Mike Bolland is an amazing man. He has no right hand, but he has never let limb loss stop him from doing incredible things. Mike was born with a congenital defect, leaving him with no right hand. As a child, he secured the role of Danny, the one-handed child in “The Trial of Billy Jack.” That was before the days of CGI and digital editing. Unlike the missing legs of Lt. Dan in “Forrest Gump,” they couldn’t edit out limb loss in 1974.
When he was 13 years old, he began bowling, and by age 16, he won his state championship. That netted him a spot at the Coca-Cola Nationals and was his first time away from home. That led to a career in the Professional Bowler’s Association (PBA).
After bowling, Mike began a career at Discount Tire, where he proved adept at changing tires one-handed. He moved up in the company until 2016. That is when his life changed drastically. Mike found out he had cancer in 2016. As one of the toughest hurdles he had ever faced, Mike met the challenge head-on. It forced him to think beyond his career at Discount Tire.
Giving Back To The Limb Loss Community
He decided it was time to start giving back to the amputee/limb loss community. And he has not stopped! In the video below, he demonstrates tying a Windsor Knot one-handed. I know people that can’t do that with both hands!
The first “gift” began with the creation of the non-profit named for his biggest fans, Joe & Marie Bolland’s Helping Hands. The organization dedicates itself to helping amputees obtain prosthetics. The second “gift” is to broadcast the stories of amputees with the We’re Not Stumped Amputee Podcast. After the cancer, Mike also tried his hand at stand-up comedy. In his spare time, he stays busy single-handedly operating a business called Two-Fisted Drinker (TwoFistedDrinker.com).
OK, that’s enough being punny. When Mike began the We’re Not Stumped podcast, it also blossomed into a budding career as a public speaker. Mike shares his story about navigating life with one hand and provides encouraging words to motivate amputees and others with limb loss. His podcast addresses every topic that impacts the community.
By interviewing prosthetic inventors, users, and caregivers, he provides his audience with laughter, tears, and everything in between. His vision is to “… keep on sharing these stories so others in various parts of their own limb loss journey can understand there can be happiness within their lives.”
Please share Mike Bolland’s amazing story. Drop by his podcast, We’re Not Stumped, and give it a listen. You can also find him on YouTube, Instagram, and X (Twitter).
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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