Diana Adapted Foundation

Celebrating 8 years of this beautiful life today! 6/25/16, the day that changed my world forever. My outlook, my strength, my confidence in myself, all went into hyperdrive after that night. While I usually post a video of me working out or doing something crazy on the accident’s anniversary, I’m celebrating differently this year. If you’ve read any article I’ve been lucky enough to be featured in or listened to any podcast I’ve been welcomed to join, you know that my number one fear after my accident wasn’t how I’d drive a car again, or how I’d do my hair, or really anything to do with me - it was my unsteadiness at the thought of caring for my future babies. Fast forward 8 years and I’m so damn proud to say I’ve conquered that fear and proved to myself that truly, I can do ANYTHING (and so can you, btw)

So as we prep to welcome our third baby this November, I’m so grateful that I get to enter this new chapter of 3 with the confidence I’ve gained from all the things that led me to this moment. So this year, the celebration looks and feels more meaningful - and is arguably the most rewarding celebration yet. What was once my biggest fear, has now become my biggest and most rewarding accomplishment yet - my 3 beautiful babies. Cheers to 8 and the next crazy adventure 👶🏼👶🏼👶🏼🦾

🌟TURNING PAIN INTO PURPOSE🌟

Are you in search of a speaker who doesn't just talk about overcoming adversity but lives and breathes the journey of resilience? Your search ends here! Meet Diana Gazzano Gibson, the Founder of and a thriving amputee; She is a living testament to the incredible power of the human spirit. 💪✨

🌱Diana’s Story:
In the face of limb loss, she discovered a strength within her that she never knew existed. She transformed adversity into opportunity, turning setbacks into stepping stones. From the depths of challenge, she emerged with a story of triumph, resilience, and unwavering hope. Her journey is a testament to the fact that our greatest limitations can lead to our most profound growth.

🎤Ideal Events:
✔️Corporate Conferences: Inspire teams to foster resilience, teamwork, and adaptability, turning challenges into innovation.
✔️Educational Institutions: Empower students with the mindset to face obstacles head-on, nurturing a culture of determination and compassion.
✔️Community Gatherings: Share the transformative power of resilience, encouraging neighbors to support one another through life’s difficulties.

✨What You Can Expect:
Diana’s talks are not just motivational speeches; they are immersive experiences. Expect interactive sessions, heartfelt storytelling, and actionable takeaways. Diana creates an atmosphere where audiences not only hear but truly feel the triumph of the human spirit.

🔥Let’s Ignite Transformation Together:
We are here to inspire, uplift, and remind everyone that no obstacle is insurmountable. By inviting us to your event, you’re inviting a catalyst for change, a beacon of hope, and a guide for turning adversity into strength.

💌 Book Diana for Your Event:
Ready to empower your audience with a message of resilience and triumph? Reach out at [email protected] or DM us here. Let’s discuss how we can customize Diana’s story to resonate profoundly with your audience. Virtual or in person available.

🌟Together, let’s rewrite the narrative of adversity, proving that with courage, determination, and a resilient spirit, we can overcome anything.💫

📣 Introducing DAF Recipient, Daniela Caneto Elias 📣

In 2021, Daniela was involved in a car accident that resulted in the amputation of her arm.

She originally approached The Diana Adapted Foundation looking for fitness guidance. As someone who was very active in CrossFit prior to her accident, she turned to DAF to continue on her journey as an adaptive athlete 🦾

Daniela’s focus quickly shifted when she found out she was pregnant with her beautiful baby boy, Kevin. Under the Adaptive Mama program, Daniela received specific items from the Adaptive Mama Kit that would help her care for her little boy with confidence. A few of the items she received can be seen in this post. These items have been proven to help adaptive mamas (and dadas!) with an upper limb difference care for their little ones ⭐️

In addition to the items, Daniela received specific ‘how to’ videos on ways to care for her baby such as how to change a diaper, how to feed, how to pick up her baby with one arm and more.

Daniela has been absolutely crushing being an adaptive mama and we are so proud of all that she’s accomplished!

We leave you with some inspiring words from Daniela, “No matter what you are going through, there is nothing better than life and believe me, it will get better”

Follow her journey

If you’d like to help more people like Daniela, visit dianaadaptedfoundation.org/donate to donate today!

We are honored and excited to be chosen as ’s social impact partner for tomorrow’s 5:30p workout! 💪🏼

*For every person who attends the class, will donate $20 to The Diana Adapted Foundation*

We’ll be there with brand new Diana Adapted Foundation x merch for purchase and all the details you might want learn about our mission!

Will we see you there?! 🤗

Reminder: Be Kind

I received this note on my car while I ran into AJ’s to buy a few things.

Unfortunately, I can count on my one hand (pun intended) how often this type of thing happens to me, especially while wearing my passive prosthetic arm.

Maybe this person saw me at an angle that made me look able bodied. Maybe this person thinks that an upper limb difference isn’t considered “handicapped”. Maybe this person has no idea that I have two small children to get in and out of the car and need the extra space the handicapped space allows. Maybe this person didn’t know I was running in to buy my Dad a birthday cake and candles for his 75th birthday. Maybe they didn’t know that I was also grabbing a bouquet of flowers for our new nanny that we adore. Maybe they don’t know that today also happens to be one of the hardest days of the year for me as today we are remembering my sweet mom who passed away 18 years ago.

I walked into the store happy to be doing a few nice things for others and came out feeling absolutely horrible and actually fuming to be treated so unfairly.

So again, here’s your reminder to just be kind. You don’t know what kind of things people are having to deal with. And you certainly don’t know what disabilities, visible or otherwise, people are living with.

I understand that there are people out there that may take advantage of a handicapped placard, where a note like this may be warranted - but there are ways to communicate your message in a kind, compassionate manner. Hopefully we can get there one day.

Beyond honored to have been featured in this month’s ! 🙌🏼 Check out “Five founders of local nonprofits making big waves in the community” at the link in our bio! 🔗

https://www.soscottsdale.com/index #/feature-story/

This past week, my 2.5 year old asked me what happened to my arm - she’s never known me any other way. To be honest, I’m surprised it took this long since everyone else around her looks just like her…but mommy doesn’t. We were laying on the couch and she popped up like all two years olds do when they get an idea. She said, “Mommy, what happened?”
•
I’ve been preparing for this conversation for a while so I was ready. I told her that Mommy was in an accident before she was born and that I got a bad owie. But, it doesn’t hurt anymore and I am just fine. She looked me dead in the eyes and said “Can I squish it?” 😂
•
Ironically this week I was asked by an adult if it bothered me when children ask me about my limb difference. My answer was that I actually love it. Kiddos have such curious minds (and no filter) that they don’t hesitate to ask. It gives me an opportunity to share what happened, why I’m like this and that I’m just fine. Most of the time that’s all they want to hear, most of the time 🙃
•
I do notice often that their parents get embarrassed that their child is so blunt and tend to discourage them from asking. I think I can speak for most of us with “disabilities” when I say that it’s better to explain than to shame. Most of the time parents just try to hurry along and change the subject, but what does that teach the child?
•
For any parents out there wondering what to say/do when their kid points and asks “WHAT’S WRONG WITH THEM” here are a few tips to try.
•
1. Acknowledge their question and reply with excitement. “Oh my gosh isn’t that so cool?”; “That wheelchair helps them get around the store just like you and I!”
•
2. Don’t shush them or discourage engagement, this creates a precedent that a disability isn’t to be discussed
•
3. If the person with disability seems open to it, start a conversation (if able) and speak to them normally just as you would with someone able bodied to show your child that they’re a regular person too
•
If you want to take it a step further, there are books out there that discuss disabilities and inclusivity for all ages. I’m happy to share those if interested!

Let’s start em young ♥️

This ad though 🙌🏼

Aerie

I can hardly contain my excitement for the NEXT phase of Diana Adapted! But can’t share yet 🫣 I CAN say that what’s coming next is exactly why I was put on this earth and why this accident happened to me. I believe that with every ounce of my being 🙏🏼STAY TUNED!

Tiger Woods 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Tiger gets it.

Carson Pickett opens up about making USWNT history as 1st player with limb difference Soccer player Carson Pickett talks to “Good Morning America” about debuting as the U.S. women's national soccer team’s first player with a limb difference.

FACTS:
❗️About 507 people lose a limb each day
❗️Each year, about 1900 babies are born with an upper or lower limb difference
❗️1558 US service members lost a limb in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
❗️The Department of Veterans Affairs provides care for more than 96,000 veterans with limb loss each year
❗️April is limb loss awareness month! 🦾🦿

I was honored to be featured in this article from Arm Dynamics] about increasing the awareness of those with limb difference with the goal of improving access to vital health services.

https://www.armdynamics.com/upper-limb-library/april-is-limb-loss-and-limb-difference-awareness-month

Stay tuned for more from .adapted on Limb Loss Awareness month!



*photo features my passive silicone prosthesis built by Arm Dynamics], Artech and ♥️

8-year-old student and teacher bond over shared limb difference Leah Kaplan, a special education teacher, and 8-year-old student Raegan Justesen talk about living and thriving with a limb difference.

To the lady and her sweet daughter at the nail salon…
•
I watched and admired your sweet relationship from my seat in my chair just a few feet away for nearly my whole manicure. I thought how I couldn’t wait for the day that I would take my daughter to get our nails done together. The mom asked her daughter to smile as she took her picture while she was getting them done for what seemed like her first time. She looked about 9 years old.
•
And then it happened.
•
The mother turned around to see my prosthetic arm sitting at the table behind her freshly painted. I’ve always loved that I could paint the nails.
•
She proceeded to say out loud, “how creepy…look how creepy, Elizabeth” to her young daughter. To which her daughter responded, “yeah, creepy!”
•
I wish I had the cojones to speak up but I was honestly still in shock by what just occurred. After all, I’m sitting right there…armless.
•
I write this not for sympathy because to be frank, I’m confident in my circumstance and can more than handle these type of reactions.
•
I write this for those that aren’t. Because a comment like that has the power to ruin someone’s, day, week, month, year and beyond
•
So to this lady and your sweet daughter…I pray you never have to ever encounter hardship that makes you or a loved one ‘different’. And I pray that somehow your daughter learns that differences aren’t ‘creepy’, but actually pretty awesome.
•
Our words have power, let’s use them to do good.
•
Now back to my pedicure….

We👏🏼got👏🏼this👏🏼

The person in this picture isn’t “disabled”. She is able. This person is empowered, she is confident and she is capable. There isn’t a disabled cell in her body.

She knows that her “disability” is making her stronger and stronger. She actually has an unfair advantage. Her passion shows those around her that they too can move mountains. Her “disability” serves a purpose.

She was pointed down this path because she can handle it. Not only can she handle it, she thrives in it. She’s defined by it - in a meaningful way. Being her means that you need to be 2x as able as everyone else.

The beautiful thing is that the person in this picture represents so many others labeled as “disabled” who are blazing the trail and showing others their personal strength in their own communities. And she is so damn proud of that.

So remind me again what is disabled here?

Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities. May we all take time today to celebrate how “able” we are.

❕I had such a fun time chatting with ❕

These two ladies are very special and I am honored that they asked me to be on their show. Plus, they may or may not have brought out my long lost jersey accent a bit throughout 😏

Friends, listen in for a sneak peek 👀 into what’s next for .adapted 👏🏼

Link to listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-that-and-the-other-thing/id1469648512?i=1000543327372