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AMPossible: Real-World Solutions for Amputees to Accomplish the Impossible
Ampossible is the go-to guide for every amputee from the first day after limb loss to the day they get their life back. Thousands of amputations happen each day and millions happen every single year around the world. Yet, what an amputee actually experiences minutes after surgery, what’s endured through the heart-wrenching recovery, to the time they get their life back, is rarely addressed in its complexity. Almost every amputee experiences an onslaught of emotions filled with confusion, grief, anxiety, depression, and immense physical pain. AMPOSSIBLE offers a glimpse into the realities of limb loss for those who experience it and answers the many questions amputees often have surrounding their very immediate medical needs as well as the long-term challenges, both physical and emotional, amputees must face. The book is a no-holds-barred real-world depiction of life as an amputee. Jeffrey A. Mangus, a below the knee (BKA) amputee, delivers straightforward information for both the amputee and his or her family and support network. Covering the basics of wound care and rehabilitation, he also addresses the very real emotional needs of living a new reality without a part of the body intact. Offering hope and guidance, however, Mangus encourages readers to challenge themselves to overcome the downsides and live a full and engaged life.
232 pages, Hardcover
Published September 15, 2021
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December 5, 2025
AMPossible is one of those rare books that feels both deeply honest and genuinely supportive written from lived experience, not theory. Jeffrey Allen Mangus doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and that’s exactly what makes this guide so valuable. As a below the knee amputee himself, Mangus lays out the realities of limb loss with clarity, empathy, and a straightforwardness that amputees and their families will appreciate.
What struck me most was how well the book balances practical guidance with emotional truth. Mangus talks openly about the fear, grief, and confusion that come in the first days and weeks after surgery, as well as the long, often frustrating journey of recovery. There’s no glossing over the hard parts but there’s no resignation either. Instead, he shows what perseverance looks like in real life, not in inspirational quotes.
The sections on wound care, prosthetics, physical therapy, and expectations are written in a way that feels accessible without ever talking down to the reader. At the same time, he tackles the emotional landscape with equal seriousness loneliness, anxiety, depression, and the struggle to adapt to a new body and a new sense of identity. It’s rare to see these subjects addressed with such openness and understanding.
Most importantly, AMPossible offers a sense of connection. Mangus makes it clear that the challenges are real, but so is the possibility of rebuilding a rich, fulfilling life. His voice throughout the book is steady, compassionate, and deeply human like someone walking beside you rather than lecturing from above.
Whether you’re an amputee, a caregiver, or someone simply looking to better understand what limb loss truly means, this book is an invaluable resource. Honest, hopeful, and grounded in real experience, AMPossible absolutely lives up to its name.
What struck me most was how well the book balances practical guidance with emotional truth. Mangus talks openly about the fear, grief, and confusion that come in the first days and weeks after surgery, as well as the long, often frustrating journey of recovery. There’s no glossing over the hard parts but there’s no resignation either. Instead, he shows what perseverance looks like in real life, not in inspirational quotes.
The sections on wound care, prosthetics, physical therapy, and expectations are written in a way that feels accessible without ever talking down to the reader. At the same time, he tackles the emotional landscape with equal seriousness loneliness, anxiety, depression, and the struggle to adapt to a new body and a new sense of identity. It’s rare to see these subjects addressed with such openness and understanding.
Most importantly, AMPossible offers a sense of connection. Mangus makes it clear that the challenges are real, but so is the possibility of rebuilding a rich, fulfilling life. His voice throughout the book is steady, compassionate, and deeply human like someone walking beside you rather than lecturing from above.
Whether you’re an amputee, a caregiver, or someone simply looking to better understand what limb loss truly means, this book is an invaluable resource. Honest, hopeful, and grounded in real experience, AMPossible absolutely lives up to its name.
Displaying 1 of 1 review