NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

HOLLYWOOD DREAMS P 12

HEALTHCARE AT THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON P 16

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE P 20

MAKING THE CONNECTION P 27

From the publisher of The O&P EDGE

AMPLITUDE-MEDIA.COM NO ONE LIKE ME Actor and Paralympian Katy Sullivan was born missing both legs through the femur bone. She grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, surrounded by a supportive family, and believed that what she could accomplish in life is not limited by her missing limbs. After seeing the musical Annie at age 6, Sullivan knew one thing she wanted to Sullivan has many credits on her accomplish: She wanted to be an actor. acting resumé: the upcoming romantic However, growing up with a disability, comedy Offside; TV series that include she also noticed an absence of anyone NCIS: New Orleans, Last Man Standing, like her in plays, movies, or on TV. Legit, and My Name Is Earl; and videos project, Sullivan may give a generation “I never saw myself reflected anywhere on her production company’s YouTube of young girls the chance to point to her in the media,” she says. “I couldn’t point channel, SulliFlinn. and say, “I relate to that person.” to anyone and say, ‘I relate to that per- However, Sullivan may have just son.’” Filling that gap for others is one of earned her most fulfilling credit yet, FROM LIMB LOSS TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES Sullivan’s goals with her media career. completing a fellowship at the Producers After receiving her bachelor of fine Guild of America. ere, she and her Jason Koger did not expect his life arts, Sullivan moved to Los Angeles to production partner, Becca Flinn, work- to change on March 1, 2008. at establish a career in Hollywood. Between shopped a project that Sullivan wrote, a day, Koger was electrocuted when his auditions, however, she took up compet- half-hour comedy series, which has been all-terrain vehicle (ATV) ran over a fallen itive running and soon gained recogni- optioned. power line, leading to the amputation of tion as a sprinter, which led to a brief “We’re shopping it around, taking it to both his arms below the elbow. detour from pursuing her acting networks and trying to find a home for A positive attitude helped him quickly objective. She held the American record it,” Sullivan explains. adjust to his new status. He taught in the 100m for over five years and She describes the series as “an honest himself to drive immediately upon placed sixth in that event at the 2012 portrayal of someone living with a leaving the hospital. After being fitted London Paralympics. disability,” which, she points out, is far with prostheses, he learned to perform She describes her competitive run- removed from a person with a disability activities of daily living, including ning years as “this amazing, random, being the center of either a tragic or dressing, eating, and caring for his two wonderful chapter.” Yet her “first and an inspiring story, as the media often daughters, Billie Grace and Cambell forever love” is acting. (Her forever love presents. (who were joined by younger brother in careers, that is. Sullivan is married to “I don’t know if we’ve seen that in Axell in 2011). Jay Cramer, a comedic actor and writer.) a real, genuine sort of way—and espe- Before his accident, Koger had been cially not from the female perspective,” content working in his family’s Owens- Sullivan says. boro, Kentucky-based construction busi- If she can find a home for her new ness, spending time with his wife, Jenny, and their children, and hunting in the woods near the family farm. However, he found that his limb loss offered new opportunities.

www.amplitude-media.com AMPLITUDE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 13 Koger reading with his daughter Cambell. Images courtesy of Advanced Arm Dynamics. Koger has also found work acting. Apple asked him to perform in a com- puter commercial that was released Out in public, complete strangers during last year’s Super Bowl, and the would tell him his prosthesis use was producers of the TV series Hawaii Five-0 inspiring. ese encounters gave Koger, invited him to be the stand-in for guest who is always looking to help others, star Peter Weller. In the 2013 Hawaii an idea. Five-0 episode, the veteran actor por- “I thought the best way I could give trayed a killer with prosthetic hands. Cambodia to stay the weekend at Koger’s back in my situation was to inspire But it’s Koger’s prostheses shown in home and attend a fundraising party. e people,” he says. “I could share my story scenes featuring prosthesis use. event raised $18,000 for local charities. to inspire other amputees, and anybody It was supposed to be a three-day job. Koger now has a role in Matthew with a problem, just to show that you However, inspired by Koger’s dexterity McConaughey’s 2016 film e Free State can go on and live life.” with his prostheses, Weller—who also of Jones and would like to pursue acting Subsequently, Koger has told his directed the episode—added more further. However, between enjoying inspirational story to small gatherings scenes for his body double, stretching family life in his quiet hometown and at nearby schools and at large events the original three-day stint to two and also finding ways to help others, he hasn’t such as the Farm Bureau Conference, a half weeks. yet determined how to proceed with an the Cattlemen’s Association Convention, Koger and Weller became such close acting career. Still, whatever path Koger and the Amputee Coalition National friends that last year the actor flew from follows, it doubtless will be inspired. Conference. Any fees he receives go to charity. He also volunteers with For more information about Koger, you can follow him on Twitter, Instagram, or amputee assistance organizations. www.jasonkoger.com.

14 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER | AMPLITUDE www.amplitude-media.com