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Amputee Hooks 34-Inch Drum At Galveston Event

Media
March 26th, 2026

**Conroe Angler Hooks Hope, Lands 34-inch Drum After Life-Altering Amputations**

**GALVESTON, TX –** When life throws a devastating curveball, some individuals don’t just endure; they find a way to hit it out of the park. Johnnie Jo Ramos, a resilient angler from Conroe, proved just that on March 2, 2024, reeling in a massive 34-inch black drum during the “Turning Point Drum Fishing” event in Galveston. Her impressive catch wasn’t just a testament to her fishing prowess, but a powerful symbol of overcoming profound adversity.

Just over a year ago, Ramos faced a dire health crisis. In December 2022, a life-threatening blood clot led to the amputation of her left leg on January 13, 2023, followed by her right leg on January 20, 2023, at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston. The road to recovery was arduous, involving extensive rehabilitation, but it was her lifelong passion for fishing that truly became her anchor, pulling her forward with an unwavering determination to return to the water.

“Fishing has always been my escape, my meditation,” Ramos shared, reflecting on her journey. “After everything, it became my greatest motivator. I kept visualizing myself back out there, feeling the line, the fight of a fish. It wasn’t just about catching; it was about reclaiming a part of myself, proving that I could adapt and still find immense joy.”

By July 2023, a mere six months after her double amputation, Ramos made her triumphant return to the water, fishing from the familiar grounds of the Galveston North Jetty. Her recent participation in the “Turning Point Drum Fishing” event marked another significant milestone.

The annual “Turning Point Drum Fishing” event is a remarkable collaboration between the Turning Point Amputee Foundation and Texas Adaptive Aquatics. This year, on that bright Saturday in Galveston, it brought together ten amputees, offering them the chance to experience the therapeutic joy of fishing, many for the first time since their life-altering surgeries.

“Our mission is to empower individuals who have experienced limb loss, helping them rediscover purpose and joy through adaptive activities,” explained Sarah Miller, Executive Director of the Turning Point Amputee Foundation. “Johnnie Jo’s story perfectly embodies what ‘Turning Point’ is all about. Her resilience and spirit are an inspiration to us all, showing that amputation isn’t an end, but often a new beginning.”

Ramos, with her husband Carlos by her side, not only participated but demonstrated incredible skill and perseverance. When the powerful black drum took her bait, she battled it with seasoned expertise, eventually bringing the impressive fish to the boat.

“Watching her land that drum, especially after everything she’s been through, was truly moving,” said Carlos Ramos, beaming with pride. “She’s always been strong, but to see her determination to get back to what she loves, and succeed like this, it’s just awe-inspiring. I’m incredibly proud to be by her side.”

For Johnnie Jo, the catch was more than just a personal triumph. “To be back on the water, surrounded by others who understand, feeling that fight from such a magnificent fish—it’s proof that life keeps going, and joy can be found even after the hardest times,” she reflected. “This event, and the support of these amazing organizations, makes all the difference.”

Her story isn’t merely about reeling in a big fish; it’s a powerful testament to the human spirit’s capacity for resilience, adaptation, and finding renewed purpose after profound loss. Johnnie Jo Ramos’s journey from a life-threatening crisis to a triumphant catch serves as a beacon of hope, showing others that a “turning point” can indeed be the start of something new and profoundly fulfilling.

For more information on the organizations supporting adaptive aquatics and amputee communities, please visit the Turning Point Amputee Foundation at [www.turningpointamputeefoundation.org](http://www.turningpointamputeefoundation.org) and Texas Adaptive Aquatics at [www.texasadaptiveaquatics.org](http://www.texasadaptiveaquatics.org).

Media

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