About A.J. Drew (me)

Artistic Statement:
"I know you can do it.  But I can do it without legs"

Life Statement:
"Never give up.  Never surrender.  Retreat only to flank".

My name is A.J. Drew.  I am a double amputee veteran of the Cold War.  That is a fancy way of saying I drank bier in Germany for a few years.  The loss of limb has nothing to do with military service.  My legs were lost due to abuse and exploitation.  

I was rescued from the abuse and exploitation by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.   It was too late for my legs, but not for the rest of me.  Today, I am trying to pick up the pieces and rebuild a life for my David dog and I.

The first plan was to turn my blacksmithing and knife making hobby into a meaningful profession.  Despite prosthetic legs, I was closing in on that goal when I chose the wrong people to rent from.  I fell through their rotten wood deck.  I have not walked since, so I changed the plan.

With the help of therapists and doctors at the VA, I continue to work towards walking.  Until then, I am focusing on hand made jewelry and other goods I can create from a wheel chair.  With help from you, I'll be able to return to knife making and blacksmithing.

I am not asking for a hand out.
I am hoping for a leg up.