By Kym McNicholas, CEO, Global PAD Association

If you or a loved one is living with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and facing the possibility of amputation, I want to share a story that could change your life. Recently, I had the honor of presenting our 2025 PAD Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Marco Manzi of Padova, Italy – a physician who has saved countless limbs that other doctors had deemed unsalvageable.

Dr. Manzi’s career has been built on a simple yet powerful question that you, too, should be asking: “If you’re already facing amputation because of blocked arteries in your legs, why not try? Why not try to open those arteries and restore blood flow?”

This philosophy has transformed the lives of patients who were told amputation was their only option. One such patient was a young person with diabetes who had severe gangrene in their forefoot. After two failed attempts to restore blood flow, other doctors had scheduled an amputation for the next day. But Dr. Manzi wasn’t ready to give up.

“Let me try again,” he said. “Something could happen different.” When conventional approaches weren’t working, he pioneered a completely new technique – accessing the tiny digital arteries in the foot. His colleague looked at him like he was crazy, but the procedure worked. Twelve years later, that patient is still walking on their natural leg.

Why am I sharing this with you?

Because too many patients accept amputation without realizing there may be specialists who can offer alternatives. Your current doctor may be excellent, but they may not be trained in the latest limb salvage techniques that specialists like Dr. Manzi have pioneered.

Another story from Dr. Manzi illustrates why you should never stop seeking options. He once treated a patient with complex blockages running from groin to foot. After two hours of unsuccessful attempts, Dr. Manzi was ready to give up because he had personal plans. The patient thanked him for trying, but minutes later, Dr. Manzi learned the patient would face an immediate high-thigh amputation.

In that moment, he realized his responsibility. He stopped the patient’s transport to surgery, brought them back to the lab, tried a different approach – and succeeded. Today, that patient still has their leg.

The lesson? As Dr. Manzi puts it: “The first success starts how you prepare your mind.” For you as a patient, this means never accepting amputation as inevitable until you’ve explored every possible option.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Not all doctors are trained in advanced limb salvage techniques. The physician who diagnosed your PAD may not be aware of all treatment possibilities. Dr. Manzi’s success rates improved dramatically as he developed new approaches – what was once considered impossible is now routine in his practice.
2. Getting a second opinion is your right. Our own Dr. John Phillips credits his visit to Dr. Manzi’s lab with transforming his approach to limb salvage. “When I asked him, ‘When do you quit?’ Marco replied, ‘Failure is not an option.’” That’s the kind of specialist you deserve.
3. Time matters, but don’t rush into amputation. Unless you’re facing a life-threatening emergency, take the time to explore your options. Dr. Manzi’s story shows that sometimes success comes after multiple attempts.
4. Resources exist to help you find limb salvage specialists. The Global PAD Association’s Leg Saver Hotline connects patients with specialists trained in the latest techniques. One call could literally save your limb.

Some doctors may suggest amputation is easier or that trying to save the limb is going too far. But Dr. Manzi’s response is powerful: “As long as it doesn’t cause further harm, the attempt itself has so much value.” His team maintains one of the lowest readmission rates for PAD patients in his region – concrete evidence that going further to save a limb benefits the whole patient.

If you’re facing amputation, pick up the phone and call our Leg Saver Hotline today. Let us connect you with specialists who, like Dr. Manzi, believe that “failure is not an option” when it comes to saving your limbs. You deserve every possible chance to keep walking on your own two feet.

Remember: Your healthcare journey is yours to direct. Advocate for yourself, seek specialists who won’t give up easily, and never lose hope. As Dr. Manzi has proven time and again, what seems impossible today may become possible with the right specialist and approach.

Call the Leg Saver Hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS or visit TheWayToMyHeart.org to find limb salvage specialists near you. Watch the full interview with Dr. Marco Manzi below: