“When your feeling down about your life… think about how lucky you are”- Amy Oestreicher
These were just some of the inspiring words from this brave, bold, and beautiful survivor. Gutless and Grateful: A Second Helping is the true story of how Amy, as a child, who was an aspiring theater star, had her world turned upside down. She was professionally trained in theater, had many friends, loving parents, and three brothers. Her senior year of high school, instead of going to prom like her friends, she was in a coma due to a blood clot, which led to a stomach explosion, and collapsed lungs. Within minutes her life was no longer the same–she awoke months later and was covered in drains, bags, and tubes while also being told she may never be able to eat or drink again. Imagine: three years, 24 surgeries, all while living in the ICU. Following that time, her digestive system was amazingly put back together and she was hopeful that she could start putting her life back together.
Her strength, family, and a handful of doctors, surgeons, and nurses kept her going, but her perseverance is what led her to the stage today. Not only did she slowly recover, but she did more than anyone could have imagined; she started a chocolate business, food blog, starred in musicals, learned karate, taught nursery school, and hosted amazing art shows of her work while taking nothing in life for granted. Even with bags attached to her neck she overcame many medical obstacles and triumphed through it all.
The performance is sad, inspiring, and yet amusingly entertaining as Amy never plays the victim instead leads you through her journey and makes you think twice about your own life. Here is a woman who was so happy just to get CAT scans because it meant leaving the ICU for a few hours…and just think about all the things in life we take for granted. Drinking water for instance–she would have given anything to sip the tasteless beverage and yet that’s something we have everyday, but for years it was impossible for her to drink it without threatening her life. She survived on vein food and courage with the support of family, friends, and medical professionals.
Her performance at Stage 72 was moving, emotional, and at certain points there was not a dry eye in the house. This beautiful, strong, woman could do all of this while overcoming a huge obstacle–why can’t we all learn to love more, and rethink how we see our lives? If you get the chance, you must see this performance, it will make you rethink a lot of things in your own life and inspire you to live your dreams. Tickets can be purchased here for $10.
Amy Oestreicher is an inspiration.
