Life is not as good as he might like it to be, Andy Holcomb will tell anyone.
But praise God, it’s certainly not as bad as it could have been either. And oh, how he knows that.
Seven years ago Sunday, the Akron man was involved in a terrifying industrial accident that claimed the lower half of his body, everything below the belly button.
His story — that he survived at the harrowing scene, during the transport, at the hospital and years later — and his strong faith continue to stop folks in their tracks.
Without even trying, Andy Holcomb, 26, reminds the rest of us not to sweat the small stuff. Or as Andy — the former Eric the Viking mascot at Akron’s North High School — quoting from the animated TV series Bobby’s World, puts it: “Underwater fish don’t stink!”
Observing the “Huh?” look on the face of this from-another-generation columnist, Andy translated: “It just means it’s all about perception. As long as you have the will to walk forward, God doesn’t care if you stumble.
“Things might seem bad sometimes,” he continued. “But there is plenty of good around you.”
He speaks from his own unassailable experience, especially this past year that saw him confined most of that time in bed with a sore that wouldn’t heal. On this day, Andy, finally able to sit comfortably in his wheelchair, was enjoying watching his 1-year-old niece Libby vie for the attention of his dog, Tre, and his brother Gary Jr.’s dog, Cabo.
Tre, an active rescue pug who has been in Andy’s life for a year, is so named because he has three legs.
“He had four legs when we got him. But we knew right away he would need an amputation,” Andy said.
Who better than Andy to show him the ropes and provide unconditional love?
All that matters is that Tre is a perfect fit in this family, which also includes Andy’s mother Sheila Holcomb, oldest brother Gary Jr. and his wife, Marsha, middle brother Clifford and his wife, Katie (the parents of Libby).
Tre, who came from Paws and Prayers animal rescue, is Andy’s second dog. Clarabelle, a Jack Russell/beagle mix who came from the Humane Society of Greater Akron, died a few months before Tre joined the family.
That Andy’s Christmas tree is still up and lighted, in the bedroom built by the Northeastern Ohio Subcontractors Association with funds donated by the community, just speaks to his joie de vivre — joy of life.
Asked about his most prized Christmas gifts, Andy mentioned a necklace with Christ on the cross from Gary Jr., and a Rocksmith video-game guitar. The latter will him learn to play a real guitar, he hopes.
Andy is looking forward to the time when he’s wound-free so Shamp Bionics in Akron can adjust the prosthetic that will allow for optimum mobility.
Getting out of the house, doing public speaking and hanging out with friends at Applebee’s is the goal.
In the meantime, he’ll continue to enjoy playing video games like Borderlands with Gary Jr. and hopefully master the guitar. “When I do, the song I really want to learn is Forever — the one John Stamos, Uncle Jesse on Full House, did:
“If the song I sing to you
“Could fill your heart with joy
“I’d sing forever.”
Cheerful in all things, Andy was quick to remind me: “I’m still the most attractive bilateral amputee on the East Coast.”
Modesty is not part of his DNA. But that’s OK. He has so many other lovable traits.
Like gratitude to all the folks who continue to write him, like Heidi Bethea, who writes once a week and makes him cupcakes that get personally delivered by her firefighter husband.
Andy shared an Internet story about a man in China, Peng Shulin, who lost the lower half of his body in a farm accident in 1995. He has been successfully fitted with a prosthesis that allows him not only to stand, but also to walk. “He’s opened a half-off store,” Andy deadpanned.
But he’s not kidding. Actually, it’s a bargain supermarket called Half Man: Half Price.
Whether Andy Holcomb and Peng Shulin ever connect, it sure would be grand if their doctors would have a meeting of the minds. Until then or there’s another breakthrough, Andy will continue being hopeful.
That even includes rooting for the Browns, the Cavs and the Indians. “I’m just hometown proud!” he said, sounding a “life is good” theme that Sheila knows as well as her son.
She received a kidney transplant almost 13 years ago. The donor was a 16-month-old baby. “I was the only person in five states that was a match,” she said, underscoring the power of faith.
As Andy Holcomb has often and wisely reminded us: “You don’t have to have legs to walk by faith.”
That I know to be true.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
