October 12, 2022

Jason Koger: First Bilateral Arm Amputee in the World to Receive 2 Bionic Hands & Author of Handed a Greater Purpose

58 minutes

ATV riding on the family farm sounds like a lot of fun - until you strike a live, fallen power line. This week's Team Never Quit Podcast guest, Jason Koger, shares his unbelievable account of the near-fatal injuries he suffered as a result of such an accident.

Waking up after 3 days in a coma, Jason's life was forever different, as both of his arms had been amputated below the elbow to save his life, and the first thing he wanted to do was to hold his two daughters in his arms again.

In short order, Jason taught himself how to drive again, and went on a turkey hunt and deep-sea fishing. Within a year, he was fitted with prosthetic arms and relearned the essentials of life, including how to feed, dress and bathe himself.

These days, life is back to “normal” for Jason and his family. He has a new son and has taken on the mission of encouraging other amputees. Jason’s goal in life to use his story to help others.

In this episode you will hear:

My arms are body-powered. They basically work off of a cable. When you move your opposite shoulder from your amputation, you’re basically pulling a cable to the opposite hand.

My cousin said it looked like the Fourth of July was coming off of me. He thought I was dead.

It basically blew my left thumb off.

In the helicopter, they cathed me, and my urine looked like Dr. Pepper.

By the time I made it to the hospital, they had to immediately amputate to save my life because my kidneys were shutting down.

The surgeon said it looked like a shotgun had gone off inside of my arm. The electricity pulled all my tendons off.

We’ve always had faith.

When I woke up from a three-day coma, I had no idea they had amputated.

When my dad says it’s gonna be possible to get through it, it’s gonna be possible.

I told the doctor, “I gotta be able to hold my kids. That’s all I care about.” He said he’d make that happen.

I’ve always been a strong-willed person. I want to do things myself. I don’t want someone doing things for me.

Eventually, my insurance company said yes to two bionic hands.

My goal was to be the best prosthetic user in the world.

I got a call from CNN, asking if they could run my story. Then amputees all over the world started reaching out to me. I told my wife I think this is my calling - to help others.

I want veterans and non-veterans to know there’s a way to live. 95% of being a successful amputee is mental attitude.

The hands have an Apple app. My hands know where they are in space at all times.

The hardest day I ever had was the first day I was home, because one of my girls laid on my lap.

My brother-in-law bought me a shirt that read: “Look Ma, No Hands.”

I wrote my first book: Handed a Greater Purpose.

You can live life to the fullest, no matter what you go through.

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By Marcus Luttrell

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