Lynn DeCola
Amputee Coach | CPO
Lifelong Prosthetics Amputee Coaching & Support
Lynn DeCola
Amputee Coach | CPO
Lifelong Prosthetics Amputee Coaching & Support
Advocate Location
Saint Petersburg , FL 33709
Specialty
Medical Guidance
Other Services
Survivor Support
TeleAdvocacy Available
Offers FREE Initial Consultation
*Greater National Advocates Terms of Use Apply
How I Can Help
As an Amputee Coach, and a person with a lower limb amputation, my goal is to help clients return to living their best life possible after amputation by bridging gaps within the care team and creating a holistic advantage.
I specialize in troubleshooting problems with lower limb prosthetic devices, and devices designed to reduce the risk of amputation by relieving pressure, and providing support and protection.
• I complete second opinion assessments which identify prosthetic-related problems, and provide solutions to help improve prosthetic outcomes and reduce the risk of future amputations.
• I accompany clients to appointments with their healthcare team to help ensure continuity of care, improve communication, promote compliance, and preserve professional relationships.
• I assist with expediting insurance authorizations for amputee and prosthetic-related services, including orthotic and prosthetic devices and replacements.
• I host Facebook and Zoom support groups under Amputees Preparing Amputees 4 Life (APA4L), including groups for single-leg above knee amputees. These peer-led meetings focus on lived experience, shared understanding, and supportive discussions.
• Mental health and amputation are inseparable, even when no one else sees it. From emotional support, paperwork, and care navigation, I offer personalized guidance designed to help amputees move forward with clarity, confidence, and support, all in one place.
I specialize in troubleshooting problems with lower limb prosthetic devices, and devices designed to reduce the risk of amputation by relieving pressure, and providing support and protection.
• I complete second opinion assessments which identify prosthetic-related problems, and provide solutions to help improve prosthetic outcomes and reduce the risk of future amputations.
• I accompany clients to appointments with their healthcare team to help ensure continuity of care, improve communication, promote compliance, and preserve professional relationships.
• I assist with expediting insurance authorizations for amputee and prosthetic-related services, including orthotic and prosthetic devices and replacements.
• I host Facebook and Zoom support groups under Amputees Preparing Amputees 4 Life (APA4L), including groups for single-leg above knee amputees. These peer-led meetings focus on lived experience, shared understanding, and supportive discussions.
• Mental health and amputation are inseparable, even when no one else sees it. From emotional support, paperwork, and care navigation, I offer personalized guidance designed to help amputees move forward with clarity, confidence, and support, all in one place.
Important Information About Me
- I offer a FREE Initial Consultation
- I offer TeleAdvocacy Service
- My geographical area of practice is United States & Canada, offering virtual and in-person support
My Survivor Support Advocacy Qualifications
I am a survivor of abovekneeamputee,AKA,transfemoral,limbloss,osteomyelitis,tracheotomy,externalfixation,femurfx,forearmfx,PTSD,TBI,CHF,pacemaker
After my 1993 motorcycle accident and subsequent lower limb amputation, I endured 11 years without receiving a proper diagnosis and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Then, 25 years later, I was diagnosed and treated for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from the same 1993 accident.
This journey has given me a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by people in similar situations. It fuels my empathy and strengthens my determination to support those on their own paths to recovery.
By sharing my story and extending a helping hand, I aim to reassure others that they're not alone in their struggles. This sense of solidarity can be a powerful force in the healing process.
My dedication to this cause is driven by my genuine desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
For me, "Every Day is My Rehab!"
Then, 25 years later, I was diagnosed and treated for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from the same 1993 accident.
This journey has given me a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by people in similar situations. It fuels my empathy and strengthens my determination to support those on their own paths to recovery.
By sharing my story and extending a helping hand, I aim to reassure others that they're not alone in their struggles. This sense of solidarity can be a powerful force in the healing process.
My dedication to this cause is driven by my genuine desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
For me, "Every Day is My Rehab!"
Why I Became A Professional Health Care Advocate
In 1993, I dedicated my life to helping other amputees after I lost my right leg, above the knee, due to complications associated with a motorcycle accident.
After my amputation, I attempted to return to my previous career as a package delivery driver and quickly learned how many barriers amputees face when trying to return to work and daily life. Although I completed a work hardening program, my employer declined to bring me back due to a 15–20 lb lifting restriction set by my physician, who felt heavier lifting was unsafe because of socket pain, prosthetic instability, back and leg pain, and falls.
When I shared this devastating news with my prosthetist, he invited me to see what he did. I began shadowing him, learning patient evaluation, prosthetic design, fabrication, and fitting. With support from Vocational Rehabilitation, I completed an O&P Assistant program and was hired in 1995.
Today, more than 30 years later, my mission is to improve quality of life after amputation, reduce the risk of additional amputations, and help individuals achieve better prosthetic outcomes through personal, technical, and clinical experience. Many lower limb amputees still face the same challenges and barriers to care that I experienced decades ago, and my work focuses on helping them navigate that journey.
Please do not walk in my shoes.
Let me help you walk through your Lifelong Prosthetics’ process.
After my amputation, I attempted to return to my previous career as a package delivery driver and quickly learned how many barriers amputees face when trying to return to work and daily life. Although I completed a work hardening program, my employer declined to bring me back due to a 15–20 lb lifting restriction set by my physician, who felt heavier lifting was unsafe because of socket pain, prosthetic instability, back and leg pain, and falls.
When I shared this devastating news with my prosthetist, he invited me to see what he did. I began shadowing him, learning patient evaluation, prosthetic design, fabrication, and fitting. With support from Vocational Rehabilitation, I completed an O&P Assistant program and was hired in 1995.
Today, more than 30 years later, my mission is to improve quality of life after amputation, reduce the risk of additional amputations, and help individuals achieve better prosthetic outcomes through personal, technical, and clinical experience. Many lower limb amputees still face the same challenges and barriers to care that I experienced decades ago, and my work focuses on helping them navigate that journey.
Please do not walk in my shoes.
Let me help you walk through your Lifelong Prosthetics’ process.
Contact Advocate