Scott’s Story: Finding Confidence In The Right Fit
At 19, Scott Jernigan used the money he had to buy a one-way ticket to Alaska with the hope of finding work on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. That was 46 years ago, in June of 1974. The pipeline project lasted only a year and a half, but Scott quickly realized he had fallen in love with Alaska.
“I am originally from Cheyenne, Wyoming,” says Scott, “but I didn’t want to retire there. After all those years in Alaska, I’d had enough with wind, and the wind is always blowing in Cheyenne.”
“I’ve seen polar bears, moose, musk ox, and so much wildlife up close and personal. I’ve worked in temperatures that dipped to minus 40, and in winds that blew 30 mph on a good day,” explains Scott. “I was so naive back then, I thought us workers might be living in an igloo, but like most young guys, I was ready for the adventure.”
His first job was helping build housing for workers. Before long, he worked his way up through the ranks and, by 21, was leading a crew of 30 men. At 32, he married, had two children, and later became a single father while working for the State of Alaska. He eventually joined Alyeska, the company operating the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, where he worked as a Project Safety Coordinator until retirement.
When he met Ginny in 2003, a new chapter began. Every two weeks he flew from Prudhoe Bay to Anchorage and then on to Colorado while Ginny remained at home raising their blended family - along with what she now laughingly admits may have been too many pets.
In 2017, after living in Fort Collins, Scott and his wife Ginny settled on a small ranch near Masonville, where they acquired not only cats and dogs but also horses, mini donkeys, chickens, peacocks, and huge koi.
Together, Scott and Ginny built a life they loved by caring for livestock, tending their property, and enjoying the outdoors every day. For nine years, they walked their land twice a day, rain or shine, with their dogs. They both retired in 2020, and Scott was finally at home, enjoying the country life full-time. Then, everything changed when Scott suddenly faced a major health crisis.
Scott endured a staggering 220 days in hospitals and rehab centers, battling through hardship and loss. During that time, his body wasted away by 60 pounds. When he finally “woke up”, he saw that his left leg was missing.
“I wasn’t aware of much during the time I was in the hospital, and then when I became coherent, I woke up to realize I didn’t have a leg,” says Scott. “At the time, the enormity of it didn’t really sink in. I think for people like me who’ve experienced the loss of a limb, the event itself is just the first step of what becomes a long journey to regain strength, mobility, and confidence.”
For Scott, one of the biggest reasons he’s been able to face that journey is his wife, Ginny.
“Before my hospitalization, I worked our place, and we did a lot outside together, just really enjoying being with each other. We traveled to Costa Rica, Cabo, Belize, Hawaii, the Dominican Republic, Las Vegas, and on road trips in our RV. We still look forward to many good years here for us and for our grandchildren, whose favorite things include spending as much time as they can with us, the animals, and the farm equipment they learn to drive!
“You know,” continues Scott, “when bad times hit, some couples don’t make it, but Ginny was at my side every day. She’d drive 30 miles to the hospital twice a day, sometimes three times if she was needed. Not only did she stay by my side, but she kept the homeplace going, too. There were animals to feed, a lawn to mow, and chores that won’t stop. I’m telling you, when you’ve been through what I’ve been through, and you look up one day to find the person you’ve loved all these years still right by your side…..,” and then his voice trails off. “It’s like two horses pulling a wagon. When one gets tired, the other pulls a little harder, but in this case, she was pulling it all on her own, 24/7, every day, and she’s still pulling the load today.”
Another person who helped make the journey easier was Jerry Melaragno, a Patient Engagement Specialist with Quorum Prosthetics. According to Scott, several representatives from prosthetics companies visited him during his recovery. But Jerry stood out immediately.
“Most of them came in, gave me their elevator speech, dropped off some information, and took off. Jerry didn’t swing by to drop something off; he took time to talk with us, to get to know us both, and offer his thoughts when we asked. Jerry is a bilateral amputee, with both legs gone below the knee. He’s not gloom and doom, but he doesn’t sugarcoat things, either. He shared some of the challenges I would face, but he also gave us hope.”
Scott eventually chose Quorum Prosthetics for his prosthetic care, where he worked closely with veteran prosthetist Jeff Coniway through the fitting, testing, and final design of his prosthetic. Together, they developed a comfortable socket designed to support Scott as he rebuilds his strength and mobility.
One thing that surprised Scott was the level of attention and follow-up he received throughout the process.
“They didn’t just make it and say there you go,” Scott explains. “They’ve stayed in touch. Jeff asks great questions, and as we work together, I’m continuing to learn. I have confidence that I’ve got a good team to help me gain mobility and get moving again like I want to.”
Today, Scott is back home. Using his new Quatro socket and prosthetic leg, he's rebuilding strength, gaining weight, and learning to move with greater confidence and comfort each day.
When asked what he would share with others facing limb loss, Scott didn’t hesitate.
“Here’s what I’d like to share,” says Scott, “this is something I have to live with now, something I have to get used to, and that’s true of everyone who loses a limb. But I think the focus should be on mastering the situation, not just getting by. There needs to be a goal, and mine is to be able to get around the way I want, so I can maintain the quality of life I've grown to enjoy here, where we live, and we still look forward to all the places we hope to travel to in the future.
“I have too many reasons to live the best life I can and not give up. I have a family. We have grandkids. Ginny and I both know this isn’t going to be easy, so there’s no reason to gloss over the hard parts and say that it is. I didn't always have a positive attitude when I first came out of the hospital. But with Ginny’s help and faith in God, I’ve gotten a bit stronger every day. You’ve got to believe in yourself. You've got to reach deep down and pull up your strength and throw away every part of your desire to play poor me. I believe we were built to have a positive attitude and to get up when we get knocked down, because, like it or not, this is life. And life is meant to be lived fully, no matter what challenges we face. That’s what keeps me going every day."
