My name is Aaron Soetaert and I'm an Above Elbow Arm Amputee I lost my dominant arm by a drunk driver right after returning from Iraq. I was in the United States Air Force deployed to Iraq. That's really when I got into gaming.

I was born in Alabama but grew up in Tucson, Arizona. Loved sports and everything growing up. My thing was just getting outdoors staying outdoors.

The accident was on my friend's birthday on September 15th, 2009. I thought to cut off drinking a little early. One of my buddies unfortunately had a little too much to drink and needed to go home as well. A buddy came by and said, "one of my friends is leaving, he can give you guys a ride".

Instead of backing up, he drives over the curb. So I'm instantly on alert mode now. He starts driving faster, going down the wrong way. I go to get my friend out the back seat and he drives off. As he floors it, I just hold on and it changed the rest of my life. He just happened to side swipe the tree.

Boom. I ended up getting pinched in between the tree and the car. My arm was clean cut off.

I was incoherent. I didn't know what was going on, I didn't know what happened, I didn't realize I was in a life or death situation. I had minutes to live before the paramedics had to get there. I owe my life to those paramedics.

When it comes to thinking about what it was like with two arms or trying to go back to that, it's just not really where my main focus is at. My arm's never gonna grow back.

Slowing down. That was my biggest obstacle. I was still wanted to do everything as fast as I did before so I had to find other ways to do things and it wasn't as easy.

I never thought I would game again. I just took it day by day, step by step, challenge by challenge.

When I lost my arm, the Air Force all pitched in and got me a one-handed controller. I picked it up and tried it. Using it was so frustrating that I threw it, broke it and brought me to tears how hard gaming was. After that day, I stopped video gaming for five years.

But I met an amazing women with an amazing stepson and it was him who challenged me to game again. It was that young man's ambition to want me to succeed that I pushed myself day and night learning the one thing I thought was impossible.

When I returned to gaming, my main mission was, if I'm gonna game again, I'm gonna game just like I did before. I'm not using any special controller. I'm gonna beat everybody on the same controller they game with. Then I fell back in love with gaming.

I press the left trigger aim button with my pinky. I actually shoot the right trigger with my forefinger. I move with my palm and I look around with the tip of my thumb. In order to hit the X, Y, A and B buttons, I just have to let go with the tip of my thumb. If I want to hit the bumpers, I just use my palm.

I started playing Call of Duty Black Ops 2 on the Xbox 360 and boy I sucked lol 2-50 4-48 were some of the worse. But I kept at it and never gave up. Now I'm able to share my videos and story with you all.

Time is everything to me so if I'm willing to put my time into something you can tell that I'm passionate about it. I didn't let my injuries stop me and I just started learning everything one handed. My goals were to play golf, rock climbing, and shoot hoops again and I did just that.

I took my situation and instead of carrying it as a burden, I learned how to carry it with pride and express extreme gratitude for the second life I was given with a new positive mental attitude. I would like for my ability to adapt and overcome my situation to be a true inspiration to so many, and to show many more the importance of being grateful.

I would be honored to speak at any conference or meeting expressing that inspiration through one of my speeches. Please contact me if you're ever in need of a little inspiration and encouragement in life.

Thanks and hope to be hearing from you soon. Fear is the one thing stopping you from greatness so live fearless!