Edward Lychik, 23, lost his entire left leg in Afghanistan in 2011 and managed to complete a Tough Mudder just three weeks after getting his prosthetic leg, according to U.S. Patriot Tactical.
His amputation was a hip disarticulation; leg amputations move in stages, with each stage involving the loss of a single weight-bearing joint. The more you lose, the more challenging the recovery and the less likely you are to return to any semblance of normalcy. Lychik lost all 3 weight-bearing joints – ankle, knee, and hip – a loss surgeons say is 100 times harder to deal with than below-the-knee amputations. A hip disarticulation messes with actions the average person takes for granted, such as balancing while sitting, and it isn’t uncommon to see patients end up in wheelchairs, inactive for the remainder of their lives. Of course, Lychik was not, is not, an average person. Overcoming the crippling chronic pain, mental and emotional anguish, and daily frustrations no doubt brought on by tackling even the simplest tasks takes a special brand of toughness. But Lychik has Tough with a capital “T” emblazoned across his very soul.
The Tough Mudder was just the tip of the iceberg for Lychik.
Read more about his incredible journey on U.S. Patriot Tactical.
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