07/31/2026
This is Tom Jalinski’s story!
From a rough reclaimed white oak slab to a finished live-edge piece… and from learning how to walk again to riding a hand cycle down the road.
This is the story behind what I’m building.
After becoming a bilateral below-knee amputee, I had to piece my life back together one skill at a time. Carpentry was already in my blood — 45 years of it — but I had to relearn balance, strength, and confidence. The same determination that gets me up a ladder or out on the hand cycle is what I put into every piece of furniture I make.
This coffee table/bench is made from reclaimed white oak. Natural edge. Solid. Built to last. I’m finishing it up and will have it available soon.
The hand cycle (borrowed from CISHA) has become more than exercise. It’s therapy for my clogged arteries, training for sled hockey, a way to stay connected with family, and one of the best core-strength and mental-attitude tools I’ve found. Fitness and freedom look different now, but they’re still mine.
I’m building rustic tables, cabinets, and furniture that celebrate real wood and real resilience. And I’m still writing grants for adaptive and community organizations.
More pieces coming. More stories coming. If you’re interested in this table or a custom piece, message me.
