By Kym McNicholas, CEO of the Global PAD Association
Every time my phone rings with a call to our Leg Saver Hotline, I know someone’s life is about to change. Sometimes, it’s a desperate family member who’s just been told their loved one needs an amputation. That was exactly the case when Jae reached out to us, fighting for her mother’s leg and, ultimately, her life.
On our recent episode of The Heart of Innovation, my co-host Dr. John Phillips and I had the privilege of interviewing Jae and Dr. Amit Amin about a journey that perfectly illustrates why I started the Global PAD Association in the first place.
“They Said Amputation Was the Only Option”
Jae’s story begins like many I’ve heard before. Her mother’s battle with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) started back in 2009 when she experienced severe leg pain during a simple walk around a track. After hearing a radio ad about PAD screening, she discovered she had blockages in her legs.
What followed was a familiar progression: stents every few years, then every few months, and finally, bypasses. By February 2024, doctors performed an axillary-tibial bypass on her right leg (from her chest all the way down to her leg) – an extremely rare and complex procedure that raised eyebrows of Dr. Amin and Dr. Phillips.
“I saw other pathways other than that when I went in,” says Amin.
“I mean, that’s rarely done,” Dr. Phillips noted. “I see it done more often by a doctor who does not have advanced skills and just doesn’t have anything else to do.”
Then came October 2024, when a bypass on her left leg led to catastrophic complications.
“That bypass site on her thigh literally ruptured nine times from November 2024 to January 2025,” Jae told us. The description was harrowing – Jae described blood “shooting out like a faucet” during one rupture at home. “It looked like a murder scene,” she said.
The Wall of Resistance
What happened next made my blood boil – and it’s something I see far too often in my work. When doctors at the local hospital ran out of options, they immediately pushed for amputation rather than seeking a transfer to a specialist with advanced skills.
Even worse, when Jae requested a second opinion, the hospital actively blocked her efforts:
“They told me that there were no accepting hospitals at one point,” Jae explained. “Then they told me that my mom’s insurance wasn’t approved. Then they came back and said the insurance was approved, but then there was no accepting physician.”
I’ve seen this pattern repeatedly – a few hospitals that would seem as though they would rather amputate than admit another doctor might have better skills, or should I say instead, “Would not want to believe there might be another tool or technique they don’t have in their armamentarium which may do the trick to save the leg.” They even threatened Jae that if she checked her mother out against medical advice, they’d “stick her with the bill” for all previous care.
That’s when I got directly involved. When Jae called our Leg Saver Hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS, I knew we had to act fast.
The Power of a Phone Call
After connecting with Dr. Craig Walker from Cardiovascular Institute of the South, we identified Dr. Amit Amin as the right specialist for this case. When Dr. Amin immediately agreed to accept the transfer, I was ready to fight.
When the hospital continued to resist, Jae put me on speakerphone with the medical team. I’ll never forget how quickly their tone changed when they realized someone was advocating for this patient’s rights.
“They Googled Dr. Amin in front of me,” Jae recalled, laughing. Suddenly, the “impossible” transfer became possible.
A Two-Hour Procedure That Changed Everything
Here’s what makes me so passionate about our work: Dr. Amin was able to restore blood flow to Jae’s mother’s leg in just two and a half hours.
“It was straightforward, to tell you the truth,” Dr. Amin explained on our show. “It was not a difficult procedure.” For him, with his advanced training under Dr. Craig Walker, what seemed impossible to the previous doctors was routine.
Within days, the previously endangered tissue was showing signs of life – bleeding, which in this case was a positive sign. “That’s what we want,” Dr. Amin said. “I mean, this is not a bad thing. Just let it bleed a little bit. It means there’s good tissue underneath.”
The Racial Disparity We Can’t Ignore
This story becomes even more significant in light of the recent May 2025 study by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI). The findings are staggering:
Black patients make up nearly 20% of the CLI population but face a 46% higher risk of amputation
They’re 10% less likely to see a vascular specialist before revascularization
They’re 10% more likely to need emergency care for their condition
As I mentioned at the beginning of our episode, “These aren’t just statistics. They represent real people, real families, fighting against a system that often fails them.”
What I Want Every PAD Patient to Know
After years of advocating for PAD patients and building the Global PAD Association, here’s what I wish everyone knew:
Never accept amputation without a second opinion from an advanced CLI specialist. The doctor who says “there’s nothing more we can do” is often really saying “there’s nothing more I can do.”
The title of the doctor isn’t as important as their specific skillset. As Jae learned, just because a doctor says they treat PAD doesn’t mean they have advanced CLI skills.
You have the right to transfer. Hospitals sometimes make this difficult, but with proper advocacy, it can happen – and it can save limbs.
Time is tissue. The longer circulation remains compromised, the higher the risk of permanent damage, so act quickly.
As I always tell my co-host Dr. Phillips on our show, our philosophy at the Global PAD Association is: “Don’t give up on the patient; give up the patient.” Always make sure to get a more qualified specialist if needed.
Jae’s Message to You
Jae’s words on our show still resonate with me: “You have to fight for your family, fight for your loved ones, fight for your health, fight for your life. Don’t just take the first opinion. Sometimes it requires a second, maybe even a third opinion.”
She continued, “We’re talking about cutting off your leg. That’s a permanent thing. That’s something that you cannot take back.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Where to Find Help
If you or someone you love is facing PAD or has been recommended for amputation, please don’t wait. The difference between keeping and losing a leg often comes down to finding the right specialist in time.
Call our Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS (1-833-723-5347)
Or visit us at PADhelp.org for more information and resources.
At the Global PAD Association, we’re fighting every day to connect patients with the specialists who can save their limbs and lives. Jae’s mother’s story is proof that with the right care, what seems impossible can become possible.
Watch our full interview with Jae and Dr. Amit Amin in the embedded video above, and please share this information. It could save someone’s leg—and life.
Kym McNicholas is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and the founder and CEO of the Global PAD Association. She hosts The Heart of Innovation podcast with co-host Dr. John Phillips, dedicated to raising awareness about peripheral artery disease and connecting patients with advanced care. The Heart of Innovation was named by Feedspot as the number one Best Women In Innovation Podcast in 2025.
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