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West Texans Help Oklahoma Victims
Double Amputee Inspires Others & Advocates For Disabled Housing 9/10/12
fbolton@cbs7.com
CBS 7 News Reporter
September 10, 2012
Midland, TX - After losing both of her legs and surviving cancer a west Texas woman is making it her mission to help others.
Kathie Braunstein says helping the disabled and spreading the message of is what keeps her going each day. Both she and her husband David have faced obstacles hard for others to imagine.
"She’s the love of my life. Every single day, I'm just absolutely thankful and I'm here for her. You might ask me what I do and my project …and my number one thing is to do what Kathy wants to do and help her out," said David Braunstein.
Kathie got sick with meningitis; then lost both her legs. After months of being in the hospital, she made it through, when doctors said it was unlikely. Then she got hit with another medical condition, breast cancer. Through it all, she survived. Now she's using her experience to encourage others.
"I was certified by the Amputee Coalition of America to be a peer visitor. So I go to hospitals and typically a new amputee would call and get my name. I'll go and I'll talk to them," said Kathie Braunstein.
Kathie and her husband are advocates for disable. Kathie speaks at local groups and shares her life-changing testimony. Now she’s taking on her biggest mission yet; working with consumer organizations in west Texas to provide affordable and government funded housing for the disable.
"What I found is that people didn't tell me how to do this. They actually told me I would be bedridden. They told my husband that I was going to need tracking system to take me through house and I told my husband just widen the bathroom door. Let me go home and let's see," said Kathie Braunstein.
Kathie drivers her own car and with the help of prosthetic legs, she is walking again. She says her determining spirit is not only an inspiration to family, but also to others.
If you would like to help the Braunsteins as they advocate for more disable housing in west Texas, call them at 432-580-3439.