Surviving COVID, Losing Her Legs, Finding Purpose | Brianna Heitzman’s Story

What happens when you survive COVID… but wake up to a completely different life?In this powerful episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Brianna Heitzman, a certified employment specialist with Down Syndrome of Louisville, whose life was forever changed after a severe battle with COVID-19.After being placed on a ventilator and ECMO, Brianna faced an unimaginable outcome—the loss of her legs. But her story doesn’t end there.This is a conversation about resilience, identity, and rebuilding a life with purpose.Mike and Brianna dive into: • Her near-death experience and long road to recovery • The emotional and physical realities of limb loss • Learning to adapt and regain independence • Navigating prosthetics and ongoing challenges • The ERTL procedure and what it means for recovery • How her experience shaped her work helping others with employment and benefits • Her involvement with the Moving Forward Amputee NetworkBrianna’s journey is raw, real, and deeply inspiring—a reminder that even after life-changing trauma, there is still a path forward.🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more powerful stories from the limb loss and disability community.Send Mike a Message!Support the showWant to be considered as a guest?  Fill out the form here: https://werenotstumped.com/podcast-guest-information/Learn more about our host Mike Bolland: https://mikebolland.com/