Check Out Chris Johnson’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Johnson

Hi Chris, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a US Air Force disabled veteran. After my military career I developed a blood clotting disorder. After two clots in my legs, a clot in each lung (pulmonary embolism), my fifth clot presented as intermittent pain in my right foot. This started in Dec of 2023. The first week of January 2024 I woke up with so much pain in my foot I went to the ER. Four day later on January 9, 2024, Dr’s performed an emergency below knee amputation of my right leg. I had developed a blood clot with 95% blockage from my heart all the way down to my right foot with no circulation below my knee. However, this surgery did not heal and a week later they modified to an above knee amputation. Thankfully this has healed without any further complications. Eight months later I received my first prosthetic leg and begin learning how to walk. It was through a local amputee support group that I learned about Iron Adaptive. I registered to participate in a 1 week fitness boot camp-style event. This event offered by Iron Adaptive truly changed my life as it significantly accelerated the time it took me to learn how to not only walk again using my prosthetic but to be active, working out, playing sports, and living a thriving life. After the event I stayed connected with the other athletes and team from Iron Adaptive. At the end of 2024 there was an opportunity to formally join the leadership team and so I volunteered to serve as the Director of Operations and Director of Technology. It has been an exciting journey of transitioning from my own recovery to now helping other athletes in their journey. The adaptive community is so strong here in KC and there are many organizations and groups who do amazing work to help people with disabilities all across the KC region. I am humbled and honored to play a small part in that community.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Losing mobility had impacts to my life that I never anticipated. Just getting out of bed and ready for the day become a real challenge as I was also recently divorced and on my own. Everything took more time, more energy, more planning. I always considered myself to be fairly resilient and capable, but this injury challenged all of that. Navigating my tiny apartment in a wheelchair that didn’t fit through all the doorways, learning to drive with my left foot, figuring out how to use crutches because my apartment wasn’t wheelchair accessible, going back to work. It was intense! I am so grateful for my fellow athletes and the team at Iron Adaptive for surrounding me with love and support. I really don’t think I could have made it without them, and I know I would not be as capable and happy as I am today with them.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I joined the US Air Force right of high school and served 17 years as a Network and Cybersecurity Engineer. After a short job as a government contractor, I moved to Amazon Web Services working in their Global Datacenter Infrastructure business. After 4 years, my family moved back to Kansas City where I took a job with the City of Independence as an IT Manager overseeing the technology solutions utilized by public safety, utilities, and other city departments. I have also volunteered as a Regional Director for ITDRC.org, a volunteer-driven international disaster response non-profit providing communications and IT services connecting survivors and responders. In December of 2024 I began volunteering as the Director of Operations for Iron Adaptive.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was always very active in church, sports and outdoor activities. I was confident, outgoing, and joyful most of the time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ironadaptive.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iron_adaptive_training/