uniquely them, 429 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:30,159 Speaker 1: and that was mine. And so when I go and 430 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: I do that, it was then used against me, and 431 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:36,399 Speaker 1: then they don't even air the disease, and then I'm 432 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,200 Speaker 1: labeled as this guy who's desperate looking for a pitty rose. 433 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 1: Can this might be one of the I mean, there's 434 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 1: been a lot of unfortunate events that have happened on 435 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 1: this show, and unfortunate things, And I've always been a 436 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:58,360 Speaker 1: protector of the edit because typically, at least in my experience, 437 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:01,400 Speaker 1: that edit isn't always that far off of the behavior 438 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:03,640 Speaker 1: of the person. And I've always said that, and some 439 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 1: people get really angry at me for saying that, but 440 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:11,639 Speaker 1: that's just my experience. But this is one of the 441 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: one of the times that I'm sitting here and um, 442 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: I don't have a lot of words to add to this, 443 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 1: because this is really unfortunate. Uh. And especially I remember 444 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,359 Speaker 1: your time on the show and you were I mean, 445 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:25,359 Speaker 1: I remember when you you came out and said that 446 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 1: you had suffered with severe pain, uh, and that it 447 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 1: didn't it felt like, you know, you're getting a pitty 448 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 1: rose because of how it was being seen. Now to know, 449 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:37,679 Speaker 1: you know how many years forward and you've had your 450 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 1: leg amputated, You've still struggled with this disease. Uh, And 451 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:45,359 Speaker 1: now you're sitting here and having to almost explain yourself 452 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:48,160 Speaker 1: and get catch people up on what was existing six 453 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:53,200 Speaker 1: years ago. Uh, is really unfortunate, and I can't imagine 454 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:56,560 Speaker 1: the toll I was angry at some of the very 455 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 1: small things that didn't affect my life at all that 456 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 1: I got did it as Um, I can't imagine what 457 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 1: you've been holding onto for six years as you've been 458 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,479 Speaker 1: trying to explain this. I mean, you think of the 459 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 1: thing that you're most self conscious about, sorry, I'm getting 460 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:13,120 Speaker 1: emotional thing about you. Think of the thing that you're 461 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 1: most self conscious about, and a thing that has sidelined 462 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 1: you from playing the sports you love, sidelined you from 463 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:27,159 Speaker 1: getting deeper into relationships hopefully leading to marriage, and a 464 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:31,679 Speaker 1: thing that has impacted your career, and all of a sudden, 465 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 1: you're in this environment and you are opening up to 466 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:37,119 Speaker 1: basically a stranger because Hannah was essentially a stranger to 467 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 1: me at that time. And then just to have it 468 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 1: the whole narrative completely turned around and used against you. 469 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:48,399 Speaker 1: Has is something that gave me really bad PTSD that 470 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 1: I had to do with a lot of therapy too. 471 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 1: And then to answer your question you kind of alluded 472 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:56,680 Speaker 1: to earlier, I wasn't strong in my faith in twenty nineteen, Um, 473 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: so That's why that wasn't part of my back story. 474 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 1: It was after the show, going through severe depression, going 475 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 1: through having to not participate in social media, and then 476 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:12,119 Speaker 1: obviously COVID hits, so that through a whole another layer 477 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,439 Speaker 1: into complexity for everything. So it was really when I 478 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:19,800 Speaker 1: hit rock bottom that I re reignited my relationship with God. 479 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 1: And you know, it was the church I go to 480 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 1: in Houston that you did the podcast with the Maybe 481 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:28,200 Speaker 1: God podcast with Eric. He really helped me in those 482 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 1: moments of darkness. And so now finding a way to 483 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 1: turn tragedy into triumph and having that whole faith over 484 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 1: fear mentality that has been my coping mechanism to let 485 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,639 Speaker 1: go of the past. And all I can do is 486 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 1: control how I approached my recovery and try to be 487 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 1: a beacon of hope and inspiration to other patients who 488 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:51,200 Speaker 1: have lympid ema or our amputees and to show that 489 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:53,560 Speaker 1: when you fight through it and you have you know, 490 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 1: God on your side or whatever you believe in, that 491 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 1: you can still go on to live an amazing and 492 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 1: fulfilling life. And that's that's my north star. I'm I'm 493 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 1: ready to just you know, move forward. You're creating. Uh, 494 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:07,960 Speaker 1: you're creating a story that I believe many people. You know, 495 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 1: we say it here often because life gets complex and 496 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:14,360 Speaker 1: there's a lot of things that happen. But if one 497 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:17,359 Speaker 1: person can feel less alone from the story that you're sharing, 498 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 1: and this whole thing has got to be worth it. 499 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 1: I mean, this whole life that we're living has got 500 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 1: to be worth it. I believe there's gonna be many. 501 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 1: As you mentioned, ten million people within the United States 502 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 1: suffer with limited lymphadema. I don't know the number for amputees. Um. 503 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:36,239 Speaker 1: We're excited now to watch your journey moving forward. We 504 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:39,720 Speaker 1: want to see we are. We're here to see and celebrate. 505 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:41,440 Speaker 1: You gotta come back on if you do make the 506 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:46,320 Speaker 1: Olympic team, but we'll be we'll be tracking that journey 507 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:49,680 Speaker 1: along the way. I want to ask you one one 508 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:53,360 Speaker 1: more question. It seems like love is definitely a high 509 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:58,600 Speaker 1: priority for you, and so is sharing this lymphidema journey. 510 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,200 Speaker 1: Would you ever go back on Bachelor in Paradise interest 511 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:10,120 Speaker 1: the show again? Oh? It would take a lot, because 512 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:14,960 Speaker 1: I I was promised redemption in Paradise the first go around. Well, 513 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 1: they can't hide your story. Now you've told your story. Well, yeah, 514 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:21,920 Speaker 1: and I can't hide I could hide the limpid ema 515 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 1: by just doing all the stuff that I knew to 516 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:27,680 Speaker 1: keep the swelling now, but I can't hide an amputation, 517 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,320 Speaker 1: especially out in Paradise. I'm not gonna wear jeans on 518 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:34,959 Speaker 1: the beach every day. But I honestly I doubt the 519 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 1: production team would even reach out to me for that 520 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 1: to be an opportunity. But if they did, that would 521 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 1: be something I'd have to really pray about. But honestly, 522 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 1: I feel that I know that God has a plan 523 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 1: for all of this, and all the pain that I've 524 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 1: gone through is not for for nothing. There's definitely something 525 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:56,800 Speaker 1: for that. And uh. One of my other big milestones, 526 00:28:56,840 --> 00:28:59,600 Speaker 1: and I talked about this with with Ta Natasha on 527 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:03,160 Speaker 1: click a couple of weeks ago. My milestone is in 528 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 1: mid September. I'm going to Red Rocks for the first 529 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:08,720 Speaker 1: time to see a concert and I'm seeing Lauren da 530 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 1: Lauren Dagle. That's my like celebrity crush, and she's a 531 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:15,400 Speaker 1: woman of faith too. So you guys happen to know her, 532 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 1: you want to put in a word for me, that 533 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 1: would be awesome. I can see Red Rocks from my 534 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:22,480 Speaker 1: house right now, sitting here looking out the window. Yeah, 535 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 1: so I can see Red Rocks. I'll drive by, Uh, 536 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 1: send the send the message to Lauren see if see 537 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 1: if magic can happen in the air at Red Rocks 538 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:34,480 Speaker 1: that night. It's a beautiful place, Yes it is. I've 539 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 1: never been, so I'm excited. For sure you're gonna have 540 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:40,320 Speaker 1: a great time. And when you're there, I'm nearby, So 541 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 1: make sure you say hello Camp. Leave you options open. 542 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 1: It's my only thing I'll say. If the show wants 543 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 1: to have you back, you can tell a pretty powerful 544 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: story uh and uh on the show. But if not, 545 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:55,920 Speaker 1: we just look forward to you telling your story through 546 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:59,720 Speaker 1: whatever avenue you see fit. If you're interested in more, 547 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:02,600 Speaker 1: we out a lot today from Cam. But if you're 548 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:05,480 Speaker 1: interesting in kind of hearing some of the other podcasts 549 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:07,760 Speaker 1: he's done, He's posted about him on his social media 550 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 1: that Maybe God podcast was a great podcast that dove 551 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:15,560 Speaker 1: a lot more into the faith side of this whole experience. 552 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 1: So you can check that out. Um, But until next time, Cam, 553 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:20,400 Speaker 1: thanks for coming on the almost famous podcasts and sharing 554 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 1: your story. Wish you the best and we know the 555 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 1: future is very very bright for you. Thank you. Thanks man. 556 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:29,600 Speaker 1: Thanks Ashley. I really appreciate you, guys. Thank you appreciate you. 557 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:34,040 Speaker 1: Follow the Benn and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast on 558 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:37,280 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio, or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.