By Carolina González Serrano
Stories of people like Ulises, who has found in sports a driving force to keep moving forward, inspire reflection on what it means to live without a limb. From the amputee community, realities that often go unnoticed become visible: the difficulty of reacting to an emergency without a prosthesis, the challenge of learning to get back up after losing a part of one’s body, taking on the cost and maintenance of a prosthesis, and above all, the strength of spirit necessary to reconnect with life.
Losing a limb is, without a doubt, one of the most profound challenges a person can face. It’s not just the physical grief, but also the emotional impact, the unanswered questions, and the fear of what life will mean afterward. But amid this challenge, some lights illuminate the path: hope, community, and the strength of those who have experienced the same thing and know that rebuilding is possible.
This is how Ampuvalia was born, an organization promoted by Estefanía Cervantes, who faced that reality firsthand in 2011. Far from giving up, she decided to turn her experience into a driving force to help others navigate this difficult process with support. What began as a student project became a beacon for thousands, a support network where every story becomes an inspiration and every step, a triumph.
Vives Sin Límites, the original name of this initiative, reflected their commitment to raising awareness about disability within the university community. However, over time, the project evolved into Ampuvalia, a network that now brings together professionals, patients, and allies to support individuals who have lost a limb.
In Mexico, it is estimated that by 2023, the population aged 5 and over with disabilities in Mexico was 8.8 million according to INEGI, although there are still no precise figures on how many of them face amputation. According to the National Academy of Surgery, which reported in 2015 that 75 people underwent amputation every day in Mexico. Most of these cases are the result of diabetes or traumatic accidents.
The latest figures reported in 2016 by the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico estimated that only one in 10 people with amputated limbs undergo rehabilitation and only 30% of those rehabilitated know how to use their devices and prostheses properly, which are very expensive, making this figure low and often unaffordable. By 2024, North America accounted for the largest market share in the orthopedic prosthetics market, according to Mordor Intelligence.
Globally, the World Health Organization estimated that by 2023, one in six people will suffer from a significant disability, representing 1.3 billion people worldwide. And AT2030, in support of the ATscale Strategy, estimated in a 2020 report that 1.5 million people worldwide undergo amputations each year and require access to prosthetic services.
The loss not only involves deep grief, but also a series of questions with no immediate answers. That is why Ampuvalia not only provides reliable information and support from the hospital bed, but also creates safe spaces where hope and solidarity find a place to grow.
The organization has developed tools such as the “Basic Guide for the Amputee Patient,” available to those just facing this new reality, and has also formed a community called “ampuamigos”, which promotes mutual support and constant inspiration. Monthly virtual meetings, prosthesis donation drives, testimonial podcast, and a book with the stories of 33 amputee women are some of the initiatives that drive this network.
The greatest achievement of Ampuvalia has been to demonstrate that limitations only exist in the mind. Like the camp “Campuvalia”, held in Valle de Bravo, which brought together amputees participating in activities such as rappelling, yoga, and archery, breaking down barriers and showcasing the strength of the human spirit.
Stories like that of Gerardo Galván, who endures a 4-hour, 100 km commute across the Mexico City Metropolitan Area to continue his physical therapy and take his first steps with a prosthesis, or that of Michelle, who overcame domestic violence and today walks with renewed strength, are living examples of this resilience.
Ampuvalia is supported by donations, institutional partnerships, and the commitment of volunteers. It is constantly striving to expand its impact and dreams of a future in which there are comprehensive care centers for amputees, spaces that offer physical therapy, psychological therapy, nutrition, and community, where everyone can find the tools to rediscover their lives.
Social media has also been a crucial ally, changing the social perception of disability and showing that beauty and ability lie in human diversity. Key public figures in Latin America, such as Daniela Álvarez, former Miss Colombia, and Juan Pablo Medina, a Mexican actor, have contributed to raising awareness of this issue.
Ampuvalia is excited to celebrate its 10th anniversary next year; they are overjoyed to have been able to accompany hundreds of people who have lost a limb, as well as their families, in their new lease on life. They invite you to join their community, share their resources, listen to their podcasts, and support the cause so that more people can find their way back to life, despite adversity. Because losing a limb doesn’t mean losing your life, but rather discovering new ways to live it.
Estefanía Cervantes thanks her allies, friends and donors who have been an important part of her cause. Stay tuned for news about her celebration in 2026. Estefanía Cervantes tells us: “We’re going for more. With a steady pace through the amputee community”.
Learn more about Ampuvalia’s work by joining its community, sharing its resources, listening to its podcasts, and supporting the cause.
