Find Your Way with Karen Hale & Kristy AndersonWelcome to Find Your Way, a podcast hosted by Karen Hale, producer, and life coach, and Kristy Anderson, co host and Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. Together, we hold space for honest conversations about healing, resilience, and the many ways people rebuild their lives after profound change.Today, we welcome back a guest whose story has touched many of our listeners—Cherie Tinnin. You may remember her from a previous episode, The Story of Earl, where she shared the journey that led to the amputation of her ankle and the creation of “Earl,” the prosthetic leg she named as part of her emotional recovery. If you’d like to revisit that conversation, you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHz7z39OT3E&list=PLSdL23sBfggnP2VLP7FoN7Vr7aDUyKBus&index=32In today’s episode, Cherie opens up about two deeply personal paths she’s walking at the same time: her prosthetic progress and her grief journey. She talks about learning to wear her prosthetic leg with increasing confidence, the setbacks and breakthroughs, and the emotional roller coaster that comes with reclaiming mobility. She also shares how the passing of her father in July brought forward grief she had been quietly carrying, and how a friend’s support helped her finally release what she had been holding inside. Kristy reminds us that grief has no timeline, no stages, and no rules—only the need for grace.Cherie also revisits the long medical road that led to her amputation, beginning with a misdiagnosed injury in 1996 and culminating in the decision to remove her ankle after an ATV accident made repair nearly impossible. She describes how she and her sister transformed the experience into something meaningful—taking “Earl” on a playful outing around Denver before surgery, documenting the day with humor and love.We explore how naming her amputated foot “Earl” and the remaining part “Steve” became a powerful coping tool, helping her navigate the emotional weight of amputation and avoid the coldness of medical terminology. Kristy shares how this kind of symbolic naming is often used in the Grief Recovery Method to support healing.Cherie also talks about the world of prosthetics—how different legs are designed for different activities, from dancing to hiking to swimming. She shares her excitement about New Mexico’s Get Moving New Mexico program, which provides access to specialized prosthetics beyond what insurance covers, and her hopes for future mobility.She gives us an update on her current progress: a new silicone insert that finally allows her to wear her prosthetic comfortably, her joy at returning to her own office, and the emotional ups and downs that come with reclaiming independence.Finally, Cherie reflects on the moment she realized amputation was the right choice—how learning the low success rate of repair helped her make an informed decision, and how grateful she is to have had agency in the process. She speaks candidly about the challenges of recovery, the importance of honesty, and the strength she’s found in asking for help. The conversation closes with her hope for more in person support groups for amputees, and Kristy’s insight into how grief recovery specialists help people process the grief that comes with physical and life changes.You can connect with Cherie on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cherie.tinnin74For more information on the Greif Recovery Method please contact Kristy Anderson https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/find-a-specialist/kristy-andersonFor more information on sharing your story and Life Coaching contact Karen newclevelandradio@gmail.comMusic intro courtesy of Jeff Brisbin “I wish you enough” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KYf9JeFkgEMusic Editor: Griffin Booth
