Probably everyone who reads this blog knows that Tom has his left arm amputated right below the shoulder. If you never thought about it before, just try doing everything for a day using only one hand. Simple things can be a challenge when you think about it.
Try a few of these: (he's done all of them!)
Tie your shoes
Button your sleeve
Wash your forearm
Hang wallpaper
Plaster walls
Dad got quite prolific at using his prosthetic arm. He is very inventive and solved ways to do almost anything using his hook. To ride a motorcycle we would just switch the clutch and front brake cables and he was gone! He could even solder electronic parts. He enjoyed playing golf, fly fishing, shooting skeet/trap, etc. Lots of stuff that would be a challenge to someone with both arms. His problem solving abilities are keen.
A few years ago, he tripped during the night and fell. He crushed his left shoulder socket and hasn't been able to wear his prosthetic arm hardly at all since. That was a huge loss to his abilities. He needs lots of help now.
The other day, he asked Becky for some peanut butter and crackers. She grabbed the jar and a sleeve of crackers and put them on the table and walked off. Dad sat there for a bit and Becky came back into the kitchen and asked why he wasn't eating the PB and crackers. He said, I want you to sit down here and show me how to spread peanut butter on crackers with one hand. People just don't realize that he has a disability. If he CAN do it, he will.
Since I was a little kid, Dad would always ask me to help him hold something or assist in something he was doing. I've been his "missing arm" for a good portion of my life. I'm happy to be able to help. The thing is...he's helped me more throughout my life than I could ever pay back by helping him. It's great that my Mom and sister help now too. I would've never guessed that we would all be living and trying to get by...together! Team work, we got this!