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There's a fire inside you you can't ignore. Stand still, not a chance. You're a lifelong learner who's come this far.
Now we are here to help you keep going further. Capella University, what can't you do? Visit capella.edu to learn more. Hello, Malcolm Glaubel here. We're here in New York City with T-Mobile for Business recording another episode of Revisionist History about how 5G network slicing strengthens trust and connections across worldwide industries.
Slicing can be used for so many. many different things. We're here with our friends from CNN, from Siemens Energy. The ways that can be used, frankly, are limitless and are really, really built to think through how can T-Mobile understand the pain points that our customers have, smash those pain points, and help you deliver very specific outcomes. Are you looking for entertainment that lifts you up?
Then check out Up Faith and Family, the leading streaming service for inspiring, hope-filled shows and movies. This season streams soul-stirring favorites like Southern Gospel, plus four full seasons of Jesus Calling, and the uplifting new faith series These Stones. Or settle in with 19 seasons of the beloved family series Heartland, a family favorite ranch drama fans can't get enough of. It's commercial free. Stream anywhere.
Get a free trial today. Go to upfaithandfamily.com slash iHeart. This is Our American Stories, and up next, a story about a girl whose life at the age of 10. changed in ways that she could never have imagined. Madison Acey, well, she's living proof that through faith And through perseverance, you can overcome the obstacles that life throws at you.
Here's Madison with her story. I grew up in a very small Mississippi Delta. town. We had a population of 5,000 people. I had a pretty normal life.
Like when I was really young, I went to a very small private Christian school. And We were all very close because there was so little of us in the town, and that made things kind of easier because. when I was 10 years old. my life kind of started becoming really unordinary. I was at my best friend's house at the time, and like most.
Kids in the Delta, we're outside playing in the fields and We had been cleaning her... dad's barn all day and then We decided that We wanted to go play on the tractor that had been sitting there for a few years. And we went over to it and we started playing on it, and I had on. Rubber boots, and they got caught in the railing on the top of the tractor.
So when I started to fall, I caught myself. on a live power line that was hanging on the side of the road. And it then electrocuted me with 10,000 volts electricity. Electricity exited from my hip. in my back and then shot out of my hands.
And it completely killed my right arm and then my left hand. And my friend sat there and watched the whole thing. She was only 10 years old too, so it was very hard for her to witness.
So her mom then called the ambulance and took them a while to get there, but it also took them a while to get my hands off the power line because I was knocked unconscious.
So the farmhands came over and finally got me down. If I wouldn't have been wearing the rubber rain boots, I would not have been grounded. The electricity would have exploded out of my feet and my arms and back, and that would have killed me.
So ultimately, the rain boots are what saved my life. The ambulance finally arrived. And I remember waking up and all I could see was clouds and a blue sky. And looking around and seeing everybody and I remember hearing everybody screaming and freaking out and crying. And so that confused me because I had no idea what had happened.
And they wrapped me up in what looked like tinfoil. And then It was like a f light switch went out. And I remember waking up. A month later. I was airlifted from Dundee, Mississippi.
to Labonner in Memphis, where they instantly amputated my. Right arm. And then the next morning, I was flown to Cincinnati, Ohio, and they. Tried to save my left hand and it just kept making it worse and it was almost gonna kill me so we had to amputate it. At a little bit below the elbow, I was having surgery every single day, twice a day, and then after almost a month and a half.
Uh finally Was good enough to where I could go home. I was in pressure garments to keep my wounds sealed.
So it was. Like a skin-tight outfit that was from my knees up to my neck, that I had to wear all day, every day. Then as soon as I got home from the hospital, I had letters and stuff people written me in my floor.
So I slowly found a way to get onto the ground and I started trying to crawl. And since my balance was so weak, I face planted onto the floor. Being so young, it just was really scary because I was like, oh my gosh, I'm never going to be able to do anything again. Then I broke my leg. jumped on the bed and it snapped.
That was because when the electricity exited my hip, it had caused a hairline fracture in my femur that was just waiting to break, and all it needed was a little push. I was then in a wheelchair for eight. Weeks. And Still had to go back to school. When my friends first saw me, some of them were excited to see me because they were happy that I was alive, but they were also scared at the same time because we were so young and we had never experienced anything like that.
So it was just really different, my friends adjusting to being around me. And they also had to figure out what I needed help with and like when was the right time to ask me for help. Honestly, that was my motivation to learn stuff so well when I was younger because I didn't want my friends to not want to be around me because they were gonna have to do this and this and this for me just over and over. When you're a 12-year-old little kid, that's annoying. You would just wanna be a kid, you don't wanna sit there.
and help your friend do everything.
So it kind of just taught me to learn to do stuff for myself. For almost a year after my accident, I literally could do nothing for myself. I literally had to get help with everything, my hair, brushing my teeth. Changing clothes, eating. Showering everything.
Slowly after that, I was just like, I'm gonna have to figure it out because I can't sit like this for the rest of my life, having my mom help me with everything. At first, it was obviously very difficult relearning everything and trying to figure out life again at such a young age, but slowly. things just started falling into place. When I first had my accident, obviously their big mission. was to find prosthetics for me so I could start learning to use them.
And We ended up getting two prosthetics. It was one arm, and then I had a hand that looked very realistic. But The thing is, we got them, took them home, everything, and then we had to find the process of paying for them. And so we were trying to go through insurance, and they denied us and said that hands were not medically necessary.
So then things started getting really difficult. We were scared that they were going to take them away from us, but we ended up finding a way to pay for them. but they were very expensive so it took a long time. By the time I had finally gotten to where I could have the prosthetics and found something I liked and I was comfortable with, I had already learned to do. just about every single thing so it was way harder to try to relearn with prosthetics Because then it was like starting back at square one.
So I do still have prosthetics. I have a right arm and a left hand. And they are currently in the bottom of my closet, and they have been for the past. Three and a half years. Another reason I really don't use them is because they're extremely heavy.
And it's not a very comfortable feeling. My arm is really squished in there and will lose circulation and fall asleep. And on my right side, that's a full... Two-foot arm hanging off my shoulder, made of metal. And so it's really heavy, and my shoulder starts cramping.
Most of my friends will tell you it's just weird seeing me with them on. One time, my friend and I were at my house, and she wanted to see me with my prosthetics on.
So I surprised her and walked out with them on, and it put tears in her eyes because she had never seen me. with arms before, and so it's just a completely different person you're seeing. I just wasn't supposed to have arms and so all my friends know that. And you're listening to Madison Acey tell her story and. Oh my goodness.
What a thing to happen at the age of ten And to wake up a month later, And really understand the gravity of that and how you're going to live. the rest of your life. without arms. And then to listen to her voice.
Well, you knew.
Well, and you're gonna know soon. that she made it through. But, my goodness, put yourself in her shoes. And always we like to do these things and tell these stories because the obstacles Americans overcome each and every day that humans overcome. with their own perseverance and grit is just remarkable.
My goodness, that she said at a certain point, at this young age, I'm going to have to figure these things out for myself. I don't want my mom doing everything for me. And My goodness, to hear from an insurance company hands aren't medically necessary.
Well, how absurd, but in the end, Madison agreed. And her story continues. Here. on our American stories. Awkward time to ask this, but hey, did you download the trail map?
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Disclosures. And we return to Our American stories and to Madison Acey's story of becoming a double amputee. at the age of ten. Here's Madison to continue with her story. It became a completely different household.
Mom had to give me so much attention, helping me that my younger brother would feel left out. But he was really young at the time, so he was always worried. He was like, Is this you're gonna die? It started to feel less like a home, but more like A at-home hospital.
So it kind of got difficult for a while, but. They brought me this little band that usually goes on people with arthritis that can't use their fingers, and it happened to fit the end of my arm perfectly. You can insert like a pen, a pencil, a fork, makeup brushes. My toothbrush, that's how I do everything almost, is my cuff. Driving was One of the scariest things to learn how to do, obviously, but it was never really a difficult thing to do.
I've always thought it's because that's the one thing I did not know how to do before I lost my hands.
So learning to drive. with half an arm. was the only way I knew.
So I just went on doing high school. I played basketball. I was a cheerleader. I did track. I did all kinds of things, I traveled.
And being an amputated gave me opportunities. to go to the Bethany Hamilton retreat. in California every year starting in Eighth grade. It's a retreat for amputees. that we all get to get together and just bond on our What we have in common.
Going to the Bethany Hambleton Retreat has been the greatest experience of my life. That is why I'm honestly so grateful to be an amputee. Every single girl that comes in is completely unique, has a completely different story. A lot of kids were born without limbs.
Some come in about accents. One of my best friends that I met there, she lost her hand when she was three years old. She put it in a meat grinder. three years old so it's just not it's just Awesome to hear all these crazy stories, and like we can all just sit back and laugh about it because we've all been through stuff like that. It was always interesting meeting new MPTs and seeing how they did things, and how you would assume that we would be all more comfortable around each other.
But sometimes I'm more comfortable around my friends with arms and all their limbs because. It's not as intimidating, as crazy as that sounds. When you're in a room full of girls that are, every single one of them are an amputee, and you're seeing. How different everybody does everything. It just kind of overwhelms you.
And you're like, well, am I doing this wrong? Am I doing this wrong? Should I be doing it like this? This one girl has one hand, so she can do a ponytail. Makes me so mad.
I'm like, I just need two fingers. I just need two fingers. And so when you leave the room, you try to go do. All these things and ways you saw these other girls doing them, and then it frustrates you because you're feeling like you're having to go from step one. Even though I love all of my amputee friends, I wouldn't trade them for the world.
It does get overwhelming feeling like you're doing things wrong because you're not doing them the same way they are. But then when I'm the only amputee. I feel like I'm doing everything the way I'm supposed to be doing it because that's my natural way of doing it. versus their natural way of doing it. Bethany has way more people that look at her than we do on average.
And So she just gives good advice on how to not let the negative people affect you and just to keep putting your faith in God because he's done this to us for a purpose. I remember sitting in the hospital. With my mom, and one night her Bible fell off of her bed, and it turned to Jeremiah 29, 11. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and to give you a future. And it's just literally what has gotten me through everything because God has a plan for me, He knows what He's done with my life, He doesn't make mistakes.
This is his purpose for me, and his purpose was to prove to others God is going to bring you through it. He doesn't do this to punish you, but to prove to you and to prove to others that everything has a purpose in life. You'll figure it out eventually. One of the scariest things after my accident That I always thought about was, oh my gosh, I'm never going to have a boyfriend. Like, that was like the biggest fear of mine was.
I'm never gonna have someone love me. I'm never gonna get married and all that stuff. Thinking about, am I going to be able to take care of my kids? That's always been Something that's been scary because obviously I have not experienced that yet, and it's just scary to think that what if. I'm stuck being a mom and I can't take care of my child.
Then I know that I'm not even a mom yet. That's like mom's biggest fear. And Simply like, wanting to go get a manicure, wanting to wear cute rings and stuff. It sounds lame, but that's stuff girls love to do, and I don't get to do that. Obviously, at times I'm like, this is awful.
It's hard to explain because of the mindset that I've created for myself. I don't get upset because if I wouldn't have had my accident, my life would be completely different than it is now. I would not have the friends I have. Nothing in my life would have been the same. And so It's hard to be upset when looking at it like that.
When I got to college is when I first started to really have to do things on my own completely. And there was a few things that I just really did not know how to do by myself.
Well, I didn't think I knew how to do for myself. The first thing was learning to brush my hair. I had never done that before, and I figured out how to do it. One day I was going somewhere, and of course, the shoes I wanted to wear, the laces were untied.
So I just figured out how to do it. I just had to use my mouth and tie my shoes. And there's just so many things I really did not think I was going to be able to do. And then, as time went on and I was forced to learn how to do them myself, it became easier and easier. And Now I won't do it all by myself.
When I'm in class, I write my notes just like every other student does. I can load my backpack up just as fast as every other student. I'm usually the first person out of the room. During school, I don't feel any different than anybody else. After I graduate college in the spring, I'm going to attend an online school to get my interior design license and become hopefully an interior designer.
And I would like to remodel houses. That's my favorite thing to do, but it's also a job that I can physically do. Most of this stuff is done on a computer, so it just makes it really easy for me to physically build to have an interior design job. There's almost no job that I can do. Right now, at this age, without a degree.
So it's very upsetting when you're told that hands aren't necessary to live.
So you don't qualify for disability and stuff. When there are people out that get it just any excuse and they take it and run with it. I would love more than anything to be able to go out and work. I don't like sitting at home being lazy. I can't stand it.
My brother is always like, well, go be a cashier. And I'm always like, well, you want me to spit your change back at you? And so it's just always a joke because, I mean, yeah, there's things that people just assume that I could do and they just don't think about like, how would I actually do it? Because people take for granted what they have in life and they don't appreciate they do have Something I always say is life isn't about what you've lost. It's about what you have.
That's just what I try to keep in mind and help people understand is you've got to get up and move on with your life because you were given this life for a purpose and not to waste it. I've ended up having really a pretty normal, extremely normal life. Just physically look different than everybody else. I've been very fortunate to find people that could care less. And all my friends tell me all the time they completely forget that I don't have hands.
And it's really refreshing to hear. Even though my life has not turned out anything like I would have expected. I literally would not trade my life for the world. I feel that I was handpicked by God to be an amputee. and to show others that you can do anything you put your mind to.
And that's the main thing that I've learned: if you want something, you can achieve it no matter your circumstances. I just am very thankful to be an amputee because it helps me stand out in ways that others may not. inspire others to achieve the goals they want throughout their life. And thanks to our own Madison, Madison Martin, for bringing us the story of Madison Acey, who also happens to be.
Well, our Madison's friend. And what a story, and what a story we can all learn from. I mean that she formulated the sentence, I am grateful to be an amputee. is really remarkable. Don't let negative people affect you, she said.
And she also pointed out that her faith in God As she put it, it got me through everything. By the way, is that a theme we hear on this show regularly from people who suffer great adversity? And we don't go looking for that answer, folks. but we don't edit it out when it is. I think that's the difference between us and so many other storytellers out there.
Moreover, when she said these words, well, I I just started crying. The scariest thing she said, the biggest fear I have, is that nobody will ever love me. And will I be able to take care of my kids? Yes and yes to both of those things, Madison. Madison Acey's story, a story of courage, of grit, of resilience, of faith.
Here on Our American Stories. Tired of spills and stains on your sofa? Wash away your worries with Anibay. Anibay is the only designer sofa that's machine washable inside and out, starting at just $699. Bus Anibay sofas are pet-friendly, stain-resistant, and feature changeable slip covers and modular pieces.
Get up to 60% off site-wide with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Visit washable sofas.com to get yours now. That's washable sofas.com. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply. Are you looking for entertainment that lifts you up?
Then check out Upt Faith and Family, the leading streaming service for inspiring, hope-filled shows. and movies. This season streams soul-stirring favorites like Southern Gospel, plus four full seasons of Jesus Calling, and the uplifting new faith series These Stones. Or settle in with 19 seasons of the beloved family series Heartland, a family favorite ranch drama fans can't get enough of. It's commercial free.
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This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human. Mm-hmm.
