Because of the miracle of the DVR my wife and I almost never watch TV ads, particularly political ads.

I like to watch the local sports teams live. Someday soon, I hope, a political candidate simply states, “My opponent is running for office because he or she has great ideas for our community. “I know my ideas are better and here’s why. ...”
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Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your blessing us with the DVR.
Jeff Lewis, Mesa
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Sixty percent of eligible voters turn out for presidential elections and 40 percent for midterms.
That stinks!
But, I know why. Because your candidate has dug up a lot of dirt to tell me how disgusting mine is and vice versa. It’s a lose-lose proposition. Who would want to vote for any of those dirt bags?
How about trying a new approach?
Start out each speech with, “Of course my opponent believes he / she will make your life better, that is why they are running. However, here is why you will be even better off by voting for me.”
It is just a dream I suppose. Gird your loins for the next few months. All you’re going to hear is “Nazi,” “racist,” “deplorable,” “thief,” “colluder,” “hates children and old people,” and, of course, the closer, “wants to take away your rights.”
Jeff Lewis, Mesa

 have been a quadruple amputee for 13 years. While I lay in my hospital bed, one of my high school department heads visited me and said, "Jeff, you are at a crossroads right now. You can choose to lie there and feel sorry for yourself or get up and improve people's lives." As a motivational speaker, I stole that challenge and use it whenever I speak.
Recently, the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club hosted a tournament for amputees which I participated in. How? Ten years ago, I decided that I wanted to play golf again. I called several manufacturers and asked for help. They all said, "We can't help you" except one.
When I called PING they said, "Can you be here tomorrow at noon?" Three months later I was golfing. Now I play golf five times a week and PING is one of my many heroes.
Everyone has experienced a loss. It may not be all four limbs, but maybe you have lost a loved one, had a financial crisis, or a relationship gone bad. What are you going to do? Get up and improve someone's life!
Jeff Lewis

Jeff and I just returned from the Amputee Coalition Annual Conference 2018 held in Tucson this year. We had a great time with old friends and met lots of new friends. Jeff presented a session on living with "Complex Limb Loss" and I presented two caregiver sessions. We were blessed years ago to learn so much at the annual conferences, and it feels great to be able to give back.​
Carol Lewis

Thirteen years ago I lost my hands and feet. I contacted an illness that sent me in to a 4 week coma and clotted off my blood supply to my extremities. As I lay in a coma, every medical professional wanted to let me go.

One person, my girlfriend, Carol, stood and fought for me when I could not stand and fight for myself. After she convinced the staff to try and save my life, the surgeon assigned to do the amputations took a look at me and refused. He confronted Carol saying, “He has less chance of survival than a reality show host has of becoming President of the United States. Besides, when he wakes up, he will hate you for having done this to him.”

​Never-the-less, the amputations were performed. When I awoke from my coma, I hated Carol so much that I married her while still in that same hospital on June 11. Today, we bowl, golf, dance and love life together so yes, I believe in miracles – my wife is one.
Oh, and I heard another miracle happened yesterday (June 11) in Singapore…

Possessing the ability to turn the bathtub tap on and off with your toes. 

I was saddened today to read of the senseless death of Benjamin McGivor, an assistant coach at Mesa Community College.
I barely knew him, but we had talked on more than one occasion. He was in a fight outside a Phoenix bar, fell and injured his head severely enough to end his life. He left behind his wife and three children.
Everyone, please show restraint, particularly when drinking is involved. It is better to turn the other cheek than waste a young father, husband and a good man.

​Jeff Lewis, Friday, August 4, 2017

​Carol and I attended the memorial service for Dr. Tom Bajo (pronounced Bay-joe) yesterday morning and his celebration of life that evening. I had the honor of meeting his best friend from Chicago. Even though we had never met, he approached me, called me by name and recited in detail about my stay at Good Samaritan Hospital 12 year ago. I was surprised and flattered that he knew so much and that Dr. Tom had shared my story. He had to catch a plane, so we quickly exchanged contact information.
At the celebration, Carol and I reconnected with many friends from my days spent in intensive care and rehab. Reconnecting with Angie Phillips was the most touching. Angie at that time was a young teen with a failing liver. Daily, our hearts saddened as we watched life leaving her body. Carol and her mother prayed daily in the chapel that God would save her life and mine.
A day I will never forget is when Dr. Bajo found her a liver. If you recall the song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon..." and the whole bus cheers when they saw not one ribbon, but 100, then you know how we felt when the whole damn ward was cheering when her life saving liver arrived.
But Angie's crisis was not over. She had weakened to the point where her body might not survive a liver transplant. SURVIVE SHE DID! She became a nurse and worked closely with Dr. Bajo. Carol and I, Angie and her mother wept openly as we embraced knowing that God sent us a miracle -- Dr. Thomas Michael Bajo.

People who know me know that I rarely show emotion. I was deeply saddened today to learn of the loss of my friend, Dr. Tom Bajo, this past Monday. He was in charge of intensive care while I was on life support. After interviewing my family and friends, he ok'd the amputations of my hands and feet. By doing so, he saved my life.
During my four month stay in the hospital, he became my friend, often sharing his coffee break or lunch with me as we talked about -- stuff. He asked me to visit other patients to try and lift their spirits which I did.
The day I checked out to go home, he came to my room to visit one last time. He placed his hand on my shoulder, gave me a hug, and as he stood, I could see he was too emotional to speak. Instead, he slapped my bare belly and whisked out leaving me with a "pink belly" that lasted a week.
We stayed in touch these last twelve years since my amputations. I will never forget what he did for me and my wife, Carol.
Dr. Tom, the world will miss you. Thank you for saving my life.

My wife Carol had this to say:
I am very sad today. Our friend Dr. Thomas Bajo died in a kayaking accident on Monday. Without Dr. Bajo my husband Jeff would probably not be with us.
​He was my rock when Jeff was in a coma for three weeks. I saw him nearly every day for the four months Jeff was hospitalized. I will never forget all that he did for Jeff and for me.

Come to my dinner show “Jeff Lewis & Friends,” Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017 at Rochester’s Sunland Village, 721 S. Rochester, Mesa AZ 85206. First show 3:30 p.m. with dinner at 5:30 p.m. Dinner for second show served at 4 p.m. followed by 5:30 show. $20 tickets from Rochester’s or Jeff & Carol Lewis, mathman.lewis@gmail

​Proceeds benefit Fisher House Foundation providing housing for military and veterans’ families while a loved is receiving treatment.

I recently spoke at the HOSA Flex Conference held at the Phoenix Convention Center in November. HOSA is an international student organization for future health professionals providing opportunities for knowledge, skill and leadership development to meet the needs of the health care community. HOSA is composed of middle school, secondary, and postsecondary/collegiate students, along with professional, alumni, and honorary members. It is the largest student organization which prepares students to enter the healthcare field.

After my presentation, I received a thank-you email from one of the students who wrote: “Thank you for telling us your story. I’m sure many of my classmates appreciated it very much. You are a very inspiration, happy and bright man. May God bless you for the rest of eternity and grant you the ultimate reward one day. If I had less than half of your faith and happiness, I would be the most over joyous and blessed person ever. It was an honor to speak with you on a more emotional level.”

​I wrote back to the student: I taught math for 38 years. If I had more students like you, I would still be teaching. You will change a lot of lives before you leave this world, I know, because you have already changed mine. May you always be blessed.