I was in the middle of a bathroom remodel last spring when my wife decided to have her left leg amputated. After two decades of painful surgeries and deteriorating mobility, she chose amputation as the best path to regain mobility and improve her quality of life. Her decision forced us to rethink our nearly finished bathroom. Design priorities shifted from aesthetics to safety and accessibility: fixtures were returned, layouts were revised, and materials were reconsidered. Looking back, there are many things we wish we’d known before we began.
Before Everything Changed
In 2024 we converted part of our house into a one-bedroom apartment, which meant we lost our only first-floor bathroom. To replace it, we planned to convert the laundry room into a new bathroom. I designed a compact layout with a corner stand-up shower, toilet and vanity. I favored a glass shower enclosure for its clean, modern look and spent hours selecting tile, lighting and finishes. The room was gutted, electrical and plumbing were roughed in, and new drywall went up. It finally started to feel like a finished space—until my wife’s medical situation forced a complete rethink.
When Accessibility Took Centerstage
Soon after I had the layout firmed up, my wife learned her recent ankle replacement was failing. After 17 surgeries stemming from a college basketball injury, she lived in constant pain and had very limited mobility. Rather than continuing repeated procedures that offered little improvement, she opted for amputation to pursue a prosthetic solution and a chance at normal activity. We had to adapt our remodel quickly to support her postoperative needs.
Bathrooms are one of the most hazardous rooms for someone with an amputation. Slips and falls are especially dangerous when balancing on one leg, and transitions in and out of a shower can be risky. I consulted ADA and accessibility guidelines and read first-person accounts from amputees about bathroom safety. It was humbling to realize I hadn’t considered accessibility while designing the space. With a new perspective, I made several structural and fixture changes to prioritize safety.
I removed drywall where needed and installed 2×10 blocking for future grab bars and a wall-mounted shower chair. To improve wheelchair access through the existing 32-inch doorway, I installed offset hinges to widen the usable clearance; expanding to the recommended 36 inches wasn’t possible in our layout. A small threshold ramp allows smoother wheelchair and walker travel in and out of the room. We selected matte-finish floor tile for better traction and installed a chair-height toilet for easier transfers. The glass shower enclosure was returned in favor of a shower curtain to allow more flexible access and to avoid hard glass edges.
We had about a month to finish the remodel before surgery. Despite the compressed timeline, we completed the work in time. When my wife came home, she found a bathroom that balanced safety, accessibility and an effort at pleasing aesthetics.
Build Accessibility In From the Start
If you’re planning a remodel, consider accessible design up front so you avoid the costly and disruptive changes we faced. Even if you’re young and healthy, accidents and temporary disability can happen at any time. A few proactive choices make a bathroom safer and more usable for everyone.
Key recommendations:
- Install 2×10 blocking at appropriate heights around toilets, sinks and showers to make future grab-bar installation simple.
- Include blocking for a wall-mounted shower seat so a chair can be added later without opening up walls.
- Widen doorways to 36 inches if possible. If not, install offset hinges to maximize clear opening width.
- Choose a walk-in or curbless shower instead of a bathtub when you can, to reduce trip hazards and allow roll-in access.
- Pick flooring for traction and slip resistance first, then for looks. Matte-finish tiles or textured options reduce fall risk.
- Install an ADA-style chair-height toilet to make transfers easier.
- Prioritize bright, glare-free lighting to improve visibility and reduce the chance of missteps.
These measures are relatively low-cost during a remodel and provide long-term safety and convenience whether the need is temporary or permanent.
One Year Later
One year after surgery, my wife is walking and living with far less pain than she experienced for decades. She hopes to return to hiking and trail running someday. What could have felt like a devastating loss instead became a turning point that improved her quality of life. Our experience has made me more likely to recommend accessible, safety-focused choices to friends and family planning home projects—especially bathrooms. A beautiful space can and should also be safe and functional for whatever life may bring.