Hello, I'm Jeff Gaines, I'm 38 years old. I grew up in the Midwest and attended Ivy Tech in Indiana. I am married
and have 3 children and one grandson. I curretly live in Cape Coral ,Florida.
On September 17th, 1993, I was in an electrical accident where I had 7200 volts of electricity go though my hands
and exit diffrent points of my body. This left me a bilateral amputee.
After a short time of rehabilitation, I found myself being able to do more for myself than what the rehab could do for
me. After all how, can someone with 2 hands teach me how to be a amputee? I have taught myself how to be totally
independent. I truly can do just about everything independently without extra adaptive products. When it comes to total independence.
I have it. I have a determined attitude which has allowed me not to accept that I am going to be limited in my
life.
I currently speak around the country as a free lance consultant and model for professionals and amputees
with insight that only comes from "Hands On" experience.
I also speak with amputees about the "can do" attitude they need and show them the how to do things they never
thought possible for total independence.
I've been told that I am the exception to the rule. NOT TRUE. Anyone who wants their independence can have it to
My belief is that the amputee profressionals and experts we work with do a great job and as a amputee will always needs
them. Were happy they are there for us. But, having a college education and all the research in the world cannot tell a
person what it is like to be an amputee. We all have specific needs in our life that can only be understood by another
amputee. I am considered one of the best, if not the best with my prosthesis. I was told once from a woman that sometimes
she worries about bringing me in as a model because she didnt want to give anyone false hope on what they could accomplish. Its
not false hope. I can teach a person to be as independent as I am. I no longer want to be the exception. I want to work
with the professionals and amputees so we all suceed. So I am no longer considered... "The exception"
